New-York tribune., 1922-06-24
Harding Eager
For Congress to
Consult Cabinet
Believes Public Work Will
Benefit if Officers Are
Permitted TO Speak on Any
Problem in Their Hands
Would Await Summons
Kelly Resolution, Providing
for Group Appearance in
Each House. Is Opposed

Prom The Tribpre'' Washington Bsr,au
WASHINGTON. June o. President
Harding and mos, Of his Cabinet favor
leg Station permitting Cabinet mem
hers 10 speak and answer questions on
the floor OF the senate and House. -
was learned to-day. AZ the bi-weekly
meeting the Cabinet discussed with
the President tho bills on this subject
pending in the senate and House Ti~
President let il be known that he has
no particular censorship over speeches
made by Cabinet members. he referred
70 the interview given recently by Sec
tetary Of War Weeks at Chester. Pa.
when he declared in favor Of light
wines and beer In Mr. llarding's judg-
meni. 10 exercise a censorship on these
speeches would constitute an unfair re-
heX on the American system Of govern
ment
Since the present Administration
came into power there has been fre-
quent and sustained agitation on the
part Of the Cabinet members for such
legislation. Senator Mclean. Of Con
necticut. recently introduced hill de-
signed TO grant Cabinet officers the
privilege Of speaking in the Senate
Representative Clyde Kelly. Of Penn
sylvania. introduced a similar resolu-
tion in the House. Cabinet members
found fault with the Kelly resolution
to-day because II provided for the Cab
met appearing IN group. two days
week in the House and two days a week
in the senate. Such a plan. according
10 the critics. would hedge about their
appearance with too much formality.
The President is whole-heartedly in
favor Of working out OF plan whereby
Cabinet members may appear on the
floor Of the Senate and House and
speak with as little formality as pos
sible on matters relating 10 their de-
partments.
Harding Against Kelly Proposal
The President feels that such a plan
would speed up Congress by making
Aailable at opportunc times definite
Information from an authoritative
source. lie docs not regard as practi-
cal tho plan embodied in the Kelly
resolution Of having the Cabine, ap-
pear in each branch on different days
Of the week The President believes
that more could be accomplished by
permitting the members TO appear
when summoned. after the practice in
the British Parliament. A. the sta
alton stands now members have the
privilege Of the floor OF Congress. but
have no authority TO speak or answer
questions.
Agitation designed 10 grant such
floor rights is not new. A distinguished
committee OF Senators in the third ses-
sion. Of the Forty-sixth Congress
studied the problem and made recon-
mendations The Senators included
George H. Pendleton. W. Is. Allison. d.
W. Voorhees,. James G.. Blaine. VI. c.
Butler, John J. ingalls,. o. II. Platt and
j. T. Farley.
In their report they answered objcc-
tiOns that are being raised now. To
the group opposed to such n step for
fear OF increasing the power Of the
President the committees report
states:
1T has been objected that the effect
Of this introduction Of the heads Of de-
partments upon the floor would be
largely 70 increase the influence Of the
Executive on legislation. Your COM
mttcc does not share this apprehcn-
sion. The information given 10 Con
grese would doubtless be more per
tinent and exact; the recommendations
would. perhaps. 5e presented with
greater effect. but. on tho other hand.
the members of Congress would also
be put on the alert 10 see that the in
fucnce is in proportion only 20 the
value OF the information and the suG-
gestion. and the public would be en-
abled 20 determine whether the in
fucnce is cxeIted by persuasion or by
argument.
Committee Opposed Secrecy
NO one who has occupied a seat on
the floor OF either House: no one Of
those who, year after year, 20 in
dustriously and faithfully and cor
'rectly report the proceedings OF the
houses. no freouenter Of the lobby or
the gallery. can have failed 10 discern
the influence exerted upon legislation
by the visits of the heads OF depart
ments on the floors Of Congress and
the visits Of the members OF Congress
70 the Offices Of the departments. II Is
not necessary 20 say that this influence
is dishonest or corrupt, but II is
illegiiimate; il is exercised in secret
By means that are not publicly means
with an honest public opinion cannot
accurately discover. and over which u
can therefore exercise no just control.
The open information and argument
provided by the bill may not supplant
these secret methods. but they will en-
able a discriminating public Judgment
10 determine whether they are sufficient
70 exercise the influence which Is ac-
tually exerted, and thus disarm them.
III there is any thing perfectly plain
in the Constitution and organization Of
the government OF the United states,
II Is that the great departments were
not Intended TO be independent and
isolated in the strict meaning Of these
terms; but that, although having
separate existence, they were 10 CO.
operate. each with the other. as the
different members Of the human body
must cooperate with each other in
order to form the figure and perform
the duties Of a perfect man..
Jo:I Rect Rosf CIIrp