The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-04-26
Ministers Responsible.


Leadership is exercised by the
prime minister and his colleagues, who
between themselves do the work which
is accomplished by the committees in
the house of representatives. All i'm
portant legislation affecting public
policy and the expenditure Of public
money must be initiated by the min
listers, and these proceed to elaborate
their measures in secrecy. The mi
nority party has no voice in their
council; the public is not taken into
their confidence until the time comes
to ask the sanction of parliament for
the proposed bill.
The American system gives oppor-
tunity for greater publicity; it some
times enables the minority to force
some of its ideas into the proposed
legislation; but it also facilitates OBJ
struction and leads to unseemly COM
promises and incoherent action. The
Canadian ministers being jointly and
equally responsible for any PROPOSE
ton brought before parliament by one
of their number, it is reasonably GER
tain that their measures have been
better natured.
Again, a republican congress may
disregard the recommendation Of a
republican administration on even the
most important question, without af-
fecting the relations between the two
branches of the party in other mat
tiers. The republican president, the
republican speaker and the republican
officeholders continue in office for the
legal term despite their disagreement.
A Canadian cabinet failing to push its
legislation thru is bound to retire
from office, which means not only loss
of power to themselves, but also to
all their followers.
Commons Powerful
1t will be seen that the commons
exercise power far greater than the
! house of representatives. since they
are not only the great legislative body,
but also hold the fate Of the execu-
tive in their hands. The power to
defeat cabinet meaning, as it does,
political revolution, is not to be
lightly exercised; and the ultimate
consequence is to give the ministers
better hold upon their followers
and promote party discipline. The
Canadian system operates to concen-
trate responsibility for the whole work
Of administration upon the prime min
lister, and he demands, in turn, greater
loyalty from those who wish to fight
| under his banner.
The Canadians are not subject to
be placed in the abnormal position of
having an executive which stands for
tive corps which works for another.
When they have given a mandate to
| a premier, they are measurably GER
tain to see their views carried out.
The provincial legislatures and eX-
ecutive are modelled after the federal
government and are as supreme in
all matters Of local interest. While
the central government has a right OF
veto over the acts of local legisla-
| lures, it has already become an es-
tablished precedent to allow them tc
settle definitely all matters within
| their sphere.
Indeed, with all the differences
noted above, the American, after {
short residence, soon finds himself a
home in Canadian politics. 1t is the
same old tariff question, with Incl.
dences of reciprocity, prohibition, i'm
perialism and socialism, with the as.
surance behind all that, whatever par.
ty may win, individual liberty AND
peace will be maintained.
| F. st, Pierre,