Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-06-04
Capital Again alks
Of Coalition Cabinet
Lansing, Gregory and Burleson Not Up to War
Work Is Observation-Disclosures Lifts News Ban

measure agree that if greater care and
more intelligence had been shown in
the preparation of both these bills
they would have stood a better chance
of overcoming the fundamental objec-
tons that accomplished their defeat.
Greoory's Bills Criticised
Since the rejection of the variously
amended Espionage bill, which will
long live in the memory of legal ex-
perts in Congress as the most anna
flourish" and ''unworkman- like legal
process ever submitted to Congress-"
the expert lawyers in the Senate have
begun to discuss the necessity for
reform that will prevent a repetition
OF such incidents. Senator LaFollette
announced that he would revive the
project proposed by him four years
ago to create a committee to scrutin-
! ize bills submitted by the Department
OF Justice and other executive depart
ments of the government before in
PRODUCTION in Congress.
The Wisconsin Senator made a fight
for this measure four years ago with
partial success that crystaliZed i'll the
creation OF Legislative reference bu-
fttH III COHTtttiOl VIII liiS OillCc VI
librarian of Congress. The sum OF
$4,000 was appropriated for the main
tenance Of this bureau. but the results
have not been as valuable as contem!
plated, probably because heads Of
committees fail to take advantage of
the services OF the bureau.
The practice has been to introduce bills
sent by legislative departments without
submitting them to the legislative refer
ence bureau. on the theory that the de-
partment of justice had exercised a rea-
sonable degree Of diligence in checking up
it's legislative propositions with the eX-
listing laws.
The agitation in favor of coalition
cabinet appears to be partly due to polt-
ical causes. but mainly to the interpreta-
tion most generally placed Oh the action
regarding the censorship feature Of tho
espionage bill Republican leaders point
! to the fact that the war program Of the
Democratic administration has been saw
ed from defeat by Republican votes ami
assert that their party is entitled to par
ticipate in the active manage ment Of the
affairs of the government during the war
emergency.
They contend that the country would be
in a better position to carry on the war
! IL party lines were entirely obiterated
by the composition of a cabinet not en-
tirely composed Of members Of the Pres
ieent's own political party.
The chief consideration responsible for
the agitation. however, seems to be wide
spread conviction on the part not OF leg
iS1ptnr4 MI nf thro,,C1,o,,t ha
country. that the interests Of the country
demand the retirement of at least three
members Of the Presidents cabinet Who
are not generally regarded as possessing
qualifications that inspire confidence in
their respective abilities to perform the
important tasks assigned them in so great
an emergency. .-.
Lansing, Gregory and BurIeson
The cabinet officials singled out for
criticism in this respect are Sec Of
State Lansing, Attorney General Greg
DRY and Postmaster General Burleson,
none Of whom are esteemed by their
critics to have instanced their capac-
lty for solving the important prob
lens arising from war conditions.
The main criticism of Mr.. Lansing is
his manifest determination to with
hold from the public matters affecting
the interests Of the people. Congress
sional comment regarding Attorney
General Gregory is inspired by the
quality OF the legislation he has pro-
posed to Congress Objection to Mr.
Eurleson is based upon his lack Of
tact and dictatorial methods in his re-
lations to congressional leaders, who
in the absence Of more definite infor-
nation have been led to believe that he
is the spokesman for the government
in legislative matters.
The President has not indicated that
he is being Influenced by the criticisms
Of his ministers. To all intents and pur
poses he still clings tenaciously to the
belief that his cabinet as whole is
adequately capable of cooperating
with him in the conduct of the war.