The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-06-19

1t may be that before long the mem
bers of the Cabinet and the heads OF
boards and commissions will be sub.
ject to open verbal examinations as to
the conduct of their departments.
Adoption OF the British system un.
der which members OF the cabinet are
allowed to sit in Parliament and are
required to render accounting OF their
work whenever Parliament demands,
is the purpose of a bill introduced In
Congress by Senator Mclean.
Back of the introduction of the bill
Is the wish of quite a number OF men,
bers of Congress that some means be
devised whereby Congress, in dslcgat-
| ing large powers to the executive
branch OF the Government. may keep
a closer watch on the officials eXer-
cising these powers.
Since the declaration OF war against
| Germany Congress has been called
upon to confer on the President and
his Cabinet aides extraordinary au-
thority. 1t has been charged on the
| floor of the Senate that the effect of
! this authority is to make the Presi-
| dent OF the United States the most
powerful executive in the world.
While II is,realized that most of these
powers are intended for use only dur
ing the period OF the war, Il is felt
that Congress should have some cheer
on them. Senator Mclean further ar
cues that a system of this kind would
permit closer cooperation and under
standing between the two branches OF
the Government and prevent many OF
. Hal kaN
Copy of Old Measure.
In submitting his bill to the Senate
Senator Mclean explained'that It was
in substance the copy OF a measure
advocated in 1881 by a select com
mittee OF the Senate consisting OF
Senators George H. Pendleton. W. B.
Allison, D. W. Voorhees,, J. C. Blaine,
NJ. c. Butler. J. J. Ingalls,, o. H. Plat,
and ]. T. Farley. The text OF the
measure as he introduced 1t follows.
BE II enacted, etc, that the Secre-
tsry OF State, the Secretary OF the
Treasury. the Secretary OF War, the
Secretary OF the Navy, the Secretary
OF Agriculture, the Secretary OF the
Interior. the Secretary OF Commerce,
the Secretary OF Labor. the Attorney
General. the Postmaster General, the
governor of the Federal Reserve
Board, the chairman Of the United
States Tariff Commission, the chair
man OF the Federal Trade Commits
sion, the chairman of the United
States Shipping Board, the chairman
OF the United States Bureau of
Efficiency. and the chairman Of the
Civil Service Commission shall be en-
titled to occupy seats on the floor OF
ha nF RanregGnta-
tives. with the right to participate
in debate on matters relating to the
business OF their respective depart
ments, under such rules as may be
prescribed by the Senate and the
House, respectively.
Provisions In Other Countries
That the said secretaries and Of
ficers, the Attorney General and Post
master General shall attend the ses-
sIons of the Senate on the opening OF
the sittings on Tuesday and Friday
OF each week and the sessions OF the
House OF Representatives on the
opening OF the sittings on Monday
and Thursday OF each week. to give
information asked by resolution or
reply to questions which may be pro- !
pounded to them under the rules OF
the Senate and House, and the Senate |
and House may by standing order |
dispense with the attendance OF one
or more OF said officers on either Of
said days"
In introducing the bill Senator Nc |
Lean laid before the Senate extracts |
from constitutional provisions of va
rious countries on the subject, as fol- |
lows:
AUSTRIA.
Fundamental law Of December 81.
1S6T-Art. IS. The members Of the
ministry are authorized to take part |
in all the deliberations OF the dele
gates in the Reichsrath and to sub
nit their propositions personally or
through the medium OF a delegate.
They have the right to be heard |
whenever they demand II. the dele
gates have the right to address
questions to the ministry or to any
one Of its members, to call for an
swers and explanations, and to nomi-
nate committees of inquiry, to which !
the ministers must furnish the neces-
sary information.
BELGIUM
Constitution OF 1S3l.-Sec. IL, Art.
SIS. The ministers have no deliber-
hNiNN NOltt VI the
legislature, except where they are
members thereof They have the
right to be present in each of the
chambers and to be heard whenever
they demand II. The chambers may
require the presence of the ministers.
BRAZIL.
Constitution of 1S24-Chap. ".
Art 50. The executive power eXer-
cised through one OF the ministers OF
state, the right to propose laws: and
IL is only after an examination made
by a committee OF the chamber of
deputies in which the law is to orig
mate that such proposition can be
into a bill
Art 81 The ministers may discuss
and defend the proposition after the
report Of the committee. but they
can not vote unless they are senator's
or deputies.
DENMARK.
Fundamental law OF 1S65.-v, 80.
The ministers in virtue OF their du-
ties have admission to the Rigsdag
and have the right during discussions
to participate in the debate as often
as they please. while observing the
established rules. They have no vote.
except when they are members OF
The Ts'd'E' FRANCE
Constitutional law OF July is. 1873
G The ministers have the right