The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-06-09
DUTIES AND POWERS.
THE PRESIDENT or THE UNITED
STATES NOT TO BE pITiED.

mo Authority snd Prerogatives Conferred
Upon the Executive by tho Constellation
Were Dictated by wisdom-Their Exer-
elise Cannot BE Called Petty Details"
The new paper for women called The
American Woman has department o.
politics" conducted by Por |
ia In the last number Portia proffers t.
Mr.. Cleveland her feminine compassion be |
,ause SO much of his time and thought !
In the exercise Of his constitu |
,ional prerogative Of giving out the fedora
sffices. Having expressed this Kind sympa
Thy, she says In conclusion:
"Somehow, as one watches this routiU
of national affairs, one Is prone to wonde
lust why tn the president falls so large
share OF the petty details Of the govern
ment's busineaA II seems such waste c
time and force" i.
We will tell Portia WHY this is SO. ans
she will see that It Is not at all wonderful
One Of the strongest muniments Of the
presidents Office is the power conferred Or
him by the constitution to make appoint
ments to office under the federal govern
ment by and with the advice and consent
of the senate" or of his own notion alone,
in the cases Of inferior officers" when
such authority Is expressly vested in him
by law OF congress. The president has nc
other constitutional power more important
to him. He cannot initiate or forward leg
islation. He can only recommend" to con
gress "such measures as he shall judge
necessary and expedient," but he can select
Officers Of the United States, +" subject only
to the approval of the senate.
Consequxntly this power is one Of the
chief safuAards Of the authority and dig
nifty Of the executive Office. If it were vest.
ed in the legislative branch Of the govern
ment solely, the executive branch would
have little actual power left to 1t. The
president could grant reprieves and par
dons for offenses against the United States
except In cases of impeachment" With
the concurrence Of two-thirds of the senate
he could make treaties, though that puts
the real treaty making power in the senate
He could ION extraordinary occasions con
vene both houses or either Of them" or ad
Ijourn them tin case of disagreement be
tween them with respect to the time of ad
liournment." He would have the power
of vetoing q bill of congress, subject
however, to the authority Of two-third.
Of congress to make it law over his veto
He would be the titular commander ii
chief of the army and navy Of the United
States and Of the militia of the severa
states when called into the actual seryic'
Of the United States" subject to the sol
suthority of congress ITO declare war,
raise and support armies" make rule
for the government and regulation Of tn
land and naval forces" and provide 70
calling forth the militia toexecute the law
of the Union, suppress instructions an
repel invasions."
The great and inalienable powers of tn
president under the constitution are there
fore confined to the power of veto, max
ing his will equivalent to that of two-thirl
Iof congress, the power ofnegotiating treatie
agreeable to two-thirds of the senate an
THE power of selecting officers and agents
subject to confirmation by the senate. TIL
most important of these powersin the prat
tical conduct of an administration is tn
last II congress or the senate had th
ability to select the officers and put ther
3 lon the president against his will, his az
ADMINISTRATION would be completely at II
mercy. He would be the mere creature {
: the legislative department. The executiy
would not have independence enough to n
g tain the respect of either congress or I'll
Z people.
As it is under the constitution, the pres
: lent holds his power over congress chief
. through this prerogativ OF selection of b
- agents. Congress cannot thrust on hi
y agents he does not want He picks out b
J, iown agents. and the senate must take ,
: reject them. The Offices being SO hume
d ious, they accordingly constitute an esse
tial element of the political strength of Il
H.. To- Ia, hanAe ha ar
h preserve the equilibrium between the exc
2: Intive and Legislative departments of Il
- government. He can use them as his mo
: efficient means OF influencing congress.
y These, Portia, are the facts, and they e
p. plain why to the president falls so large
share of the petty details Of the COVER
n ment's business" But the selection of {
: lIiceholders Is not petty detsl. 1t is
!" large and important prerogative of the e
.cutive office. With the exception of
:. The exercise of the right to veto and &
t"l suggestion of treaties to the senate, all q
> lther business intrusted to the preside
= consists Of petty details. 1t is chiefly Gel
ID monial, making Of him figurehead onl
oj With the power to select and "commissi
ill officers of the United States" he h
: real and positive executive authority,
e tringic in his Office and not conferred
lie congress-
Or or course the process Of making the
lection Of so many thousands of officers
Id somewhat laborious, but in fact presider
.. nave so small "a range of other duties unt
n the restrictions of the constitution Ii
they have ample time for the discharge
=. duty SO valuable to their Office 1t can
M ~, performed and In actually performed
,ldl Mr.. Cleveland now during few hours
Il each working day. His ceremonial flu
lions aside and the adjournment of c,
n gress relieving him from the necessity
ck considering and signing bills passed,
.o management of the offices is his main bu
/ ness Their distribution also brings h
Ii in contact with the most active represe
,as atives of his party from all parts of
M ~ Union, and thus he is enabled to get vi
ret of political sentiment Of prime importal
to him in his administration.
=, The recourse of office seekers to hi
es, moreover, Is tribute to his power VIII
w cannot be ungrateful to the human nat
Iof a president. 1t Is necessary, too, q
4tfl either by direct personal contact or throt
Fl information conveyed to him by senat
NJ and representatives the president sho
Ct. lacquaint himself with the quality, qua
II cations and Just claims of the many th
&C., &C.. sands Of individuals he is to appoint as
of ecutive agents.
N. Presidents accordingly do not deserve
tender sympathy which il SO creditabl
sol Portals feminine heart. They are rat
pod, enviable men. They have attained
las' highest end to which political ambi'
s1st can aspire in this republic. Having
- the power from the people. they are gla'
.ne exercise 1t. 1t is what they were at
NV NV As compared with the run of active b
rtg. ness men, they are not overtaxed. The,
Ter not work harder than kings and emper
II New York Sun.
II
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