raids on the "Pork arrol" a more im
portant means of enhancing their
prttie with their consUtuonta. None
the less, they have Incre-asinRly sur
rendered their power over appoint
ments, as bit by bit appointments
under competitive examination have
lw?on Mended. The abler men amonjr
the mmators and repreaenta.tives wel
come this development, as It relievers
Jhtnn of pressure from their conati
tuoms who desire Federal appoint
ments, and jrivsat them more time for
attending lo public drutieg. JIany of
tr.e abler men today would jrladly
welcome relief -frora local pressure
for federal ajjpropriationa.
The ConKre-ra wil be especially In
sistent that any system which may
be developed Bhoald leave it inde
pendent of tho Executive in final
control of financial matters. It will
be insistent that features of the re
venue laws, aa the tariff, which in
volve economic rm well as revenue
consideration, ehould remain subject
to its Jurisdiction. A Republican Con
gress will not surrender ita control
over finances to a Demoerartie Presi
dent or Hecrertaj-y of the Treasury,
nor would a. leirucratic Conjrress
surrender its control to a Republican
President. Kven when President and
"ontrress are of the same party, the
Congress will insist on retaining its
perojfatlves. It would appear that the
most that can be hoped for tinder our
system of government is to concen
trate authority and responsibility
within eacix of the three great
branches of government which have
to do with financial legislation, the
KxMCUtlve, the House and the Sen
ate, and to bring about close consul
tation among them. But to accom
plish this, or even a suijstantlal part
of it would he so great a gain as to
make the country a heavy debtor to
the statesmen who should bring it
about.
