Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-22
THE CABINET in CONGRESS
ny FREDERIO .. uAsKIN

WASHINGTON. July 21.-one OF the
most radical changes OF recent years
Is being proposed for our Federal gov
eminent. 1t is urged that Cabinet Of
fcers be invited, and also required.
to take seats in Congress, on certain
hxed days. with the privilege OF adj
dressing the houses and the duty OF
answering questions. Tho project finds
good deal Of support. though Ii is
long way from becoming law yet.
1t Is interesting at the moment rather
as sign Of. the times.
The idea is no new one. Apparently
II has been aroused from n thirty
hVe-year sleep by the war crisis and
the desire of Congress for lnforma ton.
Many members OF Congress feel that
they are not sufficiently well posted on
inside" details OF the many tremen-
dousiy important projects now under
way-the mobilization OF the National
Guard and the conscript army, the
antisubmarine campaign. the food con-
Serfation program the financial plan.
and half dozen others. They do not
accuse any one OF trying to hide in
formation from them. but they COM
plain Of lack OF machinery by which
they can get it quickly and exact
~. Hence the proposal to seat mem
bers OF the Cabinet in, Congress, where
member with question weighing
him down can get up and ask the head
or the department condemned.
Has Many Shortcomings.
AS matters stand to-day. a member
OF Congress who desires TO question
the administration can either nav a
personal visit to the Cabinet officer he
wants to see, or else he can intro
duce resolution calling on the exc
cutive branch to furnish Congress with
certain information. The first method
has many manifest shortcomings The
Interview between the member and the
secretary is unofficial there is no re-
cord OF what Is said for either party
to fall back upon in case Of dispute
In the future. the information is given
to only single member OF Congress
instead OF to the whole body, and in
many cases bitter political disputes of
the past may make II a delicate under
taking for Cabinet member and
Congressman or Senator to get to-
gether One way Of getting around the
lack OF permanent record OF such
semi official conferences Is seen in the
practice. growing more common. OF let
ters written from men high in the
executive branch 20 members OF Con-
gress and afterward given out for
publication.
The second method of asking a cues
'ion VI tne administration. by introduce
ing resolution, is being used quite
frequently. 1t Is a standard means
for the opposing political party to put
It's queries. and IL sets them down
on the records with great exact
ness for all time The trouble with
IL as method lis that IL Is slow. and
that IL can be delayed almost In
definitely by shunting IL down some
legislative sidetrack. Also, Just be-
cause 1t Is piece of opposition tao
tics. II Is likely to be lost on vote
This means in effect that no man can
ask question in this way unless he
can get a majority to back him, while
1t is we'll known abroad that the mos.
merciless and searching interroga-
tories-which are also the most salu-
tary and useful-usually come from
minority parties.
Other Ways of Questionins.
There are. of course. other ways in
which Congress- can question the adj
ministration. The executive branch has
It's unofficial. but wcll-recognlzed
spokesmen on the floors or bath
Houses, who will rise and champion
ITS policies when they are attack ed
The heads OF the important committees
are authorized in the plrt.cular field
mat their work covers, and where the
head OF the committed happens to be
in opposition. the leading member Who
supports tho administration Program
VIII answer questions which ire direct
ed ut the executive. This ARRANGEMENT
Is coEdemned. however. BIZ those who