Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1905-01-13
Executive Usurpation.
Huntington Free Press, ]


While some of the Vermont newspa-
pers are bewailing the extent to which
the legislature stripped Nermonts eNecu-
tive of powers which rightfully belong to
the office, it is worthy Of note that peo-
pie are becoming impressed by executive
usurpation in connection with national
affairs Prof James T. Young at the
meeting of the Political Science associa-
ton in Philadelphia spoke Of the man
ner in which the legislative branch of our
government had come to be dominated by
the President. He combatted the idea
that this usurpation was due to Mr.. Roose-
Nelts powerful personality, or to his i'm
perialistic tendencies, "A theory which was
worked threadbare during the national
campaign by our democratic friends, or
that Presidents Cleveland and Mckinley
helped materially to promote it,
According to this authority executive
usurpation has come to stay, being the
outgrowth of modern influences. Com
gress is managed by party leaders and
these leaders naturally take their cue
| from the head Of the party who happens
| to be an occupant of the White House.
| The four causes which Professor Young
| holds responsible for the present situation
are the growth in volume of the govern
ment business; the rise of public ques-
| lions of a technical character; the popu-
| lar demand for greater speed in the trans
| action of public business and the growing
/ unNlelullncSS OF large LEGISLATIVE DOuleS.
There is one element which Professor
| Young does not take into consideration
| in this connection, however. The Presi-
| dent is empowered by the fundamental
| law of the nation to make such recon-
| mendations to Congress as he may deem
| wise from time to time The founders of
| our government plainly intended that any
| suggestions of this character should be
| merely recommendations that when the
| executive had sent his message to Con-
| gress his duty would be ended. 1t can
| readily be seen, however, how an eXecu-
| tive might come to have pride in having
| his suggestions carried out, and conse-
quently use the power he possesses as
natural head Il his party and as the dis
| penser of federal patronage to promote
| the passage of any measure recommended
| by him. On the other hand some Presi-
dents have been influenced by powerful
| personalities to promote action by Con-
| gress in instances where the executive
was not personally interested, as was held
to be the case with the late Senator
| Hanna In not few cases what Is call
| ed executive usurpation is simply the out
growth of plain politics, although this
| factor has not been particularly con
spicious during the administration o.
| President Roosevelt,
Professor Young is inclined to regarC
executive usurpation, If such 1t may b'
called, as necessary and good and worth!
| OF DelnB continued anu ne luluS 70 I'M
opinion in spite of the fact that 1t brings
the President into conflict with the spirl
of the constitution. He recalls the fac
that one of the last important acts o
Senator Hoar was to protest against TIN
executive custom of comforting with mem
bers of the Senate and the House OF
legislative measures pending in Congress
and attempting to influence the action o
Congress with reference to such meas
ures.
In spite of this apparent conflict wit
the spirit of the constitution the fac
remains that many of the importan
measures passed by Congress during tn
past five years were planned or promotes
by the President or some member of hi
cabinet. If we take into consideration
the Panama canal case or the Legislation
with reference to publicity in connectio
with trusts we can readily see how wha
has been called executive usurpation ha
worked to the advantage of the Ameri
can people. When ii comes to the ques
ton of a possible INSCRIPTIONS executive
the subject takes on an altogether differ
ent aspect.