The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-11-17
|LOTUS CLUB HEARS
.IAEI'S SWAN SONG
CONTINUED From Fret Page.)

(COHtlnue0 xskeS SoS'y
but it is responsive to a public demand
and therefore let's propose 1t.
1t is contrary TO my own love OF
the dear old Constitution to Suggest
any alteration in it's terms, lest u De
regarded as reflection upon, or
criticism of that which has been PUT
to the sacred use Tor AS years OF
maintaining liberty regulated by law.
and the guarantees OF the riShts Vi
the minority and the individual under
the rule of the majority. But yield
ing to the modern habit. and just TO
show that. though l am a conservative.
l am not a reactionary. I venture the
suggestion that il would aid the en-
cheney Of the executive and centre ms
energy and attention and that of his
suhordinates in the latter part ~ ms
administration upon what is purely
disinterested public service, if he were
made ineligible after serving one term
Of six years either to succeeding or
a nonconsecutive term.
y am a little specific in this matter
because il seems necessary TO De 50 IN
order TO be understood. ! don't care
how unambittous or modest president
is. l don't care how determined ne is
that he himself will no, secure his
nominal ton iand thAre are very Few.
indeed who go to that EXTENT. sun
his subordinates. equally Interested
with him in his reelection. VIII. when-
ever they have the opportunity, exert
their influence and divide their time
between the public service and the ef.
fort to secure a chiefs nomination ana
reelection. IL is dtfhcuF 10 prevent
the whole administration from losing
a part of its effectiveness for the pVpEc
good by this diversion to political eff
fort for at least a year of the four OF
each administration. This made i'm
possible by law, | can See no reason
why the energy of the President ana
all his subordinates might not be dl.
rected rather to making a great record
of efficiency from the first and only
term. instead of seeking second term.
Four years is rather short time IN
which TO work out great government
policies.
Another suggestion l would make
is that Legislative steps should be taken.
for there is nothing IN. the Constitution
TO forbid II, bringing more closely to-
gether the operation of the executive
and the legislative branches. The
studied effort to maintain these
branches rigidiy separate IS. think.
mistake. l would not ADD any more
actual power to the executive in leSis-
lattve matters, nor would j give the
executive any more actual power IN
executive matters. The veto. on the
one hand and the confirmation or APP
pointment and ratification of treaties.
on the other. would not change. Eut
it does seem to me that they need not
be at arms length. as they no" are
under our present system.
Keep Congress Informed.
st has been proposed twice in our
history after the fullest consideration
by some of the wisest statesmen We
have ever had. TO pass law giving TO
each department head a seat in the
Senate and the House. and the right
to enter into the discussion OF the
proposed legislation in either Of the
national Legislative bodies. This would
keep Congress much better informer
as to the actual conditions In execu-
i've departments 1t would necessi.a1e
the appointment to the Cabinet Of men
used to debate and to defend their posi-
lion and il would offer an opportunity
Cor the public TO judge OF the eNecu-
live and the government much more
Justly and much more quickly than un-
der our present system The ignorance
that Congress has at times OF what
IS actually going on in executive de-
aartments is frequently brought sharp
" to the attention of competent OBJ
servers.
The rules Of the two houses. as i
am advised, prohibit the use of abusive
language by one member against an
other. A somewhat close examination
of the rules. however. OF both houses
does not show that there is any Hmrta-
ton upon the parliamentary charac-
ter Of the language which may be d1-
rected against the President. As TO
him. the members pursue their own
sweet Will. and that sometimes LEADS
them .nto language and epithetical
description of the chief executive that
could hardly be called complimentary.
IF members OF the Cabinet were al
lowed on the floor. their very presence
would suggest the possibility Of reply
or moderation in discussing the admin
;s.ration which does not at all times
prevail The strongest reason for ad-
voca,inr this change, however. is that
the influence the executive shall have
in shaping legislation shall be more IN
harmony with the responsibilities that
the people hold MIN to in respect 10 II.
He is the head Of the party that
elected him. and as such, il Congress
= controlled by the same political
party. as /, generally IS. he IS looked
ta 10 shape che congressional policy
and TO secure the passage Of the stat
utcs which the party platform has
promised.
of course. the -eassuring formula