Evening star., 1928-03-16
Bad Taste,

| cized the Secretary OF the Navy for
attending the session of the House
while the naval bill was under discus
/ sion, denouncing his presence as an
act of bad taste" Other members of
| the House rejoined TO remark that the
Secretary was present under a rule of
the House. which is tantamount to an
invitation, and protested that there
was no impropriety whatever in mem
Der of the cabinet occupying a seat on
the floor of the chamber while matters
of particular moment to their depart
ments were under discussion. Prece-
dents were cited to that effect.
Inasmuch as the rules of Congress
allow the presence on the floor Of men,
bers of the cabinet, it is difficult TO
see wherein there is any suggestion of
bad taste in the attendance of the
Secretary of the Navy during the dis
cussion of this most important measure
Of naval administration and develop
ment. There would assuredly be no
criticism of such presence If he were
to attend a session at which the tariff
or farm relief was being debated. He
would be there as a casual visitor. The
very purpose Of the rule OF the House
is to allow the chief administrative off,
cials TO attend st\sions at which mat
ters of moment to their branches of
"a
Reference was made yesterday by
Secretary Wilbur's critic to the British
system OF participation by members of
the ministry in the parliamentary pro-
ceedings, and he deplored the pos
sibility Of an approach to that system
in this country. It Is to be borne
in mind in this connection that
the. members OF the British min
istry are In fact members of Par
lament. They are elected to that body
and sit there as OF membership right
They not only participate in the de-
bates. but they vote on the questions
laid before the house. There is vast
difference between the situation in that
country and the condition here. And
inasmuch as the privilege of attend
ance at the sessions OF the American
Congress by members of the cabinet has
continued for many years. without any
advance toward the British mode OF
legislative government. it would seem
TO be rather absurd 10 express appre-
hension now on the score of interyen-
ton in legislation by the administrative
officials OF the Federal organization.
1t Is, in truth. far more d!gnified for
member OF the cabinet TO occupy a
seat on the floor of the House than
for him, on such an occasion as yes
terday, TO take seat In the gallery
On countless occasions we'll known lob
byists, deeply interested In pending leg
islation, have sat In the reserved spaces
IN the galleries OF both House and
Senate and have from those points OF
vantage conducted their campaigns for
the enactment or for the defeat OF
pending measures. Occasionally atten-
ton has been drawn 10 them by men,
bers, In criticism, and with far more
reason and propriety than the chal-
lenge Of the right and the good taste
Of the Secretary Of the Navy in sitting
With the House while the naval appro-
prtation bill Ia under discussion.
| Congress is properly jealous Of its
prerogatiye. But that preroga,ive does
not extend TO the point OF excluding
from intimate association with It, dur
ing its deliberations. by those officers
Of the Government who are responsible
| for the execution Of the laws IL enacts
Good taste. cited yesterday in mistaken
| application. demands acknowledgment
Of the right Of the House 10 invite
| "homSoeYer II Dleascs 10 attend its
se&sions and the RICH, Of whomsoeyer
desires 10 do 70 10 accept the invitation,
Whatever the occasion.