Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-05-21

nations--Great Britain. for instance
have on the whole, made more rapid
and successful adjustments to the
peculiar economic problems arising in
the last years, that may be attributed,
In part, to the much greater fiexibility
Of their government instruments. The
"radicalism" Of the minority members
Of the Supreme Court Is nothing more
than the recognition--a recognition
shared by the late Chief Justice
Holmes-that If the Constitution
proves itself an instrument which
consistently thwarts popular will its
longevity will not thereby be en-
HANGED, nor the longevity OF consti-
tutional government, as such. It
must truly be an instrument to defend
liberties a0d not to suppress reform.
Fear Extension Of Power.
But-and this. ! think, from the
viewpoint of the average man. is the
crux of the question-if Government
is going to ask the people for organic
changes In the traditional law, body
which has been amended only 10
times in $50 years. then the Govern
ment which asks such a change must
be prepared to guarantee to the people
that the administration of the more
far-reaching laws thus made possible
shall be conducted by q body of
highly trained, competent, permanent
offlcials, who are not subjected to
whims, caprice, or political group
pressures. The American people fear
changes of the Constitution, they fear
extension of the powers of Govern
ment, because they have no confidence
in the ability, seriousness, competence,
or common honesty of Governments
If they are docile to the decisions of
the Supreme Court 1t is not because
they cling obstinately to a traditional
form of government based upon rigid
division OF powers, but simply because
the Supreme Court enjoys a prestige
which no other branch Of our Gov
eminent has.
Eliminate Spells System.
There is no reason why the same
prestige should not be enjoyed by the
administrative branch OF our Govern
ment. There is nothing in the Con-
stitution to prevent administrative
services being set up. which will be
as competent and incorruptible as the
Supreme Court. There is certainly
sufficient intelligence. ability. honesty
and devotion to public well being In
this country to man administrative
services which will be second to none
IN the whole world. But no such
services have been set up by the pres
ent Government, and no such services
will be set up by any future govern
ments until certain ancient and ira
ditional practices are fundamentally
changed. No American citizen who
uses his brains Is going to have much
faith in the extension of social vel
fare through Government when he
sees social welfare being exploited as
an instrument for party politics. No
American citizen will have faith that
Government can regulate business for
the common good as long as the regu-
lators are likely to be part of spoils
system. Nor are Americans likely to
believe that Government will perform
services more competently than pri-
vate enterprise when they see Govern
ment rushing into expensive projects
against the advice of their own ex-
perts, starting to spend money on
projects before their eventual cost has
been halfway accurately estimated,
and embarking on ventures the end of
which has not even been imagined.
The weakness OF all Government in
this country IN asking for more power
is that its normal claim is SO weak.