The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1865-03-29

tary on the amsndment Of tho gentlsna'
from Pennsylvania TMr. Stevens aIrsad
referred ts7 The direct, lsgalised con
tact Of the Executive Departments viii
tthe actiea Of this House can have ron
other than the baneful influence upon sh,
at least theoretical independence of th'
legislative department of the Govern
ment.
The committee refer to the act of 1889
whereby it was made the duty of the Sec
retary Of the Treasury 'fto make repor
and give information to either branch d
the Legislature in person or in writing
(as he may be- required respecting al
matters referred to him by the, Senate Of
House of Representatives, or which shal
appertain to his Office" in support Of the
bill We are now considering. Sir, there
is . radical difference between the pro.
visions Of the act Of 1889 and the present
bill. That act conferred no right upon
the Secretary OF the Treasury to attend
the sittings Of the House and engage in
debate on his own motion. He was to be
present when either House required his
presence. The House Was to judge when
the presence Of the Secretary might be
advantageous to the affairs of the country.
The proposition We arc considering makss
the Secretary the judge, except on two
days of the week, and then he may, under
the provisions of the amendments 70 the
rules, svads the object his prssesce il in
tended 70 secure. The references to the
cot Of 1889 thus appears 70 b most uu-
happy ior the purposes Of The eommittes.
Nor IL the .committes moro suecessful in
the presentation Of precedent daring the
year 1888 Of tho preseDes Of 6eorstaries
in the Senate.
After citing several mors sprsoedents,'
IS the advocates Of the measure chose to
call them, and showing their lask Of point
and authority, M. Wilson continued
II the committee attach any force to
the so-callsd precedents, it may be we'll
to remind the members of it, and this
House, that they all occurred during the
time when the Federal party held control
Of Congress. The mention of this fact
will doubtless recsil to the recollection Of
the chairman of the committee (Mr.
Pendleton, many instances in which he
has asserted that theF federal party was one
which favored centralixation of power in
the executive branch of the Government.
But. sir, that party, though charged with
favoring Capitalization, never went 60 far
in that direction as does this bill which
receives the support Of majority ..of the
including the chairman. by
which 1t was brought before the House.
This bill out -Federals the Federalists. 1t
is open-browed, undisguised centraliza-
ton.
But it is said that the system now pro-
posed for adoption by US has been adopt
ed By Great Britain, France, Spain, Hol.
land, the Netherlands, Portugal, Greece,
Prussia, Brazil, Chill, and many other
States. This is true but it is not urged
that the system works we'll in those
nor that it benefits the inter-
ests Of the people. And l will venture
the assertion that the committee cannot
name an Instance of ministerial admission
to the halls of legislation which does not
tend to strengthen the executive at the
expense of the other departments Of Gov
ernment. Every one conversant with the
history of the British Parliament knows
how immense is the power which the
excrts over the deliberations
and actions of the House of Commons,
and how rarely defeat overtakes tho Cabi-
net.
The example Of Great Britain is the
most striking Of all the cases cited by the
and yet how totally different
it is from the plan We are called on to
adopt. If the English system could be
stripped of its power to corrupt and over
awe the Commons, it would be as nearly
perfect IS could be desired, for under il .
defeat of the ministers compels them to
retire from power; unless, upon dissolu-
tion of Parliament and 40 appeal to the
electors, they are sustained. We can
have no spch thipg here. We must, if
We pass this bill, submit to oil the evils
Of the British plan without enjoying any
of its good features; and here it must be
remembered that the members of the Brit.
ish cabinet have no rights on the floor Of
the House Of Commons other than those
which pertain 70 them = members Of Par
lament, They occupy their seats, spsak,
vote, and otherwise parcicipate in the
transaction of public business, because
they are members Of Parliament and not
because they hold ministerial positions.
The ministerial Office may be resigned
without affecting the parliamentary office.
The retiring migister remains member
Of Parliament, takes his place on the op.
position instead of the ministerial benches
and contiues to exercise vod enjoy all the
rights and privileges belonging to other
members Of the body. ~
The plan presented to rs is quite diff
ferent, and must be 50 under our Consti-
tuition for
"No person holding any Office uuder
the United States shall be ! member OF
either House during his continuance in
ofics. Consultation Of the United
States, art. l, sec. A.
A member Of the Cabinet cannot be /.
member Of the House, 50 that the only
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