The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-07-19
ENGLISH CABINET USAGEs.

The English form of government is full
of political curiosities, which crop out
at every important turn of affairs. For
instance, Mr.. Gladstone has just been
elected to the House of Commons from
Midlothian; but, as soon as he takes his
place as pre- mier of the new Liberal gov
eminent, it will be necessary for him to
go back to Midlothian and be, elected
again. So it will be with every member
of the Liberal majority who accepts a
seat in the cabinet. Usually the opposi-
ton make no contests at these second
elections; but it is announced that this
year every one of the elections will be
contested. This curious and useless
naturally enough at first. A cabinet po-
sition under the English government is
quite different from the similar position
under our form. The President selects
the members of his cabinet according to
his own will, it being only necessary for
him to have the approval of the Senate.
This approval is largely formal, so far as
party relations are concerned, it being
conceded that the President should sur
round himself with advisers from his
own party. Thus, Republican Senate
readily confirmed the cabinet appoint
ments made by President Cleveland.
The cabinet officers of an American
President can have no connection with
either House OF Senate while holding
their places, nor does their advice neces-
sarily have any binding effect on the
President. They administer certain de-
partments of government, and with this
work their real authority begins and
ends. They are independent of Congress
in everything, save that they must look
to it for the money which keeps their
departments in operation. The position
of the English cabinet officer is far differ
emit. He administers a department of
government, as does the American; but
while the American member of the cabi-
net acts as the appointee or agent of the
President, the English officer acts as
COUllulUCCCllldli VI ul AAC laws {"
seat either in the House of Commons or
Lords, where he participates in debates,
answers questions and votes. He is at
the same time an executive officer, with
the duty of carrying into effect the votes
of Parliament. Of course the Queen will
summon Mr.. Gladstone to form
ministry; but really the Queen has
nothing to say in the matter. The Par
liarnentary committee called the Cabinet
long ago took the administration of exec
utive affairs from the hands of the Crown.
The curious practice of requiring mem
bers of the Commons to undergo second
election upon becoming members of the
cabinet came through an early effort to
purify the House of Commons from the
influence of the crown. In the days of
the Stuarts the Crown used to keep the
House of Commons plant to its will by
distributing pensions and offices among
it's members. In the time of Queen Anne
this practice was stopped by law inca
pacitating pensioners and certain office
holders from sitting in the Commons,
and requiring that those accepting GER
tain other offices like Cabinet places
should Immediately resign their seats,
and stand for reelection. This gave the
people chance to condemn the member
if he had accepted office improperly.
Later reforms have done away with the
nossihi1it of the SOVEREIGN cOrruntinp
Parliament, but the old usage yet re-
mains as a landmark. 1t is not abso-
lutely necessary that a member of the
cabinet shall be member of Parliament
as, for instance, Mr.. Gladstone was
Secretary of State from Dec. 1915 to July
1916 without, from accidental reasons,
possessing seat in the House of Com
mons. But this was contrary to custom,
j