Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-25

performance by the executive Of its
constitutional duties"
Senator Golf argued that as the
Senate is not vested with the power of
impeachment. it clearly is not author
lied to investigate the conduct of
executive officers.
However violently the Senate may
disagree with the acts and policies of
the executive branch; however urgent
expose alleged delinquencies and NAL
versations. the fact remains that its
province does not extend to those sub
jects," said Senator Golf.
Cites Precedents.
Citing precedents to prove his con-
tention that the executive branch Of
the Government had from it's earliest
days resisted efforts of the legislative
to invade its constitutional rights,
Senator Golf said:
"In 1896. the House requested Presi-
dent Washington to lay before it Ger.
tain papers relating to negotiations
with the King Of Great Britain.
THE President refused, pointing out
that the assent Of the House is not
necessary to the validity of a treaty.
LAS 1t is essential to the due admin
istration Of the Government Presi-
dent Washington wrote, that the
boundaries fixed by the Constitution
between the different departments
should be preserved, just regard to
the Constitution and to the duty of
my office forbids a compliance with
your request
Senator Golf said that in 1925 the
House requested President Monroe to
transmit certain documents relating
to the conduct of certain officers of
the Navy. He refused on the ground
that it was due to the individuals un-
der criticism that they be not cen
sured without just cause, which could
| not be ascertained until after a thor
ough and impartial hearing.
In 1883 Andrew Jackson refused
the request of the Senate to send to
that body a copy of paper alleged
to have been read by him to the
heads Of the executive departments
relating to the removal Of the depos
Its of public funds from the Bank OF
the United States. He also refused
later to send to the Senate copies OF
charges against former surveyor
general who had been removed from
! office. He pointed out that he as
President possessed the exclusive
power of removal from office. The
President. he said, was only required
" account Tor the manner In which
ne performed his duties in constitu.
tional method, through impeachment
Cleveland Incident.
Senator Con- continued: "a remark.
able assertion of the legislative control
OF the executive departments occurred
| in the first Cleveland administration.
| In 1885 the Senate adopted a resolu-
ton directing the Attorney General
to transmit to it all papers in the
department in relating to the conduct
of the office of district attorney for
the southern district of Alabama. The
| Senate was Republican"
| The Attorney General replied first
at the direction Of the President. The
Senate was aroused, holding it would
be construed that the Attorney Gen.
eral was the servant Of the President.
| 1t passed another resolution condemn.
ing the Attorney General for his re-
fusal.
President Cleveland replied:
II do not suppose that the public
Offices Of the United States are regu-
lated or controlled in their relations
to either house of Congress by the
fact that they were created by laws
enacted by themselves. 1t must be
that these instrumentalities were
created for the benefit OF the people