Show PRESIDENT IS SUPREME Seere secretary tary olney M H kes an important statement i etya congress Con crea can sot not recognize the independence or of cuba power lies with the president maintain otherwise dee dec 20 much aluch interest and importance was attached to I 1 the he meeting of secretary olney with the senate committee on foreign relations last week when ehen the committee had u under cider con consideration chandlery chandlers Chand lers leis resolution recognizing the independence of cuba the attitude of secretary olney while described as being opposed to the committees plan was not cudly against it as a year agnand no opposition was expected hence yesterday when the secretary announced that the power of recognizing the independence ence of cuba was solely a per of the president much surprise was caused on n some hands bonds his position Is fully all sustained tabled while on others it Is admitted ed that perhaps from a purely technical statement of law the secre position to correct but that it certainly violates violate thi the principle of the constitution those who make this contention reverse the circumstances supposing they say ray that the president declared that he in tended to recognize a republic and that congress should pass a resolution declaring in their judgment that ino no such action would be taken would it be possible for the P president resident in the he C face oi of this position of both the senate and house to use the executive prerogative and recognize the republic this con point has for the time being supplanted in interest the resolution Its elfand 0 it Is known that when the res I Is brought forward a debate of considerable interest and length will ensue on this subject the position of t 1 mr olney setting letting forth that of the administration will undoubtedly have Us its effect in some quarters of the se nate and it is said tonight that sufficient opposition can be mustered io to defeat the resolution senatorial OPINION clo washington dec 20 20 there Is if no foundation for the statement that congress may not if it will recognize the independence of a new nation nor do I 1 think mr olney contests it but he thinks the matter ought to come from the president if however congress should pass paris a resolution and the president should vito veto it it can be passed by a two thirds vote of each house and would become a law which the president must respect and obey JOHN SHERMAN sherilan kashla washington glork dec 20 20 I 1 think that mr air position Is untenable in my opinion congress has the power by statute or by joint resolution to recognize the independence of anba if the president approves the measure there can of course be no controversy it if he disapproves it and it Is passed over his veto it becomes a law of the land as effectually as if he had bad approved it and his duty to execute it Is equally imperative in either case C K DAVIS washington dec 20 I 1 concur in the opinion expressed by judge cooley as a set forth in your telegram johr JOHN IV DANIEL DAMEL |