Evening star., 1920-02-15
The Cabinet.

The Cabinet
n4ecsetary Lansing's virtual dis
2ianal from ONCE brings directly to
- public mind that the cabinet is
net IN organic part Of the federal ad-
ainis4ration. It has come into being
n Tie view Of the people s. q distinct
entity only through long usage of the
term a identifying the group OF de-
partmental heads acting as a unit
when apmnoned by their chief, the
1kesideat There is in this country
- cabinet in the sense of q ministry,
= In Englsad. France or Italy, where
the government is administered by
Rroups of men who are responsible
collectively through their leaders to
Tie pasliamentary bodies. Save for
the 3aAyiee and consent" of the Sen
aAe in appointment, the members OF
tie President's cabinet have no direct
reaationship with Congress. They may
b summoned - witnesses in matters
of lssisaation or in inquiries into mat
tses Affecting their departments. They
resort, however, to the President and
30 responsible to him alone.
The Constitutions only reference to
;xAe so-called cabinet is that Of section
I2 Of article III, which provides that
ltAe President "may require the
Iopinion, in writing, Of the principal
.olIeeP in each Of the executive de-
paetneats." Congress may abolish,
1sses Or odd to the departments. 1t
NY By expansion make the cabinet
large body or By reduction . small
oae. Similarly. the President, II he
.sAsu3a desire, may eonfae his Heabi-
~ mestiaes" to two or three chosen
sdGiartaeat heads. Or he might, with
,etaal authority, invite to council any
s4Sr person than . department head.
lHe might, indeed. choose ~ advisers
pn0Dsfssas hs 1eeires outside Of the
oinaetrativs offaaisatioa and never
nDnsa his seabiast" in session.
50 these circumstances, with the
hAent in any case solely respon-
for The administration Of fed.
s6airz, the cabinet sessions have
seh grsys importance - would
A. L. - No.
WSlsen's ebjeetion to Mr..
axs nastioa in calling his col
= tsesshsR during the illness Of
kecutixe. The fact that the meet
Dnes 7Asld, however, was gssstly
il in tie crisis caused BY Mr..
NE ineapaeitation. The public
treasured that the government
sRetioniag in the absence of the
Of state. Informal conferences
have been held by the depart
haeds in their own Offices or at
own homes without evoking any
ism, but they would not have
90 effective in restoring public
asnee in the stability Of the gov.
sat. Thus in following an exam
Ist during the illness Of Presi.
Taylor, when the cabinet met
the chiefs chair vacant, seere-
y 'IAnsing rendered . valuable
iee to the country.
possible harm could follow the
nHpstion" Of executive authority
which the President has COM
ined in his letter to Mr.. Lansing.
here WAS NO concealment Of the fact
st the meetings were being held.
p he contrary, a. just indicated,
asch Of their value lay in publicity,
" the effect upon the minds Of the
psople. II 10 difficult, therefore, to
fe4Dsd the cabinet meetings - the
true reason for the breach between
the President and the Secretary Of
State. And in view Of Mr.. Lansing's
family avowed willingness and even
kfs desire to retire from his office
Which he restrained from q sense Of
loyalty to the President and duty to
the country in . critical situation
issh . matter Of the deepest regret
thst the President did not put the
esss squarel1 before the Secretary
when Ae found that their minds were
not Sgoing along" together and sug.
ssst . resignation, which would of
course have been at once forthcoming.
TIE country would have then been
sbsred . shock and would not have
btaa 20 sharply reminded of the fact
tAA$ fo1 several months the govern.
ment has been running virtually
without . head.
xstsntion is drawn to Mr.. Lansing
n man competent to perfect a
IuReRless resignation.
H4ssssning the Strike Menace.
eatative acceptance by the rail.
rod operatives representatives. of
the Presidents proposals for carly