The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1913-03-11
GROWTH OF THE
CABINET SYSTEM

The presidents cabinet, one of the
most striking and familiar features of
the Federal government, came into
existence, in its w~ell-known form,
without the definite intention of the
founders of the republic. 1t was not
created by the constitution. All that
the organic law of the nation had TO
do with the formation of a council
destined to be known as the cabinet
is to be found in article 2. section .,
where it provided that the president
may "%require the opinion in writing
of the principal officer in each of the
executive departments, upon any sub
ject relating to the duties of their re-
speetive offiees.'
George Washington really made the
cabinet a part of the Federal govern
ment. He adopted the plan of calling
into frequent conference the heads of
the various departments, and from
being simply executive officers con
cerned only with the work of the
branches of the service in their
charge, they gradually became eoun-
selors of the president, and together
they formed a body much consulted in
reference to public problems. regard
less of their immediate official con-
~nection with the questions under con-
sideration.
The advantages of this method were
so manifest and so important that the
presidents who followed Washington
readily adopted his plan in respect to
regular consultations with the heads
of the executive departments, and the
cabinet has grown in power and
prominence to the present day. 1t has
also gained much in size.
At first it consisted of the secretary
of state, the secretary of the treasury.
the secretary of war, the postmaster
general and the attorney general.
Washington appointed these five heads
of great executive departments in
September. 1889. The next cabinet
place to be created and filled was Civ
en- to the navy in 1901. A secretary
of the interior was added in 1s49,
when the public lands of the nation,
the Indians and other matters had
created very important business.
No further change was made in the
size of the cabinet until 1859, when
the agricultural department was rails
ed to a rank which entitled its head
to a place in the president 5 council.
In 1905 the secretary of commerce and
ldDor TOOK ms seat at the cabinet
table, and the original limit of five
members had been widened to nine.
Now the tenth cabinet officer has
been created by the division of the de-
partment of and labor.
There is now a secretary of labor, the
older Office being continued as the de-
partment of commerce.. President Will
son starts his term with just twice as
many cabinet officers as President
Washington had for a country which
contained less than ! per cent of its
present population and spent less than
| per cent as much money. The re-
eeipts of the Cleveland postoffiee in a
month are greater than the total re-
ceipts of all postoffices in the United
States in any year when Washington
was president.
So the expansion of the cabinet can
not be considered unnatural or excess
sive. 1t has been much more moderate
and gradual than the growth of many
other features aud departments Of the
Federal governraent, and its rise has
been rather a question of prestige
than of bulk.-Cleveland Leader.