The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1921-09-18
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/
Ibe allowed to appear on the floor OF
| the House and Senate and to engage
| in debate, or at least to explain mat
| tiers pertaining to their respective de-
partments, brings letter to that pub
LEGATION from a Southern reader de.
tscribing features of the Confederate
fconstitution that are interesting, and
probably not widely known at this
time. a.
1t appears that the first article OF
the Confederate constitution provided
chat Congress may by law grant to
the principal officer in each of the
executive departments a seat upon
the floor of either house with the
privilege of discussing any, measures
appertaining to his department"
This is in substance the practice OF
| the British House of Parliament, where
members of the government occupy
what, is known as the government
bench and are expected to be present
when matters pertaining to their re-
spective departments are under dis
:ussicn and where they may be in
quired of with reference to these
measures. This practice also includes
The attendance of the prime minister
md involves often defense by him of
he policy of the government or the
door of the House.
This plan has been discussed in the
past with respect to our own govern
nent. 1t has been proposed to admit
heads of executive departments to
seats in both houses of Congress, but
without votes Our practice, however
Ehas gone no farther in this regard tnan
e invite heads of departments or 9TH
II members OF the executive branch
TO appear before committees or the
|iEouse or Senate to discuss matters
|lcf special interest to those officials
|.called in council. So much of the bust
|.ness of Congress is done in committee
,thatt his plan serves TO a large. extent
the object gained by that in vogue
lin the British parliament, but there
are doubtless times when the presence
of government officials in either the
House or Senate would be to the adj
vantage OF the public in securing the
most effective and intelligent legisla-
tive action.
There were other provisions, also
in the rather hastily drawn Confeder-
ate constitution that are interesting
and worthy OF imitation. One was the
proviso that the President might ap-
prove certain provisions of an appro-
priation bill and veto others. II is so
easy to load an appropriation bill with
! rider and to incorporate provisions
II a questionable character that it
9ught to be the privilege and the prac-
ice OF the President to approve parts
of the bill and veto Objectionable fea-
ures. II has been proposed to give
he President this power by constitu-
ional amendment but no action has
been taken.
The Confederate constitution also
provided that Congress shall appro-
pirate no money from the treasury ex-
eept by vote of two-thirds Of both
al h.r
IS II be asked and estimated for by
ZONE one OF the heads of departments
nd submitted to Congress by the
resident" his provision is prob
bly, of less value. Indeed, it is doubt
al IL il would be wise to make the
appropriation OF money continginet up
n a majority of two-thirds when pc
itical considerations might enter
argely into the action of either house
where the political majority was small.
wiser provision OF the Confeder-
70 constitution prevented the Pres
dent from reappointing during the
'ecess of Congress anyone whose APP
continent had been rejected by the
Senate. The power of recess appoint
lent has kept enc man in Office dur
ng the past six or seven years who
as never been able to get Senate
confirmation. BY this means the in.
ention of the constitution to make
appointments conditional upon the APP
nroyal OF the Senate was defeated.
The Confederate constitution follow
closely the constitution of the
lnited States except as TO the provi-
ions with regard to slavery and the
acredness of slave property. II ap-
ears, however. TO have included a few
rlginal provisions Incorporated as the
esult of experience under the con
titution of the United States. but
which il is not easy to incorporate in
he way OF amendment to the constitu.
ion of the United States because of
he difficulty of arousing widespread
,ublie interest in matters of this char.
lcter.