Omaha daily bee., 1897-07-15
EASY EIT INSATisFtCTORY
Sd The Cautious Criticism of The Bee
is Chnrnc,cri:Irb.

THE Omaha Bee lnnOcently asks what
impropriety here viii be in Secretary Gage
ar4ttnE "a currency rTform h 6 for pres
lie belongs to the executive branch Of our
dual form of government and his interfer-
ence with the lawmaking branch would be
rcpugnaHt to the genius of our institutions. -
Denver Times.
That is an easy" answer to the Omaha
Bees inquiry but it is nOt altogether salts
factory The framing of bin by the sec
retary of the treasury on currency, revenue,
or any other subject affecting the national
finances, on lighthouses, lifc-slving steam
boat inspections, public buildings. or any
other matter under the direction of his
department. and the presentation of such
bill to cOngre s would not be such an lin
reference with the lawmaking branch" rs
would b. rgpuGuant to the genius of our
institutions" 1t would be no new de
parture, but strict conformity with long
line of precelonts. 1t is not merely the
right of the executive department to sug
gcst .egislRtion but a constitutional duty.
Blla for the consideration of congress are
framed in all the departments. They are
sent to the committees OF congress often
by request are presented, referred, ana take
the usual course Of legislation The sec
retary of the treasury reports directly to
congress, and it is customary for various
committees of thu two houses to consult
with him as to all legislation affecting reye-
nues and currency.
the United Stntca who has not a clear right
to draft a hill ANA get it before congress II
he can. The headg of the various executive
departments are supposed to have more
accurate lmOwrdEr than any congressman
c5n have Of hn matters under their care,
When they GrI, bl'J they ate not dictat-
ing, but rCspCC CtfuIly suggesting,
There is hdwhter, kind Of executive
interference wirh iaE Station that is 'Tepug-
nant t1 the geniua Of our Institutions " but
l. tlf l,fr gl,T siFnE tltp
present admintsF4ncn came in, The usc,
or a1.sS Of Pao9oss p 70 to the pr.4 ss
degree, reprehousbe To give Offices for
votes to rofusti iHDtOintments as a punish
ment for not nqyBlg as the administration
desires or to veto = public building bin N
the same spirit !s' unwawanted and cen
dcmnable interference In lawmaking. But
the mere drGitiag--fAi bill as sugges ion
to a committee Of congress is an entirely
inoffcnsiye and, .npt infrequcatly helpful
public service lTh6 legislative ana executive
departments areI Unnecessarily, very closely
connected Ihhi Aalter IS constltut'cnally
authorized and required to give to the
former such Information as will aid it in
the discharge OF it's duties. And the draft
ing Of bill, attended only as suggestion
to be sent to the capitol to 90 through the
legislative min is one OF the customary
WAYS of imparting such information,
our Denver contemporary Is needlesSy
sensitive as to the suggestion that Secretary
Gage draft a currency reform bill. We have
10 doubt that hundreds OF bills for this
purpose Will be dumped on cCngrCss before
the end OF next December. II S possible
that the administration may have plan Of
It's own and that the president and secre-
tary Gaze may recommend 1t to congress
That would not bo a new or strange thing
Eut If the administration were to attempt
to bulldo2e dlssentCrs in congress and try
TO force it's measure through with the club
Of federal patronage such action would
recall various complaints that were maze
during MIR. CIcyelands incumbency of the
presidential Office We feel morally ceT
tain. however that nothing OF the kind
Will happen.