The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-08-12

Executive Omcers In ~"S''
We print in another column extracts from
an interesting paper read before the
American Social Science Association at it's
last meeting by gentleman OF this city,
on the question of requiring the presence
of the heads of departments in Congress to
answer interrogatories and make explana-
lions relating to their respective depart
ments. The author of the paper makes it
clear that this may be done without inno-
waiting upon the settled principles of our
government or infringing the independence
of the Executive. 1t is not intended to
assinilate our government to that OF
Great Britain, or TO borrow anything from the
British system. In England the Ministry is
virtually committee of the House Of Com
mons and goes out Of Office when it ceases
to command a majority. Every member OF
the British Ministry is a member Of one or
the other house of Parliament, and if APP
pointed from the House of Commons he
Immediately appeals to his constituency for
q reelection. He has all the privileges OF
debate and voting possessed by other MEM
bers of the same house on every question
which may come before it. Our own sys-
tenn is. entirely different. No head of an
executive department can be member of
either branch of Congress, nor is he at all
dependent on the support of Congress for
his continuance in Office. It is not proposed
to obliterate the line drawn by the constitu-
ton between legislative and executive func-
tons, or to trench upon the independence
of either branch Of the government. With-
out borrowing anything from the British
system the aim is merely to carry out the
principles of our own constitution in!
more efficient manner.
There must necessarily be more or less
intercourse between the Executive and Con-
gress, and in relation to some portions Of
this intercourse it is of no consequence
whether it be oral or written. For example,
it is in different whether at the open.
ing of session the President sends
in an annual message or delivers an annual
speech. Washington and John Adams
always appeared in person and delivered
q speech; Jefferson set the example which
has since been followed of sending writ
ten message. With regard to formal doc
ument prepared in advance it makes no
difference whether it Is read by the author
to both houses assembled or to each house
separately by its own secretary or clerk, or
whether, like the department reports, it
has no formal reading at all, but is printed
for the perusal of members at their con-
venience. If such cut and dried documents
at the beginning of session were all the
question of oral communication would not
be worth discussing. a9,.s
But in the course of session Congress
often needs prompt information to guide its
deliberations, and if the head of the proper
| department were present and subject to in
terpellation not only could the information
be given at once, but all obscurities be
cleared up and all doubts removed in
answer to the further questions of members.
This would not only be great convenience
to Congress in expediting legislation. but
it would compel the secretaries to keep the
business Of their departments well in hand,
and to steer clear of measures of doubtful
utility which they could not fully justify
whenever called upon.