PRESIDENT AND SENATE

Southland Times, Issue 19502, 17 March 1925, Page 7

PRESIDENT AND SENATE

FIERCE FIGHT IN PROGRESS UNPRECEDENTED SCENES WITNESSED MR COOLIDGE IGNORES PARTY LEADERS (By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright). (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) WASHINGTON, March 15. The situation in connection with Mr C. B. Warren’s appointment as Attorney-Gen-eral has assumed a character which is virtually unprecedented in American history. President Coolidge, despite the consel of friends and advisers, re-submitted Mr C. B. Warren’s name to the Senate. The Senate Judiciary Committee led by Senator Walsh, issued a report condemning the appointment and advising the Senate to reject the appointee. Senator Walsh, whipping the Senate into a fury, demanded that an immediate vote should be taken, or he would not permit the body to continue its business. The debate began in acrimonious circumstances, unrivalled for half a century, and continued throughout the day. FURORE IN SENATE. Mr Coolidge then issued a statement declaring that he would make every possible effort to secure Mr Warren’s confirmation, and, if necessary, would appoint Mr Warren while Congress was in recess, w’hich power the President has under the Constitution. Mr Coolidge reiterated the hope, however, that the unbroken practice of three generations permitting the President to choose his own Cabinet will not now be changed. - This statement caused a furore in the Senate. When the turmoil had partially subsided an agreement was reached that the Senate would vote on Mr Warren’s appointment on Monday, but before the adjournment w r as taken the Democrats, in brief speeches, flashing with a spirit of revenge, stopped just short of hinting that Mr Coolidge had laid the foundation for impeachment proceedings against himself, because he had defied the Senate. It will be recalled that impeacrment proceedings were unsuccessfully carried out against President Johnson shortly after the Civil War. Senator Robinson, quivering with passion, declared that Mr Coolidge had raised an issue transcending in importance the question of Mr Warren’s appointment. RIGHTS OF THE SENATE. There were allegations that the constitutional rights of the Senate had been invaded by the Executive, this being one of the fundamental questions underlying America’s system of government. The Democrats declared that, in view of Mr Coolidge’s statement, no Senate would dare to confirm Mr Warren’s appointment. The Republicans themselves seemed stupified, and remained silent.

The President’s statement appears to have been issued without consultation with the Republican leaders, and resulting in a situation which has the following outstanding aspect—viz., that the war between the Senate and the President spells virtually no legislation for the next two years, when another Congressional election occurs. The Senate now seems ready to block Mr Coolidge in everything that he will propose. This is bound to have a demoralising effect on any possible legislative programme, with the Senate blocking the President’s measures and Mr Coolidge exercising his veto upon the Senate’s measures. LIBELLOUS ACCUSATIONS.

It is curious to note that the Warren incident had its counterpart to-day in the debate over the allegations that the Senate’s investigations of the income tax unit of the Treasury Department has been conducted unfairly, being actuated by personal animosity against Mr A. W. Mellon (Secretary of the Treasury) and Senator Couzens, both rich men, whose income taxes were involved. Senators shouted “Liar” at each other, and libellous accusations were hurled left and right. Indescribable scenes followed each other with bewildering rapidity.