Evening star., 1925-09-08

budgeting and advice on courses of
study
There is no intent To put the Federal
Department of Education in control of
the school systems of the country:
that control would remain independ-
emily In State hands. The Federal
center would be advisory and devoted
to research for suggesting improve
ments.
At first 1t was proposed that the
Federal department would annually
handle $4,000. 900, used in co-opera-
ton with the States. which would de-
vote sum equal TO the apportion-
ment from the Federal Treasury, but
this idea has been aba ndoned The
original plan was similar to Federal
cooperation with State activities in
road development and in agricultural
schools a nd colleges. Opposition arose
lest 1t place in the hands of central
authorities real control over what
States should teach or how they
should conduct their schools 1t was
opposed on the ground of State rights.
Senator Bruce of Maryland spoke in
the Senate. in opposition, predicting
mixed schools, with white and colored
pupils in the same classes. although
Senator Sterling, the introducer of the
Sterling-Towne educational bill. ex-
planned that there was no such inter.
ference with State control contem-
plated in the bill
The cause of education is not the
only one that is calling for a seat in
the Presidents cabinet. The Associa-
ton of Railroad Officials, representing
some SO per cent of the mileage of the
country, has unanimously adopted
resolution calling for a secretary of
Nr~or N<Ny-f1 To-, l.. III
railroads, waterways and motor roads,
all of which is now under the Depa rt-
ments of Commerce, Agriculture and
Interior.
There has been more or less demand
for a secretary of fine arts but il is
understood that that would be covered
by the proposed secretary of educa.
ton, art being an essential part Of
culture. No other first.class nation has
neither general education nor art rep
resented in government.
x% X X
The absence of danger of Fedora
dictation to States is demonstrated by
the very nature of the President s
cabinet. 1t has no such status as the
cabinets of England, France and
Italy, which initiate measures for the
Endorsement Of the parliamentary
bodies. Our cabinet, subordinate to the
President. is advisory and executive,
not initiative.
In the founding of our constitutional
Government there was great discus
sion as to the need of a council TO
advise the President. Plans were pro-
posed in 1887 looking to such a BODY
of advisers of the President-by Ran
dolph, plan including some members
of the judiciary; by Mason, a council
to be appointed by the President: by
! Pinckney, authorizing the President
| to advise with the heads of depart
ments. modified by Madison so that
the advice left the President full au-
| thority and liberty to accept or re-
| ject 1t. = -
Washington used to counsel with the
| Chief Justice and with: the Vice Presi-
dent. but when, in 1898, he presented
a. list of questions to the Supreme
Court asking advice the justices re-
fused to counsel Not, until 1929. when
| President jackson, in an official mes
sage to Congress. referred to the cabi-
| net. was the cabinet recognized, ex-
cept in an irregular reference. The
| first use of the term by Congress was
a resolution of the House, in 1867. and
! the first recognition in the statutes
was in 1907. when a bill was passed
| increasing the salaries of cabinet off,
cials.
| 1t is not necessary that a constitu-
| tional amendment be submitted for
| the establishment of new depart
ment: Congress already has such
| power and exercised it in creating the
cabinet positions of SECRETARIES of Ag-
ricuiture, of Labor a@ Of Commerce.
1Copyrirhi. 1925. by RauI Y. collins.)