The Washington times., 1921-05-21
POINTS WAY To
0PENU.S.RULE
Hapgood Would Have Cabinet
Heads Before Congress to De-
stroy "InvisibIe System"
By NORMAN HAPGOOD.

! promised yesterday that today
would try to explain why, il
Congress were willing, the Budget
bill, that will soon become law,
could be made the foundation for
destroying the invisible govern
ment," and making both Congress
and the Administration more re-
sponsible to public opinion.
During the war we talked our
heads of about open covenants
openly arrived at. The Budget bill
could easily be made the beginning
at home of laws and policies openly
arrived at. No further legislation
would be required. All that would
be required would be a change IN
the rules Of the two Houses.
WOULD HAVE CABINET APPEAR.
II rule were adopted requiring
the members OF the Cabinet to appear
before Congress. sitting as a commit
tee Of the whole. once in 50 often, say
once fortnight for each member. and
submit himself to any questions that
any member might ask. there would
be an immediate end both of Govern
ment In secret by Congressional com
mittees, of control Of Congress by the
most aged, and of deadlocks between
Congress and the executive.
Members OF the Vabinet would be
compelled to accept the invitation
A member who refused would be I'M
able to obtain the necessary .p-
propriations for his work.
No President could afford to keep IN
his Cabinet a member who was not
harmonious with Congress. He could
not AFFORD to keep any member who
did not share his own full confidence,
since that member would have to de-
fend the Presidents policies on the
moor In open debate
Under this system, when Woodrow
Wilson lost control of Congress en-
March 4, 1919 (by a wise change II
would have been in November. 1918.
Immediately after the election) he
would have been compelled by the
situation to reorganize his Cabinet
and work harmoniously with the pre-
dominant party.
II before the end Of his term Presi-
dent Harding and Congress should dis
agree on a fundamental issue, ii
would have to be fought out in the
open with the public eagerly looking
on
~HIGH BROW" SAYS GOOD.
When Mr.. Good, author Of the
House budget bill. was asked how he
stood on the idea of allowing Cabinet
members to appear on the floor. he
called 1t high brow" Maybe he
knew what he meant. l do not. 1t
exists in the most deraocratic coun-
tries in the world already.
The leaders of Congress are per-
fscuy happy in their underground
power. 1t would much lessen their
trading ability and their bossing abil-
ity IL they had to decide issues by
meeting ability; IL they had to decide
issues by meeting Mr.. Hughes on the
floor on q question iof foreign policy
or fighting out the approaching rail-
road problem with Mr.. Hoover, or
whoever may represent the Admins
tration as that question becomes criti-
cal. or discuss openly a farm matter
with Mr.. Wallace.
OF course, such an open and respon-
sible system would enable the public
TO know the facts; to take more in
terest; to affect the decisions. Such
public participation, however, would
not be a recommendation to the oil
earchy. 1t is satisfied to fx things
up in decent seclusion.
But Government by the people is
what the budget system means If fol-
lowed through.