The times., 1899-12-04
MONDAY. DECEMBER 4. 1899.
Congress and the President.

Congress and the President.
Both the Senate and the House of Rep
resentadves are now Republican. by safe
msjorities. Never since the close Of the
Civil War has the party now in power been
SO thoroughly responsible as it viii be for
whatever legislation shall be enacted by
the Fifty-sixth Congress. It is, therefore.
proper on the opening day OF the session
20 present 70 the membership of the two
houses for individual consideration, a
question which is agitating the minds OF
the American people very. actively at this
time. This question is: Has the Govern
ment Of the United States undergone an
institutional change, and. from being one
composed Of executive, legislative, and
Judicial branches, each free and independ-
ent Of the others in its own legitimate
constitutional sphere, has it become a
gigantic, syndicated trust. its other parts
subordinated to and their powers absorbed
and welded by the Executive?
This is a question 10 which the American
masses do not expect an answer at once;
but il is probable that a constructive one.
sufficiently convincing, viii be presented
in the developments OF the next few weeks
in Congress. The picture Of a legislative
body acting in entire harmony with the
Executive may be an agreeable one; but
IT, upon analysis. it shows control by and
ahject submission to Executive designs
and purposes on the part OF the Legislature.
without regard TO their justice, expedi-
ency or constituuouality, it is at least
competent 10 offer the suggestion that such
q state Of things is not in accordance with
the high conceptions of liberty and inde-
pendent self government that led the
fathers OF the country TO evolve and en-
act the Constitution of the United States,
nor is il in any wise agreeable to the
terms Of that historical. and, until recently.
binding document. There may be those
who thing differently. To such we have
only to say that they need not pretend to
consider the Constitution a good or use-
fuI thing. because it cannot be. from their
point OF view.
IN making these remarks we do not forget
that it may be extremely convenient for
the Administration to take advantage Of
the condition Of suppression In which it
finds the House Of Representatives, after
The extinction Of its independence and of
the rights and functions Of its members
By Thomas B. Reed Neither do we fail to
remember that when the whole power Of the
popular branch Of our Legislature has been
absorbed by and was exercised by Speaker
Reed, IN defiance Of Constitution, law. and
decency, the Administration regarded the
revolution with disfavor Il may be in
ferred. however. that this was because Reed
had set up a personal sutocracy obstructive
TO the Executive. Now that It IS feasible
10 perpetuate the crime against the people
in the interests Of the Executive, and IN
der its absolute and irresponsible control,
we observe that there IS no hesitation in
selzing upon the opportunity.
The Reed rules are to be re-enacted. and
the House Of Representatives is therefore
TO be deprived OF all privilege OF initiative.
Of free speech. and its members Of recogni-
tion. except as she last may be accorded at
the viii Of the Administration agent domi-
mating the body. Its proceedings viii be
definitely limited to perfunctory compli-
anee with and registration Of such orders
as may be promulgated by the Executive
through its mouthDieee in the chair.
As we have demonstrated heretofore, the
adoption and perpetuation OF this Reed sys-
ten Of one-man legislation involves conse-
quences. some OF them collateral. which do
not hal, at the door OF the House. UIu-
mateIy. the country might think II wise to
do away with the attempt at parliamentary
government altogether. The promise Of the
present time is that We shall soon be able
20 see how the affairs Of the nation would
be managed under a scheme Of govern
ment solely executive in character. since
except in a nominal sense, the power and
influence Of the legislative branch has been
reduced fully three -fourths. and what It
hiss lost the Executive has gained.
The veto power makes the President
practically legislator His influence is q
constant quantity. even II it is not always
exercised, and is measured BY the differ