Evening star., 1914-11-23
President Considering Meeting
With Senate and Cabinet
Members With House.
STONE SAYS NO ONE
WOULD OBJECT TO FIRST
House Members and Senator Borah
Declare Only Elected Persons
Permitted in Lower Body.

| A report that the President is consider
| ing meeting with the Senate in executive
| session when that body has before it ex-
| ecutivc business, and that he also is con-
sidering the recommendation that cabinet
officers be admitted to the deliberations
of the House. caused considerable COM
ment at the Capitol today. The idea was
| expressed that the administration had
allowed this report to leak out as kind
Of ''feeler." and that If the comment was
| favorable. the plan would be put into ex-
ecution.
| Senator Stone, chairman of the SEN
| ate foreign relations committee, who
has just returned to Washington. said
| that he knew nothing of the matter ex-
| cept what he had read in the news
papers.
| II do not think that any one would
\ be likely to object II the President de-
ecutive session. said Senator Stone.
| Special provision is made in the rules
of the Senate for his attending execu-
tive sessions. There might be occa-
part in person to the Senate his view
of important international matters.
when it would be highly commendahle
for him to meet with the Senate in ex-
| a minute that the President would be
present, however, when any vote was
taken on a treaty. or that he would ap-
pear in the Senate when that body was
| considering nominations made by him.
Borah Is Opposed.
Senator Borah of Idaho said: "As to
| the Presidents sitting in executive ses-
sions Of the Senate relative to treaties
and nominations, there is no particular
reason why he should not do so, SO far
as the Constitution is concerned. But as
matter of practice, prophesy it would
not be long continued.
LAS to the proposition of the cabinet
| sitting with the House, if this is to be.
| then I am in favor Of the election Of
| posed to any mans sitting in the legis-
lative' halls, having anything to do with
shaping legislation, who does not come &C.
credited through popular vote y "
is deemed expedient or practicable to
elect heads Of the departments. with the
| knowledge upon the part Of tie people
| that they are to be- lawmakers In a cer-
| tain sense. well and good. Wen try it,
and adjust our Constitution so that We
| may do it, -
House Members Laugh.
Members of the House. when asked
their opinion as to a cabinet member
| appearing OIL Tic uOOT VI tLS I1ouSc al
an advisory capacity with the right to
speak, were inclined to make all man
ner of fun of the suggestion. The idea
carries too much of the ministerial at
mosphere of the English method of
having the cabinet explain to the par
lament the policies Of the government.
The rules of the House would have
to be changed" said a southern MEM
ber of Congress today. 'and l cannot
conceive of situation where the House
would even think of such thing. The
House of Representatives. since its
earliest days, has been proud of the
fact that 1t is the direct representative
Of all the people; that it is responsible
20 no one except the people. ana nat in
sitting there to listen to the advice Of
men who are not elected to office 1t
would be lowering its power in the eyes
of the people. and lowering its dignity
4 in its own eyes.
| People may forget that cabinet Off
GERS are not constitutional officers: that
| is. they are merely advisers of the
| President. and cannot mingle with
elected officers of the government on
| the same terms"