The Washington times., 1921-11-08

coming clear. with Its prospects. Here
IL a letter from Russia with interest
ing private information.
Here is railroad point. There
are developments in relation to politi-
cal prisoners. Ghandi rents, a score
OF inviting subjects. from which one
must be chosen. Which,"
Well. from the lot I choose an ex.
preston OF public opinion about our
form OF government. and whether II
needs to be changed in order really
to express the underlying Will OF the
peoples
Open Leadership Issue.
The National Economic League Is
made up of people who think about
this subject. They have just been
consulted on various aspects OF 1t.
The first question is whether we
should have open. visible. and re-
sponsible leadership in matters of
national finance and administration"
At present our Legislature is man.
aged by a bunch Of secret commit
tees, whose chairmen are the real
trainers of legislation and whom the
public cannot follow or call to ac-
count. The vote was twenty three
for the present system and 9S7
against. showing a fair majority
among thinking men.
Then comes the question OF the
remedy. The question is asked
whether there should be a budget
prepared under the direction of the
President and publicly explained and
defended on the floor Of Congress
by the particular members OF the
Cabinet who are in charge Of the
particular subject.
On this question thirty-seven voted
in the negative and 979 for the
change. This is an entirely different
change from the one made by the
new budget law, which may cause
minor economies. but Is not at all a
step toward open, responsible govern
ment.
Change Easily Made.
This change could be made by
mere change in the rules of Congress.
As such a change, however, would
take away safety and power from
the old codgers who have gotten the
secret power under the present sys-
TEN of seniority there Is small chance
that Congress would take such a step
Then the question Is asked, suppos-
ing Congress refuses to act. should
there be a constitutional amendment
to make the change? Here the vote
is closer. Two hundred and twenty
five vote no, while TAO vote in favor
of the constitutional amendment.
Suppose this system were started
and there should be deadlock.
Ought the two branches to remain
deadlocked. or should the country de-
eide? Should there be referendum.
an election?
Here we get also a somewhat closer
vote. naturally, as the change IL
Those who vote agains.
the change are 1922, and those who
vote for 1t are 528.
In other words, the vote to have
the change brought about by the
Of Congress Is almost
The vote to force an
is overwhelming. but no.
nearly as close to unan,mity.
Vote on Fixed Dates Close.
The vote that our present system
Of voting at fixed periods on q whole
mass of confused subjects, with no
definite issues. should be abandoned
in favor Of having elections on spe-
cial issues as they arise between the
President and Congress, ~ at the
ratio OF somewhat more than five to
four.
Political habits change slowly.
Perhaps 1t Is Just as well. This vote
shows, however, that in the intell-
gent, thinking bodies there is much
with system in
which the public gets no real infor.
nation and In which elections do not
claarly decide ANYTHING