Evening star., 1932-06-26

rolls little girl and big Uncle Sam in
the same parti-colored cloak OF fantastic sleep
sessions.
Direct accusation asserts the destructive eff
feet upon the Constitution itself in the growth
of this noxious system.
Fortnight ever, in mind and word. James
L. Beck Immediately defines the term with
whose substance he is to wage such bitter con-
f1fct for $50 pages of analysis, argument illus
tration, persuasion conclusion and warning.
Two meanings accorded to the term. Here
they are:
Bureaucracy primarily refers to democratic
government to the aggrandizement of the ex-
ecutive at the expense of the legislative branch
of the government. This refers only to the
mechanics of government which sought to
divide its powers into the legislative, eXecu-
tive and judicial departments and to preserve
just equilibrium between these three inter-
dependent functions" Again, Bureaucracy
refers to the irrepressible war between the in
divdual and the State, and involves the ques-
tion as to the just limits, under the higher law
of the State the property and life of the
individual"
The title set in mood and purpose. the theme
defined for easy seizure and reference, Mr.
James Beck is ready to begin study of the
Constitution of the United States a defender
of Che integrity of that great document as
the rest of us are a wayman out to defend
Going back to the origin of the Constitution,
Mr.. Beck puts his finger upon the day and
date when unrest began to set in between
the right of government and the right of the
individual. Period by period, through Colonial
times and the years of expansion, he stops
here and there to show the same fundamental
difference appearing, to point out conditions
that tended to favor its increase Never fail
ing, at these points of pause. to show the effect
upon the Constitution itself of such departure.
Within the immediate period this author
gives object lessons. more than one, on the
rise and rapid growth of the bureaucratic idea,
wherein gradually power receives a different
distribution from that designated by the Consti-
tuition. Many citations of specific cases ap-
pear here. Some within the Government and
many outside of it, diversions, all, from the
original constitutional intent. Yet, as one
reads, realizing the enormous expansion of
general interests, the special training required
to pass in judgment upon innumerable points
of vital import one comes to think of these
special zones of competency as highly useful
to the Government, even though sourced out
side of it. One had already come to under
stand the various boards and bodies and COM
missions and bureaus as essential to any ade-
quate approach to the vastly complex thing
that the Government has come to be. Yet,
here this aStute investigator and SURPRISING
logician walks into this amazing bureaucratic
growth. sounding an alarm upon it.
Not altogether, though. For, going back over
the study, more or less perturbed it must be
admitted. one comes upon Mr.. Becks preface
TO his own book. And in this he admits to
something of the uneasineSs that possesses the
reader. He is anxious a little anxious, lest he
be considered against the innumerable bu-
reauS some of them functioning magnificently.
No, happily for many readers, that is not the
thought. Analysing the bureaucratic idea, he
sees at the bottom of it a menace to the spirit
of the Constitution Studying it step by step,
according to the pressure of succeeding periods
he grants it great usefulness here distinct
harm there. Certainly dislocation of the dis
tributed powers defined by original docu-
ment. But it is just possible that succeeding
adjustments to conditions of ever-increasing
complexity and problem may redistribute
functions somewhat.
So, after the brilliant reading matter that
this author can be relied upon to supply, he
himself says that the only purpose of this
book is to remind such Americans as are
seriously interested in their governmental sys-
tenn of some of its defects" That is much
better than the long title foretold. Now one
can read the book from start to finish again,
sure of its substance and sure not to waste
time again in diSagreeing with more than Mr..
Beck had any notion of saying
AhE FUN Or II; Random Records of My Own
Flying and of Women in Aviation BY
Amelia Earhart. Illustrated New York:
Brewer, Warren & Putnam
PEED and efficiency the miracle of modern
- affairs. Meet Miss Amelia Earhart, just out
from her great solo flight. In hand a book, THE
Fun OF It." for whose final chapter its pub
fishers waited to get word of that triumphant
landing on the other side of the Atlantic
Tuesday night, in Washington, the President
of the United States and the National Geo.
graphic Society paid formal tribute to the great
achievement of Miss Earhart
Today with '"The Fun of 1t" in hand we, too,
are partaking of the high adventure. A simple
recital upon the whole, this sketchy story of
the past. 1t differs from that of innumerable
other American girls only by virtue of its deep
er rest for life its ardor of soirit its varying