Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1881-01-06
rRs pRssrpEyr,s GARNET.
An Institution that Docs RIOT Exiss
~ Virtue OF ANY 4 nyy-ats ~ tssnrv

rHk PREsIDENT's CABINET.
An Institution that Docs Not Exlnt
~ Virtue OF ANY Lnw-A History
The Presidents Cabinet does not exist
By virtue of any law. 1t has become one
OF Tho institutions of our government
through usage. The heads of the several
executive departments were created by law
of Congress, ana Washington established
the custom of calling them into council
with himself upon the affairs of govern
ment. tfhe heads of these departments,
az advisers of the President, were called a
Cabinet. Washingtons Cabinet consisted
of but three memberships Secretary of
State Thomas Jeffersong the 81 crerary
of Treasury alexander Hamilton). and
the Secretary OF War Timothy Picker
ine) Iu 1898, when John Adams was
President, the Navy Department WAS
| created and the Secretary of tha,
Department became member of the
Cabinet. Under jackson the Postmaster
General was added to the Cabinet
This made fve members, and the
| Cabinet remained al that nunber until
Tyler became President, when the
Attorney General was made the head OF a
department and q member of the Cabinet
| In 1S49 the Department of the Interior
was created, and tbs head of 1t added to
the Cabinet. Since that time there has
been no addition, but for several years
past the question OF raising the head of
the agricultural department has been
agitated, aud is urged generally by the
agricultural interests Should this move
ment succeed, it is quite likely that
commercial department will be created
| aud Its head put into the Cabinet Senator
| Pendleton has a bill pending In Congress
| TO give Cabinet officers seats in Congress,
but without the right to vote, the idea
beirg that they eau assist legislation by
explaining matters connected with the
executive deparmeuts The Cabinet
shapes tue policy of the administration, or
IL generally supposed 10 do 30.
The term Cabinet WAS fret applied in
England to that portion Of the prlvy
council which had ihe special confidence
OF the King, and with whom he held secret
councils Ia his private apartment called
mis- cabinet The mistake ID frequently
made in this country Of using the term
administration anonymously with cabinet
IN writing or apeaklug of British affairs.
In the British government, the term i'd
an tuhu tuHl Oh
cabinet, and Includes all tue principal
officers Of state some 90 or 10 in number.
Toe number of the British cabinet Is not
so definitely fixed, but there are certain
nigh officers Of government who are inva-
riaoly called TO seats Ill it. Tbs cabinet
is the head and dir5ctllg body of the
British administration, and IL meets
upon call, but the Premier, Oh
any occasion, mag summon only those
member ne WISHES 10 consult with
All the meallngs are secret, the
members, in fuct, bsing sworn to secrecy
which must b. preserved inviolate after
then retirement from Office. Ii au ire
| concllaoie difference rises between the
Premier and one or more members OF his
cabinet bc eau insist upGn the retirement
of those members from office Important
| publo measures are matured aud im-
| portrait appointments agreed upon in the
| cabinet, but these agreements nave to be
submitted to the 5 IversJgn Tor approval
| Tbs administration eau exist only NJ long
as it remains in accord with the House OF
JON mons, Tue rel ctiou by the House
of al important ml listeriai measure or
che la-sake Of vote Of ,Saht of conhdence
Calls for the rsslguatious of the ministry
unless the ADMINISTRATION decides 10 take
tka Responsibility OF dlssOiviug Parliament
and calling upon tho country to sustain
the govern ment in new election. Mem
oets OF tho English cabinet have
seats in Parliament. The idea OF
OUT cabinet was, no doubt, suggested
TO Washington By the existence OF tue
English cablnet, but the American cabinet
has DO power. The President is re. pom
sible for all tx euiive acts aud for the
conduct OF the administration. He has
the power, under the Constitution, to re-
qnlfe the opinion la whiting Of the head
of any executive department upon any
subjsct relating to the department; but
this authority IL over tue cnipfs of de part.
mentI, a. such, aud not over cabinet Off
GERS, which are not known to tbs Uousti-
tuition. Formerly the cabinet WAS asst u4-
Died Whenever th5re was something to be
brought before 1t, but low there are
regular days OF meeting tuesday aud
Friday of each week. The President
usually selects his cabinet from the lead.
ing men of bis party, but there is no rule
VI requirement upon him IL this resp. Ct
he may choose whOmsoevsr he pleIses
out, Hfitr his choice, 1t remaius for tn,
Senale TO conhfm the appoin ment. IL /,
customary to allow the President th,
fullest latitude III selecting his cabinet. be
cause he IS responsible for the admins
trAuon. Even o,uate controlled ny th,
oppoi iti0h party usually confirms til,
fr' slueut : cabilet selections.