New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-09-20
MASSACHUSETTS, AND NEWvopr
REJoINDER TO THE COMMUNICATION,
THE WANING OF THE NATIONAL
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES"

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES"
Tc the Editor of the Tribune.
Sir: "A Citizen of Boston writes at great length
in Mondays Tribune in depreciation of the Ameri-
can House of Representatives, and especially
to belittle the Massachusetts delegation therein
Whatever may have been his object the exbib
ton O his lack OF comprehension of the general
subjects involved is manifest that it compels-
perhaps properly expressed. provokes-a citi-
zen of the Empire State to controvert his asser-
tons in several particulars. Without attempting
to fill the space occupied by him, you will per
haps. allow New-Yorker to challenge his COM
plant and state briefly what hastily to
him as the striking difference between the
general systems Of government of the United States
and Great Britain; also briefly to compare the
House of Representatives with the House Com
| mons.
The United Kingdom with its Parliament of near
" thousand years of unbroken record, with its
sovereignty vested in a long and illustrious line of
| kings and queens, has been governed by its
Parliament reality. while the regning sovereign
has generally been nominal or titular head of the
| nation who except very rare occasions. has
ventured to the real and forceful prerogatves
Of an executive MAGISTRATE as known the citizens
| Of the American Union. The American veto power.
so frequently exercised by President well
| by many of the Governors of the States of the
| Union. has during the last century seldom been
| used by a king queen Of England
Since the adoption of Magma Charta the veto
power of Great Britain has gradually disappeared
/ from view Meantime the influence and preroga-
tves of the general council of the ministers, and
especially the concentrated authority of their
| privy council. has constantly grown in power and
influence over the Parliament until the present
period. when the United Kingdom and the modern
/ British Empire may truly be said 10 De ruleu py
Parliamentary government
Thus il is made clear that the ruling power of the
two great English speaking nations is wholly and
| radically different. The House Of Commons. which
is about double the size Of the American House Of
Representatives, is apportioned between England,
| Wales, Scotland and Ireland and the members
elected by separate constituencies within each Of
| those countries. The members Of our House Of
Representatives are apportioned among the several
States Territories Of the Union in such manner
| the several legislatures thereof may provide by
| law The House of Lords consists substantially Of
a permanent membership while the American Sem
| ate is composed of two Senators from each State
thus preserving and assuring the permanent equai-
ty of the several States large and small. regard
less of territorial size population. Composed OF
| membership in each country wholly different in
| principle and from such widely different sources
and constituencies. no wonder that the personnel
of the several bodies should be difficult of COM
| parison. Indeed. may say that comparison is
| well nigh impossible. and therefore, it would be
| quite a waste of time.
| The Cabinet ministers are selected by the Crown
| from the membership OF the two houses of Parlia-
| ment Such of them occupy seats in the House
| Of Commons are expected TO resign therefrom and
submit themselves to the ordeal OF renewed cleo
| ton from their electoral constituency before be-
coming finally eligible their administrative posi-
| tons Members Of the House OF Lords. holding
| life membership therein, eligible as matter
| Of course when selected. and thus deadlock be-
| tween the Crown and the people in the wholesale
rejection of elective ministers is guarded against
| With US, the contrary, the President selects
| his heads of the several executive departments
from the citizenship Of the country at large. sub
| ject only to confirmation by the Senate While the
| body OF men thus chosen are by common courtesy
| termed members of the Presidents Cabinet It is a
nor laws of the United States can the word ''Cab-
BE b6sT e Rpd to a ss d
| the meetings of such members collectively: It VIII
dent il he chooses may never have meeting 4sf Of
each head Of department separately ana alone. or
| with any number of them
origin Of the United States nor that
and Ergns once STOOD as the two ieadne
the FnGn both a in % eRa 1se ts s6e
fallen BEHIND many states IN fee
OF in the popular branch of the
Congress. MASSACHUSETTS, now has twelve Repre-
nerIy Massachusetts pursued the policy of keeping
neT aye aRq n ND n9
| Latteriy the two States have reversed their posi-
tion and it should be no wonder if their respective
Weight in effective legislation SeWYork has Of
| late become conspicuous N the number of leading
positions held by the several members of her dele
| Many New-York Governors have gained wide
| pute by the resolute exercise of the veto power
and more especially in years since her peo-
pie provided by constitutional amendment that the
| Governor might veto separate items of appropria-
ton in general bill for support of different de-
| partments of the State government On the
trary. Massachusetts for many years almost wholly
| neglected that important prerogative Of good and
| wholesome administration.
While Massachusetts has kept busy filing her
Senatorial seats from the rank of her Representa-
ffves New-York has wisely chosen her Senators
from successful Governors and representative bust
while keeping her effective Representa-
tiveS in the lower house 20 become efficient
resenting her vast commercial and industrial in
terests In the great scramble and turmoil which
so often occurs in the House Of Representatives..
Only to-day we read Of the pitiable explosion Of
old Fort Winthrop on the Governors Island Of Bos-
Harbor. Contrasted with that fact New York
has already forced the removal Of the United States
powder supply from her beautiful bay TO a safe
| and secluded retreat amid the Hudson Highlands
| and hopes soon TO secure a greatly enlarged Gov
ernors Island for the ample accommodation OF the
army headquarters In the Port of New-York. Per-
ps If the citizen Of Boston who depores so feel
ingly the decadence OF the National House of Rep
| resentativeS were TO devote himself o certain
| other practical and passing questions the other
citizens Of Boston might think II well spent time
New York, Sept. 9. 1902 NEW-YORKER