The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-05-23
Proceedings of the American Social
Science Association Yesterday.
PERRY BELMONT'S ADDRESS.
He Recommends That Executive Officials
Be Admitted to Congress.
DIRECT ORAL REPORTS.
[nY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.


''Commerco OF the Lakes and Canal Navigation"
'.Congrcss and tho President "Post Once Savings
"Amcrican Coinage aud Currency, I" .Commerc,al nd
Social Rotations OF the United States with South
America" and tho Oxidation OF tho Government to
Railways" were some OF the subjects Tor discussion
Amer several Of the papers read there wcrc AMI
mated debates.
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS CONGRESS-.
Mr.. Perry Belmont. son Of Mr. August Belmont, OF
New York. made an interesting address entitled AK
ecutve Officers in Congress-" which recommended
that provision could be made whereby secretaries OF
the departments Cabinet oiccrs) could called upon
by either the Senate House Representatives TO
mako oral statements and give special iniorma-
ton, thereby avoiding tho present cumbersome
formaics Of resolutions ana written reports
Mr.. Belmont started out by asking this question -
'Shall officers OF the Exec ulive Department OF the
federal government be permitted TO sit In either
house OF Congress. with tho priviicgeo making oral
reply to inquiries addressed TO them by either house.
OF discussing any measure appertaining to their
respective Departmental" He then went 10 say
that tho question deserved careful consideration at
tho hands OF all those who havo had experience in
the practical business OF the legislative and executive
branches OF tho government OF the United States;
that March 8, 1855, Mr. Pendieton Introduced bill
10 permit the chiefs OF the executive departments to
occupy tho floor Of the House, but that the
urgency OF the civ.l war rendered 1t impossible 10
secure duo attention to the subject Tho immediate
purpose OF the change Is 10 remove certain resric-
hons upon communication between the executive
legislative branches.
ADVANTAGES CABINET oFycERs IN 10Th HOUSES.
The federal constitution distributes the functions
OF government among three departments. IL Or
dams thA tor tho better preservation OF consttu-
tional methods these departments, executive Iegis-
iavo and judicial, shall DC kept distinct ana scpa-
rate But does IT contemplate a non-intercourso
amounting almost to isolation2 Does IL intend
q and
legislative departments rs 10 leave them without la
c,lles OF com muncation most useful 10 the pur-
poses both OF legislation and administration Tho
executive may begin policy which Congress rcsists
and the absence OF AN authorized means OF oral CON-
munic ition may prevent tue harmony OF action
necessary to the LuDiic welfare. Until even these
conditions Of political sntagonsn, partial co-opcra-
zion between the Two might be obtanea, but that is
often now donc by methods which secret ana
indirect and therefore undesirable. When, on tho
contrary, thore ~ al cady coincidence OF opinion
between the executive legislative branches, the
intercourse resulting from q common purpose
the necessities OF government compel the executive
ard legislative departments 10 communicate with
each other II seems better that such intercourse be
authorized, open aud Responsible that DO ike
other deliberations OF the legislative BODY.
WHAT THE CABINET Is AND WHAT IT SHOULD he.
Mr.. Belmont next discussed the position which the
Cabinet assumed, averring thai instead OF being
adiuncis OF the Pres,dopt, as formerly, Cabinet
officers nave been raised body on ,s,do tho con-
| stuuon aud become sort Of ce-ordinslo fourth
branch of tue governmsnh With lls own discro
| ANA policy and with no tic OF intsrdepsadencs b.
| tween IL and the Hous, OF Representatives other
| than the welfare oil tho common country as
| each understands It, He thcn referred t. The laws
organizing the nercnt departments and tho special
features Of each. fnc State Department was created
by the act OF July 81 1885, the Department oi War by
enactment dated August, 1889, and BY sub. equcnt
ACTS 1S09 1866 ana 1868, tho Secretary req
TO lay before Congress annual statements OF the
tracts end pui chascs reports OF bids Tor works re-
ports OF exam nation OF and harDor improve.
nents, abstract OF returns OF AdJutant General OF
certain discretionary powers The same may DO SAID
OF the Navy Department. And thus again did Con.
