The sun., 1885-02-08
TIE F.aes, e.s Of Congress.

Since Mr.. Cieveland's surprising announce
ment that the President whose assent is made
BY the Constitution indispensable tuness SUI
persedcd bp q two-thirds vote OF both Houses
OF ConHress) to every act OF Federal legisla-
tion WAS In his view purely executive officer
II has become evident that some energetic
measures should be taken to extend the popu-
lar acQusiRtancs with tho fundamental attri-
butss OF the several departments OF our ma
tioAAl Government. A useful step in this direc-
tion has been takon by Mr.. WOODROW WILSON
In manual called Congressional Government
whose purpose 10 to slucidats the principles
and workings Of the mainsprngs or driving
wheels OF our Legislative machinery. The COM
plets attainment OF the object which the author
here sets before him should involve. of course
uot only an examination OF our organic law
and study Of those political evolutions which
have determined its Interpretation and opera
sion. but vigilant comparison OF It's specific
features with those both OF parlismentary gov
prnmsnts from which II obviously differs
WIDELY and also with those OF other presiden.
ttAl governments. from which its variance.
though lass pAlpable is still considerable.
The acope Of tho inquiry thus defined
will be recognized at once as broader
thun any investigation which has previously
been made by De- Toc1uevIe. Mr. BaGohot. or
any deliberate student Of tho sub,sct. and we
cannot say that Mr.. Wilson's scrutiny ha, been
exhaustive. for he might have drawn light
trom many administrative nnhogues which he
nAs seen III to overlook. His inspection even
81 the French system which Is not wholly dis
regarded) Is by no means so minute as could
90 wished. and the author has neglected the
suggestions and the warnings offered by the
attempts to copy with more or less eSncttuds.
our political institutions in the Spanish
A,,,ar ~
experiments in rorpore rih ms have bren wit.
asssed In Mexico. Peru. Ecuador. and New
Grenada are not to be too sweeping
disdainsd. and tho specific type o.
presidential government which has been
developed In Chilli. to the signal fur
thsranos OF order. prosperity, and national
expansion. would repay respectful attention.
80 far as this BOOK is n study OF comparative
politics, tina principal object of comparison is
not another form OF prosiientia, government
but the primal exemplar OF the parliamentary
system presented In Great britain. This par
tieular brunch OF tho inquiry. though Mr.. Viii
son has loft. as NO nave said. certain aspects OF
the general subjSct uni!iumined, is thoroughly
suthor. wnero he pnrsuas Mr.. Bnsehots process
Of co!lstton. points out some essential differ
sncos OF function and many practical diver
gsnelss hstwesn our House ~ Representative,
and the British House NJ G 'mmons that se"m.
to havo escaped lha eye Of ,hs English pub!icisi.
There Ia no doubt that Mr.. Wilson has iasi
his nnger on capital defect of Mr.. Bagehots
conclusions when he demonstrates that the
Fundamental distinction between tho workings
Of tho EnIlsh system AMI 'hs operations ot our
own lies not so much In the obv.nDS cun'ra,,
between the virtual omninot"nce ot raumcn;
and the important role assigned to the presi-
tial In Ia fasf INT
sional government 10 committee government.
whereas parliamentary government 10 gov
rnment BY . responsible Cabinet Ministry.
In other words. our Congress spends its
time working IN sections, called committees,
as preparing plane. tnstoad Of oonhnins itself
Mts the British Parliament TO the function OF
dsbstiss aAd raviAiss slAus pvsnarsd for its