Evening star., 1937-01-12
vi. Accountable.
ity of the Execu.
tive to the Con-
gress

Under the American system the
executive power is balanced and made
safe by freedom Of speech, by elec-
tons, by the protection OF civil rights
under an independent judiciary, by
the making of laws which determine
policies including especially appro-
priations and tax measures, by an
independent elective Congress. and
by the establishment OF executive
accountability
The preservation OF the principle
Of the full accountability. of the Execu-
tive to the Congress is an essential
part Of our republican system. In
actual practice the effectiveness of
this accountability is often obstructed
and obscured, and sometimes is de-
feated by the processes of diffusion,
processes which are at work, not only
in the executive branch, but in the
Congress itself.
If the reorganization Of the admin
istrative departments and the estab-
lishment Of the managerial agencies
that we have recommended be carried
out, then We believe that the country
may confidently look forward to an
improvement in coordination Of ad-
ministratiVe work. Contradictory ad-
miniStrative policies which are so ir-
ritating to the Congress and so con-
founding to the people would be
minimized. Thus the accounta bility
of the executive branch may be made
sharp, distinct and effective.
There is, we believe, too little ap-
probation among the people of the
country OF the day-to-day work Of
the Congress. Although it is generally
understood that the members of Con-
gress spend many days and weeks in
the preparation, perfection and adop-
tion OF legislative measures, the extent
Of their work is not generally known.
They serve on committees which not
only prepare legislative measures for
submission to their respective Houses,
but conduct hearings and investiga-
tions which throw light upon the prob
lens of the country and the processes
Of government through which the peo-
pie are enabled to see and understand
their Government.
Nothing should be done that would
diminish the importance OF the work
of the congressional committees in
conducting hearings and pursuing In
vestigations. Time and time again in
our history investigations conducted
by congressional committees have il
lumined dark places in the Govern
ment and in the affairs of the Nation
and have resulted n the correction Of
abuses that otherwise might have been
undetected for years and years. 1t
Is with full realization of the neceS-
sity of continuing and preserving this
important function of the Congress
and its committees that we suggest
the necessity for improving the ma
chinery of holding the executive
branch more effectively accountable
to the Congress.
This accountability often Is OBJ
scured by the Congress itself in i'm
posing upon the Executive in too great
detail minute requirements for the
organization and operation Of the ad-
ministrative machinery. Faced by
such mandatory and detailed legisla-
tive requirements whether in general
law or in rider on an appropriation
bilD, first the bureau chief, then the
secretary of the department, and then
the President Is absolved from part OF
his executive responsibility, and in
consequence the Congress is foreclosed
from adequately criticizing the con-
duct Of the business.
Responsibility Solely
Upon Executive.
We have called attention to this
difficulty with respect to fiscal ac-
countability. We hold that once the
Congress has made an appropriation,
an appropriation which it is free to
withhold, the responsibility for the ad-
ministration of the expenditures un-
der that appropriation is and should
be solely upon the Executive.
The Executive then should be held
to account through an Independent
audit made by an independent auditor,
who will report promptly to the Con-
gress his criticisms and exceptions of
the actions of the Executive. Based
upon these reports the appropriate
committees of the Congress may call
upon an executive officer to explain
his conduct, and If it has been char
acterized by illegality or impropriety,
the Congress can take the necessary
corrective steps and safeguard the
future.
With respect to the accountability
of the executive branch to the legis-
lative branch for fiscal and other &C
tivities. the difflculty now is that the
diffusion and desperation Of activities