The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-11-17
LAWRENCE DISCUSSES
CABINET COACHING
BY DAVID LAwR1NcH.
Copyright. 1920. by The 1ntelligencer.

Washington. Nov. lS.-If President
elect Harding will select his cabinet py
February or thereaboutS, and Will
send his ten associates to washington.
they will find the ten cabinet onicers
OF the Wilson administration SIaa 10
familiarize the new cabinet onlclais
with all the routine Of the government
departments.
This suggestion. which IS not prompt
ed by the Wilson administration. put
has been talked about in Official circieS
BY persons who want TO see the transfer
of Eoyernmcnt acchml lished with the
least annoyance and Inconvenience 70
the American people. really eHanates
from those who constantly nave oasi-
ness before the government DEPART
mcnts, and who fear $hat ID the ordi-
nary procedur is followed II VIII Do
April or May before action can be op-
tained on pending matters.
Usually II takes a new caninet ohiGer
At leas, month to learn the routine
OF his department. During that period
he is dsDendent unon subordinate or
"details whom ne does not know. Tney
put documents before him to sign. and
ne must either xiv" his approval or
take the responsibility Tor DELAY IN
some cases decisions are urgent ana
there Is no other course hut to take the
advice Of departmental suoordlnates.
Co-oneratton Desirable. -.
When President Wilson was elected
In 1912 Secretary Knox recognized the
Importance OF getting early co-opera-
tion between the outgoing and incoming
administrations. eSn"Eia, on .bae Sae
Mexican situation. which was tnen
acute. Huntington Wilson. assistant
secretary OF state was selected 10 ad-
wise the new administration ABOUT
pending matters. However. there Is no
rnmparison between the number or vital
questions which as Il consequence OF
the war are before the government de-
partments today. and the routine mat
tcrS OF eight ears age. :
For instance. the treasury department.
Is in many respects even moro import-
ant than the department OF state now
edavS, because the finances OF the
whole world boar relationship 70 the
action of the United States treasury n
months time spent ny the new secre-
tary OF the treasury before he actually
assumes res ~onsibility would be inValu-
able.
Indeed. there Is no reason why all
the time between the November cleo
lion and inauguration should not be
employed by members OF the new ad-
ministration In studyinT closely the
problems they are to tackle later on
The incumbent administration would
have no objection TO opening all MES
and furnishing all data In fact In a
United States government abroad
would be better protected IL there were
conference between the two American
administrations In several cases Tor
elgners have attempted TO take adyan-
tagc Of the transition period e further
their own interests. ''
Master Of Courtssy.
The whole thing Il purely matter
OF courtesy and ia not covered by any
particular precedent. In some cases
cabinet officers have stayed on atter
their successors were appointed. but
while assistance has been helpful the
responsibility OF the. new official dates
from the moment he takes the oath or
office. and he has no time for researcn
or investigation. A month or TWO Dc
FORE the inauguration affords q better
opportunity TO get hold Of routine
opestions, op because it is sort OF slack
nerIod i'm government. When once a
new administration Is Installed the
avalanche begins. Onice seekers ana
political friends consume time that
should otherwise be devoted TO learn
inr the ropes Many a cabinet Official
has hcep in a daze for weeks after ne
took orr!cc simply because h" has no
time TO get his bearinPs but must take
Immediate responsibility for every
thing in his own department.
II il also suggested that President
elect Harding would be materi" as
sisted II MS Ieu SdObASN ShASSAS "NA
already familiar with the detail OF
pending questions when the first cabi-
net meeting is called. There Is no
uolitical disadvantage In the scheme. as
The Democratic administration Is re-
sponsible for everything that Is done
In the name Of the United States gov
crumcnt until noon OF March 4. but
there IS a decided ADVANTAGE TO the
public at large. because the transfer OF
government nowadays will not be as
simple as il used 10 be before the war.
l'nless some such plan Is adopted the
government departments will practically
stand still for many weeks while the
new cabinet officers trr to ac""~'om
themselves 10 their new surroundings
and master the complexities Of govern
rneut business.