Smyrna times., 1885-03-11
tut ne oWYTHU IIHIfS.
CONGRESSIONAL GOVERNMENT,

Far The Smyrna Times.
CONGRESSIONAL GOVERNMENT.
In Woodrow Wilson's book "Con- |
gressional Government" just issued by |
Porter & Coates, Philadelphia, impOr- |
tant information is given on the work |
ings of the general government, as it |
now is. While being mindful of the |
checks intended by the /" Fathers of |
the Constitution to insure better gov |
ernment, such as the States and Terri |
tories against the Federal Government, |
the Senate against the House, theiEx- !
ecutiVe authority against the Legisla- /
tive, the judicial against the National |
and State governments, the Senate |
against the President in appointments
and treaties, the people against the
House biennially, the Legislatures
against the Senate sextennially, and
the electors against the people in de-
Gliding the vote for President. Mr.
Wilson ignores this ideal constitution
and takes a new road in the intrOduc-
tory text that practically 1--WE are
really living under a constitution es-
sentially different from that which we
have so long been worshiping as our
own peculiar and incompatible posses
sion," and backs it up with proofs that
are apparent. This will make the
book dOubly important to the close
student of American politics and en-
ables the general reader to look in the
right direction from whence emanateS
government in its real sense here.
No attempt has been made to show
that Congress does not derive its exis-
tence and tenure from the charter of
the fundamental law of the convention
of 1887. Quite the contrary, but there
is proof that the extraordinary power
vested in the Speaker of the House, in
appointing all committees, virtually
| places the powers of government in his
and these committees hands, an incon-
venience and anomaly contrary to the
| spirit of the Constitution of 1887; that
this power having been vested in the
| Speaker in the first Congress has
grown with the growth of years until
now he is an autOcrat of the first mag
nitude, holding with few expert par
liamentarians the legislation of the
| country in their hands. Each chair
| man of these committees is the recOg-
nized leader of the special class of leg
islation entrusted to each committee
and do not cooperate. The most i'm
pOrtant bills affecting the interests of
the whole country are deliberated upon
in secret by these forly-eight little leg
islatures. Under the tyranny of the
rules individual independence and
ability are repressed. The House sits
not for serious discussion, but to pass
as rapidly as possible favOrably report
ed bills, entrusted to the keeping of
standing committees. Parties or party
lines are lost in the incOherency of vast
interests at stake, and are only lashed
into obedience under the whip of
Caucus" for casting its vote upon
some critical question. Congress, it is
shown, has increased the sphere of its
activity by steadily subjecting the de
tails of administration to the scrutiny
of investigating committees managing
all things so well that virtually the sub
stantial powers of government are in
in it's keeping. So long then as this is
not theory we must accept it as the
source from whence emauateS govern
ment, and so fix the responsibility tor
iniudicious legislation were it belongs
but it cannot be done. Unlike the in-
terpellatiOns of the French Assembly
to the government or the questions put
to the English ministry which midi
Gates policy originating with Ihe adj.
ministratiOn, as to the course Of legis
latiOn, the American Congress eva6eS
Judgment by emitting to outline a de
terminate policy, is where Mr. Wilson
makes a notable point in the suprem.
acy of Congressional power and the
absence of responsibility corporate ol
individual for injudicious legislation al
every session of Congress. AS IA rule
outside of the dry congressional min
utes from the public printer, the var
iOus constituencies of the country
know but very little whether any par
ticular sessions have been good or bad
If, then, responsibility is spread so thin
in a branch of the government that hai
: by extending the sphere of its activity
; assumed control of the government, il
fact, the responsibility should be nOmi
nal indeed that holds the Execu
c tive for the legislation of his admin
: tratiVe term, and it is more than likel,
+ this book will go a great ways toward
: cooling the ardor of those who eXpec
: wonders from the incoming admins
: tration. In speaking of the Executiv
Mr.. Wilson, although admitting tn
: duties of the Office occasionally to b
,. great and important, parallels it wit
v that of the Speaker who is equally su
y preme in matters of legislation. This
= it will be perceived, does not permi
y the President to be supreme in matter
i of administration except as the aT
}. pointer of those who are supreme i
7 the several departments, since Con
8 gress must ratify all the appointment
"a the tendency, the text goes on to say
- of this is for the most part to bring tn
duties of the President not much abOv
routine, and at the same time to cur
any exaggerated opinions that may
formed of the power of the cabiuet, fo
from being cOunsellOrs of the PresideI
they are in reality his colleagues will
al out the stability of being permaneI
ar in their tenure of Office. In renderin
at strict obedience TO Congress it is show
of is in compliance with the statutes el
n acted for their government, and hOv
ever partizan their selection may hay
been, they must sometimes obey Il
en opposite party. This reduces the
IS, somewhat to the rank of mere official
O. and indicates how far Congress has e.
s. tended the sphere of its activity all
n that the history of administrations
- not necessarily the history of partie
when it has been shown that Congre
lg is wanting in cOherency of plan al
a can impeach the President himse
It and make and unmake his entire offici
n family. From all this an intelligel
~ foreigner can but draw one inferen
~ and that the right one of the sour
1n from whence emanates our Cover
ne ment. Yet the means which Congre
'us has of controlling the departments al
M of exercising at which it aims q
no searching oversight in all that pertai
I; to the administration, is limited al
:, =, defective, and cannot well be otherwi
ny with its extended power, without v
tually setting aside all constitution