Evening star., 1922-07-14
Cabinet Members Should Not Be
Misrepresented.

With the House in recess editors be-
lieve its members will be afforded an
excellent opportunity to develop the
sentiment of the nation on the pro-
posal that members of the Presidents
cabinet shall be granted the priv
leges of the floor and of debate in the
Senate and the House. When the
idea was suggested by President
Harding some time ago there was a
general note Of approval. Since then.
however. a reaction seemingly has
set in and there are some public men
and editors who have aligned them
selves in opposition. believing that 1t
would copy the European system and
would make for encroachment by
either the executive or legislative
branch of the government il COM
pletely carried out. Other editors.
however. maintain that the present
plan is so unsatisfactory that any
change ought to be a good one.
There are so many matters enter
ing into the discussion, such as
whether a cabinet member would re-
sign If accorded IAN adverse vote
after he had made a defense of his
position" that the Springfield Daily
to remind the proponents of the plan
that there is no constitutional sane
tion for the cabinet. which is purely
an advisory body, and exists at the
pleasure OF the President only"
However, so far as the actual ques
Daily News independently sees many
ways in which it would benefit, such
as more prompt and accurate infor-
nation being at the disposal of Con-
gress," while. with the government
striving for economy and a workable
budget system, this in itself might
be worth the change. whether or not
anything developed in the line of CIV
ing US cooperation in national poll
cies between the President and Con-
skelter system" At the same time.
while "the advantages of the proposal
are readily SEEN" the Columbus DIS
patch Independently suggests that,
ION the other hand. it may develop an
unpleasant disposition to force mem
tional opposition on the floor"
If the plan would aid in permitting
the people to know "just exactly
where the President stands on some
disputed ISSUE" the Knoxville Sentinel
(independent democratic) could see
merit in 1t, but it is convinced that
''he does not desire to do SO. 1t would
doubtless embarrass him if he did.
Think how he might be embarrassed
If he was placed in the position of
having to speak. whether he wanted
to or not" Granting all this. the
lieves the proposal seems well worth
trial, particularly at this time.
when the executive and legislative
departments seem utterly unable to
work in harmony or with any degree
Harding administration is now on
record as favoring such change
ought to push the matter to the fore
and assure it full consideration.
While the Chicago Post dndependenA)
sees the possibility of disturbing
clashes arising from the questioning
of cabinet members by members of
Congress, and Of subsequent embar-
rassment to the administration the
objection is less of public than OF a
nolfticaI nature. The wholesome re-
Of responsibility on the part Of the
cabinet and to inpel to more thorough
MASTERY of departmental busip ess and
a more careful formulation Of poll
cies"
Discussing the objections which
who argued that it would be impossi-
Bile in this country to parallel Euro
mean methods and such change
'.wou1d tend to confuse wisely sepa-
rated functions and might serve 10
encourage legislative or executive
encroachments," the Baltimore Sun
(independent democratic) believes
that "while they may not seem con-
elusive to those who take the oppos-
ing view, they at least suggest that
in framing any measure on the SUD
iect ca-e should be taken to minimize
the da, rers which Mr.. Page sees in
the iny .vation."' Similar views are
enterts ned by the New York Tribune
1republican). which warns that ut Is
advisable that the details. especially
in 80 Tar as they have to do with de,
mands on the cabinet members, shall
he carefully considered"
The plain truth, however, the Baitl-
more American (republican) insists,
dis that the government has become
such a huge machine that 1t cannot
afford to function on old precedents
RrinSinE Congress and the cabinet
torether in consultation, instead OF
runnine two correspondence schools
at opposite ends Of Pennsylvanta ave
nue. is plain common sense: This
action also would speed up the ousi-
ness Of the nation, the st. Louis
Globe-Democrat trepublican) believes,
because '9f opportunity was regularly
afforded for calling q department