Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 22.pdf/32

This page needs to be proofread.

The Green Bag

22

It seems to us that the law of government quite as properly includes what this writer terms the law of constitutional limitations as the law of public agencies, and that the term “ overnmental law " is not concise enough or the purpose indicated, which is best served b the adoption of the term "law of pub 'c agencies," unless a shorter and less clumsy one can be found. "The Fifth Wheel in our Government." By Senator Albert J. Beveridge. Century, v. 79, p. 208 (Dec.). “As now constituted, the Vice-President is absolutely without any power whatever in the Senate except that of casting the de ciding ballot in the event of a tie, which occurs so seldom that it is almost no consider ation. . . . “ Suppose that the power of appointing the committees of the Senate was given to the Vice-President. He would at once become a determining factor in government-a work ing bee making honey every day, instead of a queen bee with nothing to do. . . . “'If this suggestion for the enlar ement of the Vice-President's powers in the egislative branch is not acceptable, suppose his powers be enlarged in the executive department. Why not make him a sitting, voting member of t e Cabinet?" "In the Supreme Court—The People of the

United

States;

Insurgents

v.

Hale, Cannon, Payne, et al." Beach Needham. Euerybody's,

Aldrich,

By Henry v. 21, p.

797 (Dec.). “ Mr Aldrich is neither the ablest nor the best informed man among his associates," replied Mr. Dolliver. . . . " The majority obtained by Mr. Aldrich in the Senate does not come from an appeal publicly and squarely made to the 'udgment and conscience of the Senate, but

rom a species of reciprocity of

benefits, all centering 1n the so-called ‘ citadel of rotection.’" his is

the

first

installment,

others

to

follow, giving the testimony of other Senators. Chile. “ Parliamentary Government in Chile." By Prof. Paul S. Reinsch. Ameri can Political Science Review, v. 3, p. 507 (N0v.) “ While the radicals and liberals originally resisted such general social legislation from the point of view of their national laissez-faire theories, all parties have now come to adopt into their program resolutions favoring im provement in the condition of the poorer classes. . . . "Many Chilian public men bewail the growing materialism of the country; the in sistence upon private interest they attribute to a waning of the more ideal enthusiasms of former

eras.

In

that

respect,

however,

Chile with the rest of the world must adjust herself to conditions in which the material interests of the nation are, as a matter of fact,

given a

at deal of attention.

But a

nation which energetically develops its re

sources, which introduces efficiency of organ-

ization and administration, which demands exact methods in public accounting, is not, though insisting upon material matters, by any means necessarily shut out from moldin all these material concerns into a broad an stable basis for a national life in which all the higher interests may find development and expression." China. "A Parliament for China." By Prof. Paul S. Reinsch. Atlantic, v. 104, p. 790 (Dec.). This article by an eminent authority has timely interest because of the recent begin nings of parliamentary government in China. "A national parliament must be created; and it must, moreover, be a body truly repre sentative of the intelligence and energy of the nation. . . . New imposts of tax ation will be given authority by acceptance through re resentatives, and the financial administration of the empire will benefit throu h parliamentary control. . . . " ith the achievement of parliamentary institutions . . . the solution of the other difliculties and problems will have been rendered far easier than it would have been in the hands of an administration working at cross purposes with an independent public oprmon.’ Great Britain. See British Constitution. India. “ The Situation in India." By Sir A. H. L. Fraser. Contemporary Review, v. 96, p. 562 (Nov.). “ The gravity of the situation ought not to be exa gerated. The extent of the unrest and disa ection is distinctly limited. Lord Kitchener’s statement, that the Indian army is unaffected by the efforts made to corrupt it, is encouraging and may be accepted." South Africa. “ South African Union." By A. Berriedale Keith. journal of Com parative Legislation, v. 10, pt. 1, no. 21, N. S., p. 40 (Oct.). “ It must be said at once that perhaps too much has been claimed for both the ori ' nality and the excellence of the draft. T e constitution is as a matter of fact indebted very greatly to previous constitutions, and in a few cases has perhaps followed its models with excessive fidelity. None the less it is certainly an excellent piece of work both as regards drafting and contents." See Bill of Rights, Courts, Interstate Com merce, Socialism, Taxation.

History. " John Brown—Modern Hebrew Prophet." By E. N. Vallandigham. Put nam’s, v. 7, p. 288 (Dec.). “ Tried by all conventional standards John Browns attempt was, as the conser

vative historian has said, ‘ crime and nothin but crime,’ crime against both constitution and statute law then acquiesced in by the great majority of his countrymen; and viewed with dispassronate criticism, his must prob _ ably be acknowledged to have been as to its