Evening star., 1925-01-07
BILL WOULD ENABLE CABINET 4
TO APPEAR BEFORE CONGRESS-
Measure Introduced in House Provides for Beth
Compulsory and Voluntary Attendance at
Debates or Hearings.

legislation In which their depart
| ments are interested.
Representative Jacobstein has
moved In favor Of this sweeping
change in the relation between the
executive and legislative branches
growing danger of being minimized
in Importance. He cites the vast
new power that has accrued to the
Executive under the budget law. with
corresponding diminution OF con-
troll by Congress over Federal
finances. II am prepared the
Rochester congressman said to this
writer, ito hear that the proposal tc
| bring cabinet officers before the
Houses Of Congress Is both uncon-
stitutionaI and dangerous to the 2u'
| thority of the executive branch. on
the one hand, and OF Congress, on
the other. 1t happens that these
phases of the subject were exhaus'
lively considered by the Senate com
mittee which reported favorably
| upon IL In 1881.
The Pendleton report on that oc-
casion said:
This bill confers a privilege and
imposes a duty upon heads OF de-
partments. The privilege ts to give
| their suggestions and advice In de-
to give Information orally and race
to face. The committee entertains
no doubt of the constitutional power
| of Congress to pass this bill. 1t be-
iieves all its provisions to be clearly
within the letter and spirit Of the
| Constitution and in entire harmony
with the structure and framework OF
| the Government.
This bill will not change the
| legal relations Of executive officers
either to the President or TO the
| Congress. II has been objected tina,
| the introduction OF the heads Of de-
| partments on the floor would be
| largely to increase the influence OF
| the Executive on legislation. You!
| committee does not share this ap-
| prehension, nor the objection that Il
would impair the influence OF the
Executive power by lesxening the
| dependence of cabinet officers on the
| President.
This system will require ths
selection OF the stronges. men to bt
heads OF departments. and require
| them to be we'll equipped with the
| knowledge OF their offices. II Will
| also require the strongest mea to bt
| the leaders OF Congress and partici.
| pate IN debate. 1t will bring these
| strong men In contact. perhaps into
| conflict, TO advance the public veal
! and thus stimulate their abilities anc
| their efforts, and Will thus assuredlJ
| result for the good OF the country.
Il hope for little more at this timt
| than to stimulate national discussi OF
| of an innovation that / am convinced
! holds just as much good for tn,
country today as when II was pro.
posed by the sages OF both greai
parties 43 years ago"
! II IL stated at the White Hous,
that President Coolidge sees no rea
son to oppose the project In principle
He recognizes that IL is an approach
toward the system OF parliamentar,
| government which Is masureS
tradition OF the English -speakiu,
| peoples, although the American sys
tenn has always been to maintst,
| a strong line OF demarcation be
tween the executive and legisIativ,
branches. The President 10 conts7
to have the whole subject thrashed
out In the congressional COMMITTEES,
to which the bill may be referred.
| r. ". ".
toos