The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-05-23
CABIYET OFFICERS IN CONGRESS.
Ought Secretaries aud Heads OF Bureaus he
Allowed to Appear In Persons

At the meeting of the Social Science Asso-
citation Mt Cincinnati yesterday Mr.. Perry Bel
mont Of this city read paper on the advisa-
bility Of giving executive officers the chance to
answer questions and defend their measures
on tho floor Of Congress. After claiming the
inadequacy Of the present methods for trans
hitting information from the executive to the
Legislative branch Of government. he said
Every ono understands that mn executive
officer cannot. under the Constitution. bc n
member of either House OF Congress. and there
fore all idea Of giving head Of n department n
vote in either House OF Congress is out OF tho
question.
II is an open question whether the trainers
OF the Constitution intended that n head OF an
executive department should havo the right
when he plcased. To- appear upon the floor Of
either House Of Congress for the purpOsr Of par
tiripnting in the discussion. or, what amounts
to the same thing. give information. Yet thure
seems ~ be no constitutional reason To prevent
tho enactment Of n law granting this right 10
executive officers. If we accept the law organ
ling the Treasury as evidence in the solution
OF this question. II would appear that the head
OF department. can give Information IN l,er-
call from the House which socks his appear
ance. But clearly under that law. the lawmaking
power can prescribe IL ~ n duty OF an executive
officer that he shall, when commanded nppenr
In person upon the floor OF either House for the
purpose Of giving Information. or participant g
in discussion respecting matters appertaining
to his Office
The question OF giving seats upon the floor
considered heretofore as II il only related to
heads Of departments. But why2 The Con-
stitution. as is well known, contains no such
phrase as Cabinet officers" or constitutional
advisors" II does say that the President may
require the opinion in writing Of " the princi-
pal officer in zach executive department" and,
therefore. IL is well enough TO say that such
officers are the constitutional advisers NJ the
President. So another clause Of the Constitu-
ton declares that Congress may vest the ap-
pointment of sundry inferior officers " in the
heads of departments II " IL necessary or
useful for Congress to provide by general legis-
luton for the personal appearance upon the
floor Of either House OF any executive officers.
the number need not be limited To- the seven
heads Of executive departments. and might in
clude the chiefs OF bureaus.
Formulated into a bill. this change would
run somewhat thus;
p, snaciefi ~ ne dni Hpi ~ Representatives 81.
That the Secretary u state the secretary uf War, the
secretary OF the Treasury the Secretary OF the Navy the
secretary IT the Interior the Attorney General and the
Postmn General shall be- entitled 90 occupy
the floor OF either House with the privilege OF discussing
any appertainng 10 their departments. under
such rules "A may be prescribed
SFc Thatthe said secretaries the ATTORNEY General.
and the Postmaster General attend the Of the
Senate and ot the House o Representative. Immediately
the opening ot the sittings OF each week, and
give Information in reply to questions asked under the
rules
This would secure to the Secretaries the
right to take part In discuss ions relating to their
respective departments. and. at stated times re-
Qulre them TO attend"