By John Lofton, Editor 

PROFESSOR TURNER one more reason I thank God I never went to college.

The following is an interview I did with Elizabeth Hayes Turner, co-author of “Galveston and the 1900 Storm” - a book about September 8, 1900, a day when a Category 4 storm hit Galveston, then a city of about 38,000, and one the most prosperous in Texas. After the storm, between six and ten thousand people were dead, and more than three quarters of the city was completely destroyed. Turner was, when we had our discussion, a professor of history at the University of North Texas.

I wanted to interview Turner to speak with her about whether any Federal aid was forthcoming to rebuild Galveston. Our conversation began cordially enough. But, when she discovered that I believe the Constitution forbids such so-called “disaster aid,” our conversation became - well - less cordial. Here’s the way things went:

Turner: No, there wasn’t Federal aid in that form at that time in 1900. So, what was sent were Army tents from the Spanish American and Civil Wars. Later on Federal money was sent to fortify the seawall around Ft. Crockett. The money to rebuild was from the state was in the form of a grant, a reduction in taxes for the citizens of Galveston. It was a very different America at that time. The Red Cross did come in and there were a lot of private donations. But for hurricane relief, I am unaware of any Federal money.

Turner then asks: “What is your position on Federal aid for disaster situations?”

Me: “Well, I am a Constitutionalist.” Mentioning Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution, I say that if a spending proposal does not fit into any of these categories, “then Congress cannot spend the money.”

T: “You know, I don’t think I can help you after all. Because I believe very firmly that the Federal Government should have a hand in helping these [“Katrina”] victims. So, I can’t let my work be used in support of your view” (she had promised earlier to send me a copy of her book).

Me: So, where in the Constitution do you see any authorization for Federal disaster aid? I assume you believe the Federal Government should obey the Constitution and not spend money on just anything.”

T: Well, I think it’s in the elastic clause of the Constitution in Article I.

Me: I’m amazed to hear you say this since you just told me how this kind of Federal disaster aid was never thought of in, for example, 1900 when the hurricane hit Galveston. And, of course, this Federal aid was not thought of because it was believed to be un-Constitutional.

T: Well, historically it did not happen for Galveston but that doesn’t mean I agree with that. But, I don’t believe it’s that way any more. I hope we have evolved since then.

MY FELLOW Founding Fathers ‘extremists’ meeting in Philadelphia who, I believe, actually intended something specific when they gave us our Constitution.

Me: But, the Constitution does not evolve.

T: It evolves every time there’s a Supreme Court decision [in this area] - (!!!).

Me: No, the Constitution is fixed.

T: It is not fixed.

Me: And this evolving Constitution idea is why, among other things, we have a $400 billion annual Federal budget deficit now.

T: That’s the Congress.

Me: Right!, because the Congress does not follow the Constitution! Congress sees the Federal treasury as a piggy-bank out of which to spend money on any thing regardless of what the Constitution says!

T: And it’s a Republican Administration that’s doing this.

Q: I agree and that’s a disgrace. But, our Founders did not believe this. They believed in the Constitution and if it was not followed this was illegal, a crime!

T: That’s your opinion.

Me: No, it’s not. That’s what they believed.

T: Yes, they did. But, how do we know their intentions?

Me: A lot of ways. Read the debates about the Constitution by the Founders.

T: And the Constitution is a living document. If it was not, then it would no longer be in existence.

Me: Well, in Washington DC the Constitution does not exist. It’s a dead letter. The Congress ignores it! And that’s sad - and illegal.

T: I think your views are extreme.

Me: Well, my views are the views of the Founders. If this is extreme, so be it.

T: I think we’re on really different sides of the political line.

Me: We are! I believe what our Founders believed; you don’t.

T: I do, too; I just interpret things differently.

Me: Well, I’m with Thomas Jefferson who said: “In questions of power then, let no more be heard of confidence in man, but bind him down from mischief by the chains of the Constitution.” What do you say to that?

T: I don’t know what to say to that….I think the government must have the ability to be flexible in situations of emergencies like [that caused by Hurricane Katrina.]

Me: Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

24: Roberts on the Unborn; Illegal Katrina Aid On this program, we have some final thoughts on the nomination of John Roberts to the Supreme Court. You’ll hear him say, preposterously, that he cannot say whether an unborn child is a person or property because this issue might come before him as a judge; you’ll hear the supposedly Christian/conservative Sens.Tom Coburn and Rick Santorum praise Roberts; and you’ll hear Republican Party cheerleaders Pat Robertson and Jay Sekulow attacking the Left for wanting to remove God from American public life; and yes, these are the same men who enthusiastically cheered Roberts who said his judging is Godless, in no way influenced by the Bible.
09/25/05

24: Hear it now (10,613 kb)