AMERICAN POLITICS

Otago Witness, Issue 2861, 13 January 1909, Page 25

AMERICAN POLITICS

_^» NEW YORK, January 9. . A bitter struggle is prooeedring between President Roosevelt ana Congress. President Roosevelt intimated that the Senate was not entitled to direct members of the Cabinet to furnish information, inasmuch as lbs Cabinet was solely under the President's control. -He assumed the entire responsibility on the question of allowing the Steel Trust to purchase the Tennessee Coal and Iron Company 'tf stock a year ago, to prevent a panic. His opponents emphasised the contention that the trust's only competitor had* thus been absorbed. The Senate yesterday resolved, largely at Senator Culfaer son's instance, to instruct the Judiciary Committee to reixrrb whether President Roosevelt was authorised to permit the absorption. The Houfe of Representative?, by 212 votes to 34, resolved to ignore any disrespectful communication from a-ny source, and declared that President Roosevelt's language with regard to secret services was not justified without a basis in fact, and constituted, a breach of the privileges of the House, therefore they laid on the table tlie obnoxious portion of the December Message, also the Message cabled) on ths sth inst., which was not a reply to the inquiry made by the House. Many Republican speakers condemned the language as a libel on the House. The Democrats demand a withdrawal and an apology. The sensation of the day culminated byPresident Roosevelt publishing the details of the investigation by the Post Office inspectors and the secret service agents into Senator Tillman's connection with an ailleged land grab in Oregon. President Roosevelt declares that Senator Tillman used his influence as a senator in, an effort to force the Government to compel tlie railroad corporation to relinquish control of the land grants from the United States to enable him and his family and secretary to profit by the purchase of the land. He also frequently; used the fcankinig privilege in the conduct of his private business. Senator Tillmiar will reply in open Senate on Monday. LONDON, January 9. Tlie Times' New York correspondent' states that the resolution is interpreted as a sop to the Democrats rather than » desire on the part of the leaders of thfl Senate to press the matter.