The Washington herald., 1908-03-18
Executive Domination in Congress.

The magnitude OF executive power un-
der our forms Of government is one OF
the commonplace Of political science. as
it is one Of the stock bogeys Of denunci-
atory political oratory. The natural ac-
compartment of growing executive power
is declining legislative prestige. and Sen
ator Tillman, in perhaps the best passage
Of his speech of Monday. presented a
dismal picture OF the National Congress-
The House Of Representatives coming directly
from the people By popular vote has under the
uiles adopted By its members degenerated into
little more than recording machine to do the
vii of the Speaker aud his lieutensnts Freedom
Of debate IN the old and sense has disappeared
from that end Of the Capitol. and measures Of
the greatest importance are jammed through al
most withoat discussion under the Reed rules under
conditions which. 10 say the least are dseredtabie
In the Senate hardly less disgraceful condition
exists Servility and eowariics arc the order OF
the day. Freedom Of debate sin obtains. but the
shadow Of the Executive hangs over all. and the
Presidents wishes are almost the only Law. There
is some show Of resistance on matters affecting the
multimilliouairos and the great corporations. The
President writes scolding messages and makes in
hammatory speeches appealing 10 the unthinkins
and ignorant masses. He has the potent influence
Of the Press at his command he has used the
newspapers and magazneS IN exploiting what he
calls my policies with -6 and daring that
compel admiration. With hated breath Senator's
denounce his radical ideas in private and Oppose
in every possible way the measures which he
claInors for by the passive resistance Of noracion
No one Of the dominant party dares lift his voice
in opposition or denunciation. but the Executive
influence Is the only influence in evidence while
the Senate covers in silent resistance"
An astonishing portrayal of legislation
conditions. but is it not overdrawn and
highly colOred? 1t would have applied
more truthfully to the first session of the
Fifty-ninth Congress than to the present
session. in which the symptoms of inde-
pendence have been more pronounced.
Yet there is enough OF fact in Mr.. Till
mans observations to justify inquiry into
the cause Of Executive ascendency in
legislation The South Carolina Senator
mentions but one. the immense prestige
given the Executive by reason of his
control of patronage There is, however,
another Of more consequence. and that is
popular support of the Executive in the
proposals he brings forward for Con-
gressional consideration. No President is
able to force important legislation
through an unwilling Congress unless he
has public sentiment behind him, no mat
ter how freely h4 bestows patronage But
when the people are behind him. he is
able to bring TO bear a pressure on the
legislative body that is Irresistible Mr..
Tillman sketches in a few strong SEN
tences the mechanism by which the Pres
ident arouses public opinion That once
aroused, Congress has no option but to
respond.
Gov. Hughes. whose theory of execu-
tive participation in legislation is radically
different from that of Mr. Roosevelt. and
who has carried the policy Of non-Inter-