The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-06-29
A GREAT SPEECH ny MONTAGUE

brilliant and thoughtful address to
the PENNSYLVANIA Bar Association at
New Bedford Springs last night in
which he discovered to his unfamiliar
audience IAN intimate familiarity with
the constitutional structure OF the Gov
eminent ana a statesmanliks grasp OF
the subject Of constitutional progress"
We should not have been surprised
at that, as the speaker is known
among his own people to be q partic-
ularly dill. mt studen. of govern
ment a good deal more than an able
lawyer engaged in the active practice
OF his profession and consumed with
his books and briefs alone
Governor Montagues subject was
"a More Effective Cabinet" or as
he amplAed his text. "a re-
form of the Federal Cabinet,
whereby its members may occupy
seats on the noor OF each House OF
Congress, with right OF debate upon
matters relating to their several de-
pnrtments, and with the corresponding
right of each House to compel their
attendance and to propound interrog-
atories and interpretations under APP
propria;e rules of procedure In other
words" said the speaker. Il would
urge the eNpediency OF n more eiYcc-
tive Cabinet system. somewhat analo-
Eous TO most of the Legislative gov
ernments OF the world. so far as such
reform can be effected under cut pres
Ont constitutional limitations"
The question is not altogether new,
rs Governor Montague showed In
1864 select committee of the Senate.
and again in 1881 committee of the
House recommended the passage OF
bills embodynE the suggested reform.
There WAS no question on either occa-
sion as to the constitutionality of the
measure There can he no question
of the sort now. The President is
required to give TO Congress nfor-
nation from time to time OF the state
Of the Union. 1t Is not provided by
what steps he shall carry out this
constitutional command. Down to the
time OF Jefferson the Presidents APP
peared before Congress and person
ally addressed or delivered their mess
ages 10 that body. Under the law OF
1883 the Secretary of the Treasury
has the right to appear in person
before Congress. Congress can pro
vide the method and conditions under
which the members OF the Cabinet
shall present the affairs of their sew
eral departments. to that body.
Members of the Cabinet now appea =
before the committees OF Congress to
give Information about their work
and to present for the consideration
of the committees such Views as they
may wish or as the committees shall
require. uRon matters OF public ac-
count During the present session OF
Congress there have been various
fdemands" that the members of the
Cabinet shall explain or enlighten Con
Gress upon many matters OF large i'm
portance, and all this has been OF
distinct disadvantage to the public
service. the hiatus existing between
the Executive and Legislative powers
40 Governor Montague showed, having
Ia demoralizing Influence in the Gov
eminent and leading to attempts to
accomplish by secret means and com
pick processes what should be done
openly.' 1t was this view which i'm
PEELED Story to say that "the Execu-
tive is compelled TO resort to secret
Rnd unseen influences. to private in
terviews' and private arrangements. To
accomplish It's own appropriate pur-
poses instead OF proposing and sns-
tanning its own duties and measurs by
bold and manly appeal to the Ma
hon in the face OF its representatives
Governor Montague showed that the
CABINET as now constituted is an ex-
IRA constitutional body 1t is not for