Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-12-29
THE NEW PARLIAMENTARY REGULATION.

We are glad to observe that the committee Of
the House Of Representatives to which was re-
ferred the proposition of Mr.. Pendeton, introduced
at the last session. "to provide that the heads Of
the Executive Departments may occupy seats on the
floor Of the House." has made report in its favor,
accompanied by bill for the purpose of carrying
it into effect The bill provides that the Secretary
of State the Secretary of the Treasury, the Score
tary Of War, the Secretary of the Navy, the Score
tary of the Interior, the Attorney General and the
Postmaster General shall be entitled to occupy
seats on the floor Of the House of Representa-
tves, with the right to participate in debate upon
matters relating to the business of their respective
departments, and to this end they are required to
attend the sessions of the House at the opening of
the sittings on Mondays aud Thursdays Of each
week, to give information in reply to questions
which may be propounded to them under the rules
of the House.
These rules, as recommended by the committee,
direct
That the Clerk Of the House Of Representatives shall
keep notice book in which he shall enter at the request
of any member any resolution requiring information from
any Of the Executive Departments, any question in
tendedo be propounded to any of the Secretaries the
Postmaster General the Attorney General relating
public affairs to the business pending before the House.
together with the of the member and the day when
the same shall be called up.
The member giving notice OF such resolution or ques
ton shall at the same time give notice that the same shall
be called up on Monday Thursday of the succeeding
week provided that such resolution question shall
be called up, except by unanimous consent within less
than three days after notice shall have been given
The Clerk shall the day which it is entered
transmit to the chief officer of the proper department
copy of the resolution question: together with the name
of the member proposing the same and of the day when
will come before the House for action.
On Monday and Thursday of each week, before any
other business shall be taken up except by unanimous
consent the resolutions and questions shall be taken in
the order which they have been entered upon the notice
book for that day
TIE member offering resolution may state succincty
the object and scope Of his resolution and the for
desiring the information aud the Secretary of the proper
department may reply, giving the nformaon the rea
why the should be withheld; and then without
further debate the House shall vote the resolution
less it shall be withdrawn or postponed
In putting any question to the Secretaries the At
torney General Postmaster General, argument
opinion to be offered any fact stated except far
may be necessary to explain such questions and in
swering such question the Secretary the Attorney Gene
r Postmaster General shall not debate the matter to
which the REFERS state facts opinions other
than those necessary to explain the answer.
AS we took occasion to avow our approval
Of Mr.. Pendleton's proposition Immediately after
It's first suggestion by him, we have only to
renew the expression of our hope that the bill as
sanction of the House and pass into the received
regulations of that body. The most enlightened
Governments Of Europe and of the American con-
tinent have long since adopted this institute with
admitted advantage in the elaboration and digest
of legislative measures. The Governments Of Eng
land, France, Holland, Sweden, Italy, Spain, Por-
tugal Prussia, Switzerland Greece, Brazil, Chill,
Coombia, the Republics OF Central and South Anne
rica, are among those in which provision is made
for the participation Of Ministers, with greater or
less degrees Of power, in the deliberations of the
Legislature, and the regulation is found to sub
serve the unity and frankness of Intercourse that
should exist between different branches Of the gov
erning power in the State
Among the reasons assigned by the committee
in favor Of the proposition we have room to cite
only the following:
In fact the influence Of the Departments is all cases.
almost without exception eIerted 1t may well be doubt
ed whether it not originally intended by the trainers
OF the Constitution that this should be The veto pow
er lodged with the President aud the right accorded to
and the duty imposed upon him to give 10 Congress nor
nation and to initiate legislation, ,shOw that they did not
intend 10 establish absolute separation of the lepsa
tive and executive departments. However toat may have
been the fact too obvious to members of Congress to
need proof that the chief officers Of the several Depart
ments do exercise important influence the legislation
of that body TIE pages the Globe within the last few
years viii safety those who have not had seats the opr
and been admitted TO the sessions Of the committees Ii
has been notorious for years that by personal interviews
with members, by private conversations at The office in
social in casual meetings the floors Of the
two Houe by verbal statements TO the charmen of
mttees-sbe always TO be misunderstood or mis-
representedby unofficial communications to the commit
tees Themselves these officers originate, press forward
modify or entirely defeat OF legislation; and il
has often happened that the rules Of the House have been
violated by stating what has occurred in committee in
der TO convey to members the opinion wishes OF Sec
retary These officers have authorized communication
with the committee Of the House Their suggestions
in writing not recorded No trace of their exer-
tions is left behind They work. they accomplish and yet
difficult to sbow-althoueh members fully conscious
measure what their opinions in relation to them
Their secret silent omnpresent influence felt yet they
without responsibility. II is not necessarily corrupt
because it secret aud silent but it may be- and wher-
opportunity for corruption exists there will be- there
ought to be- suspicion and disrust Would it not be bet
ter that their opinions should be expressed their facts
stated their policy enforced their acts defended in open
day the 6oor Of the House, in the face of the natou
public speech in official recorded statements where there
be hidden purpose, no misconcepon no misrepre
senation This would enighten the House, inform the
country and be Just to officers 1t would substitute le
gitmate for an illegtmate power 1t would establish
open, official honorable mode of exercising that power
instead Of secret unrecognsd mode liable to abuse and