The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-20
to gre tho Governor power to remove sssss

70 give. the Governor power TO remove stass
ANswER-I 90 not see that there is any proba.
bility OF the Legislature passing any sucn measure
applicable 70 the state orcers generally. and some
objections, Inc subject OF the appointment and
removal Of State Officers Is one upon winch | long
ago expressed my decided views, ana they are
unchanged. Tney were stated in my annual mes
sage oil 1872, made IN temptation OF retirement
rom office. know tuey are not popular with the
politicians. mat u nothing 10 me- some say
thew are not democratic. believe they are right
even al tue risk o. appearing not over modest.
don't oeneve all the wisdom OF the state was
exhausted IN the preparation OF the consu
tuition of 1876 or embodied IN the Convention.
My recommendation IN 1872 was Ior the appoint.
ment OF all the state ofDcers except the Treas
urcrl by the Governor ana senate, to be remov
able oy the Governor Tor cause, so as 70 make his
res ponsI0lllty for the good management OF aualr5
complete. Tne idea was that the state govern.
ment should lie formed on the model OF the iedera'
goyernment-the state officers forming the Cover
nor's CABINET JUST as the secretary VI state, and
Treasury, and Interior and Attorney General, &C.,
form the Presidents Cabinet. on these recon-
mendatlons, whlcn were partly but not wholly re-
sone poltciahs lalseu tue cry " -centIdn
zatlonO and lone man power,N aud you know
cry Is q great thing 10 polIlcs. IL IL was
"centraiZatlon,' we nave oeen living IN.
der a centralized government at Washington
for 100 years. some leading men, who did not
JOIN IN the cry, held their peace altogether, and
the propositions were oeleated. The amendment.
as reported 0Y the Commission, was not per
mitted DY the Legislature 10 the people. !
believe now IN giving tue power OF appointment
or state otncers To tue Governor and senate. and
TO Inc Governor tue power OF removal Tor cause.
/ believe In coupling the two powers but not In
Sc. aratlng them. II constitutional state officers
a e g. he elected by tue people lee them oe &C
countaole 10 the people or be lmpeac ed by their
representatives, or he tired Uelore some properly
constituted trlounal | 40 not believe In nait one
thing and nali anotuer-a union or TWO dlscordans
systems. believe, however, IN giving the Cover.
nor, under certain circumstances, power OF sus-
pension. The great mistake IN connectlon with
government Is mat men are AL the tune uevisln2
some plan 10 manage pubnc affairs which, IN
utter violation Of all sound business principles
l can see plainly now that there IS a general feel
ing tnas some sort OF law must be passed TO sat
lsly pubic demand. everybody Is saying
"some thing must be uone,N and the danger Is thai
something viii be zone wnich somebody Will some
day be ashamed o.. Tnat IS always apt to De the
case IN times OF political as well as financial panlcs
Let all men recoliect that laws SHOULD
be founded on principle, be well con.
sldered and intended 10 last long enough
al least to give tue people little chance TO re-
denis ability and sogaelty. ana, from recent news
paper reports OIL ms views hardly oeneve ne cares
mucn about having the power ol removal. may
be all wrong III my Impressions, but 1 think ne
sees hat the puohc sentiment IS aroused aud that
he iees he has the moral power. whether he gets
any more legal power or not, TO accomplish SUB
stantially what ne started Tor. ! am wen aware
that some things nave setd are not III harmony
with what appears " be the general current OF
public opinion IN my party or out ot iE. Tnat u
nothing 10 me. You asked Tor my opinion, mol
other peoples. l speak as private cItizen and
for myself only.
CIrIZEN-What legislation do you think is needed
for New York city
ANswER-I don't know. Every one who knows
or cares about my views knows that / have
always teen III favor OF strengthening the Mayor
the responsible mead OF the goYernmeG. IL "a
an amusing Illustration OF political Inconsistency
that a good mauy men VINO strongly favor lna
principle wnen applied to the Mayor Vi New YORK
cry out GENERALIZATION and one man Dowern
when you tax Or applying IL 10 tue Governor o.
the state. In regard 10 city AFFAIRS nave only
TO repeat what l nave sald over aad over AGAIN