The Calumet news., 1912-08-14
THE BRITISH CABINET.
1t Has No Legal Standing, but Rules
England.

sidney Low. the English writer, calls
attention to the fact that the British
cabinet has really no standing in law
though it is actually the body which
rules England He makes several in
teresting statements in describing the
situation.
The British cabinet has long been
one OF the mysteries Of that greater
/ mystery. the British constitution. To
I be quite exact indeed. it is not cor
rect 10 call IL part of the British
constitution. for strictly speaking ii is
unknown TO the constitution. The
cabinet today rules the country, but
| IL has no legal status. II was not un-
IN some ten or twelve years ago that
| the word cabinet" appeared on the
notice paper or other document.
4 cabinet minister takes the same
oath that every priyy councillor takes,
TO be true and faithful servant
unto the kings majesty as one OF his
ma jestys privy council" and to keep
secret al matters committed and re-
realed unto YOU or that shall be treat
ed secretly in council" The entire
body Of the privy council is supposed
10 advise the sovereign on affairs OF
state. but 10 be made a privy coun-
cillor today is practically an empty
honor. II is regarded as "A high COM
pliment. but If priyy councillor is
rot member Of the cabinet he hears
no secrets and performs no official
functions.
An the executive and political func-
tions u privy councillors have passed
into the hands Of those Of them who
form the cabinet. which is really a
secret committee of the kings serv-
ants who I'm practice collectively rule
the country so long as they remain In
Office.
But" as Sidney Low writes in an
article In the London Dali Mail, mo
act of parliament ever gave them
these powers. which could not be as
serted or defeated in any court OF law.
They are due TO prescription, acct
cent and custom
can do nothing. II cannot even write
letter or issue a signed order. n
has not indeed the means Of doing so.
for il does not keep a clerk or a type
writer. 1t has no Office nor has II any
money wherewlth To buy a sheet of
uotepaper The most powerful and inn
portant committee In the world *
without staff a secretary seal
minute book or fixed location
Whom a cabinet council sits II has
record of what was done at its last
meeting No one keeps the minutes.
and II Is stll deemed little con
trary 10 etiquette Tor any minister to
take note Of the proceedings or in
deed 10 write anything at the meet
ugs az all.
Tn Tact the cabinet council Is still
treated as If II were nothing more than
casual private consultation between
few of the privy councillors. II
bears the traces of it's ancestry, for II
was born over the dinner table.
1T originated in the reign of Queen
Anne IN those famous Saturday din
ners ~ which - select group Of the
privy council assembled 10 discuss the
affairs ~ their party without the pres
ence of the queen and Of colleagues
whose presence was not desired. The
cabinet has always kept the tradition.
l. is q secret committee of govern
ment and a secret committee of the
dominant party in parliament; and
where the one function begins the
other ends no one can ever say.
"All its members are collectively re-
sponsible for the acts OF one Of them
but there are no means OF knowing
what the decisions OF the cabinet are
at any moment tin they are embodied
In action. or how many of the. min
listers may dissent from the opinion Of
the majority or minority that really
directs the policy"
The recent promotion Of Sir Rufus
Isaacs. the attorney general. to the
cabinet Is double novelty. Not only
Is there no precedent for an attorney
general being member of the cabinet
but never before has the official an
nouncement Of the conferment of cab
met rank mentioned. az II did In the
case of Sir Rufus Isaacs. the words
his unajesty's cabinet" This APP
pointment. therefore. marks further
development In the acquisition of a
corporate existence by the cabinet
New York sun.
Cadiz, Spain. will this year ceie'