Rress makes those officers It's agents tor the doing OF
specified acts, without Tho Intervention OF Pf-s
dent. the Treasury Department act was passed Sep
TENDER q 1889; tue Attorney Generals Office Was
atc September ~, 1885, the Department OF the !nte
+ Iior March 8, 1Ssg Mr Belmont remarked that Con-
grs. evidently did not intend tnat these officers
says Secretary the Treasury shal make report
ana ave information to either branch OF the Logsil
ture IN person or IN writing"
DEFINING EXECUTIVE DUTY.
Mr. Belmont referred 10 tho appearance OF tho
Secretary OF state before tho Senate IN 1889 with
reference 10 the Consular Convention with France
and TO the heated discussion Ia The Second Congress-
which was intended TO nix the responsibility tor tho
Treasury anu War departments When debating tho
question oil reducing the public debt IN the same
Congress II was insisted on the one haul
that reference 10 the secretary OF the
Treasury on the subject OF loans, taxes and
provisions for the pubic debt vas IN fact
de esation of The authority OF tho Legislature that
there existed n distinction between the deberatIvc
functions OF the House aud tho ministerai functions
OF the executive powers; TINT tue delIbrave func-
TONS should be rst exercised before the nstcrlal
began TO act; that u should be decided by the
HOUSE. In the nrst instance, whether tho debt should
be reduced by imposing new taxes or by varying tho
burdens, or by now lvans, ana that the fundamental
prlnc pies OF any should perhaps be decided
IN tho House, even before n reference TO
mtcc On the other hand ~ said hat tho dst.nc.
ton between deliueratye ana mpistcr,n mi functions
qualified by tho law ESTABLISHING the Treasury
Department; That the law makes u tho duty OF the
Secretary to digest and report tue plans to anchor
ate our nnanccs without any cali IRON tho House.
by such references neither the power OF tho House
To deliberate nfingcd nor docs give the secretary
right TO deliberate mnstcriaiy. The result OF tho
deliberations OF tho Sccrt tary was not obligatory on
the HOUSE any iurthcr thaG IL was warranted by the
force oil argument aud the report from tho head of
adcrarsmcnt could NO further ipnuence The House
than by thc weight OF the wisdom u contained Sup.
posing tho legislative body should uBdcrtaga TO
origin ate without tus previous step, aud u dliicuty
should occur Tor want OF Information. would bs
derogatory 10 IT'S dienty 20 apply then 10 the sccrc-
tary Tor assistance, ana dangerous 10 proceed
ror or ignorance III tho isluenco OF the secretary
formidable, u would be much more formidable IL
excrtcd against select committee than IN tho whole
House.
WAY NOT MAKE ORAL RRpoRrs2
When tho second clause of the act OF 1889, estab-
fishing the Treasury Department under sdcr-
alton, Mr. Page objected 10 the words making u tho
duty of tho secretary TO digest and rcpori plans Tor
tho improvement and management OF tho revenue and
TO the support OF tho pubiic credit observing that
~ might be well enough 10 enjon upon hun the duty
Of making out aud preparing estmates but tn 20 any
further would be dangerous innovation upon tho
constitutional privilege OF TINS House; wouid create
an undue influence within its walls. because mem
beers sht be led by the Difference commoaiy psii TO
mon oil abilities who givo an opinion IN case tb.y
have thoroughly studied, 10 support the Minister'S
plan. even against their own Judgmen Nor would
tho miscnie stop here. IL would establish prccs.
tent which might DO extended unul We admitted all
the ministers OF tho government tue door, TO
pIain and support The plans hey have digestcd sni
rel orted, thus laying foundation Tor afistocacy
or detestabie monatcny.p Nevertheless, Mr. Pags's
moton Tor strikipR out tho clause was ncgatved,
aud u Is now "tbe duty OF tho secretary oi tho
Treasury TO digest and prepare plans for tho i'm.
provvment aud management OF the revenue and tor
the support Of public credit" Aud u plans DO
prepared" why should not they DO orally IRE.
ported" TO Congressf
IMPORTANT QUESTION:
Mr. Belmont then referred 20 the r,mpi~s OF WASH
ington and john Adams, and Inc Qnccn OF Great Brit.
aip. VINO sonnet mos delivers her messages IN person
ana asked III the legislative branch now TO
tempt TO require the President to ia person anu
hnswcr intefrogatorcs respecting Jhe state al the
Union wouia that be an unconstitutional
interference with tho executive branch -
tue President 10 give To Congress Information which
he does not SEQ nj 10 awe. Congress indirectly
compel head OF "a department to give up executive
ini0rmntlon ma lngi. a on l,anrrn-a