Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1945-02-08
POLITICAL
PARADE
BY George
RothweIl Brown


are running around in circles
these days, proclaiming that
Congress should be stream
lined"
What they really mean Is
that they. themselves. should
be sent to the cleaner, for a
spiritual bath. But they don't
like to admit it.
So official committees and
amateur reformers are buzZlng
about, fretting and Tuning, and
gradually creating in the public
mind an idea that Washington,
and Madison, and Hamilton, and
old man Franklin fell down ter
ribly when they go up our Con-
stitution.
The picture that is being pre-
Sented is of a Congress that
simply won't do, because IL is
horse-and-buggy stuff from
the pre-Golden Age of the om-
nipotent New Deal.
This is miSchievous and may
turn out to be dangerous. Bar
ring the fact that some very
questionable changes have been
made in the way in which SEM
ators are now elected, and some
even worse ones in the rules OF
the House the only thing really
the matter with Congress is its
own behavioriSm.
TO ILLUSTRATE what is
Il meant one has only TO put
a finger on the Wallace Incl
dent.
To deal with the simple prob
lem of what 10 do when a Presi-
dent Of The United States
brazenly undertakes 10 pay off
a shabby political debt with a
place in the cabinet, the Senate
invented a formula reminiscent
not Of craftsmanship but Of
Rube Goldberg.
The simple thing would have
been for the Senate 10 make
reply we cannot advise and
consent 10 the payment Of
political debt with a rubber
check
In the % minutes il takes for
a roll call. the Senate could
have performed its conStltu-
tional function and bounced the
check right back 10 the White
House.
The Senate almost did this,
and this is TO rs credit. but not
quite There were some senator's
nine Of them Republicans who
ought 10 be carefully Scruunlzed
'hy their constituents who de-
Cincd 10 be part Of such a
fortnight reply 10 a politics.
playing President
Some Of them. doubtless with
their tongues m their cheeks,
took the position that. although
m this particular case Mr..
Wallace was undoubtedly UNI
/ fitted by experience. wisdom
and capacity for the Job that
vas =he=EIEen ia him, after
All a president should not be-
hanporcd m the selection Of the
members Of his own cabinet ON
. this theory the village IDIOT
could become secretary Of state.
I'VE founders Of this republic.
Il f0reSccing that presidents
+ mi-ht nominate unfit men for
public office placed IN the Con-
StitUtion the advice and con-
sent provision.
The exercise Of this power
over appointments by the Sem
ate Is mandatory under article
II section ii. There was no
cabinet when the Constitution
was adopted. but the clause re-
StrictS tho unlimited power of
appointment by the President 10
cover officers Of the government
/ whose appointments are not
/ herein otherwise provided for
and which shall be established
by law"
The Senate has precisely the
same power. and IS under the
same moral obligation 10 reject
an appointment 10 the cabinet
as in the case OF an appoint
ment 10 the Supreme CoWt or
the diplomatic service.
In the Wallace case the Sem
ate lamentably failed 10 eXer-
else It's constitutional preroga-
tive. although its criticism Of
Henry Wallace left no doubt
that a ma jorlty Of its members
regarded him as untitled 10 hold
the office TO which he was
nominated
Instead. the Senate undertook
10 amend statute affecting the
i office 10 which the nomination
had been made. while the nomi-
nation was pending and Enacted
upon This was an unprcce-
dented and objectionable SOLE
ciSm
This incident by no means
reflects dlScredit upon Congress. i
an an institution II reflects
no diScredit upon the Senate.
! furnishes no argument IN
4 favor of the popular fad Of
"streamlining our legislative
! hrdN