The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-03-17
STATE CONSTITUTIONS.

~@-
STATE CONSTITUTIONS.
ARrtcLE tF--THE DEPARTMENTS % GOV
ERN9KNg-~ExEcgTIEE DEPARTMENT.
ft Is the province of the legislative de
paEgment Of a government 10 make laws,
81 the executive department 10 enforce
them. The former il controlled only by the
viii of the people as embodied In the con-
stifntlon. the latter b. the win Of the peo-
pie as expressed both by the constitution
and the legislature. The governor of a
state has, IL IL trae. limited pawer In the
enactment OF laws. This power is. how
ever. rather restrictive than creative, in
asmueh as il consists Of the right Of veto,
right almost universally conferred by
the constitution upon the chief executives
Of the states, The veto power Is designed
10 serve as cheek upon hasty and Ill ad-
yised legislation. while an abuse Of the
power is In turn prevented or limited by
the right conferred upon the legislatures of
overriding the veto. provided certain
proportion of their members are ia favor
OF SO doing. Under the republican form
of government, moreover. as adopted By
the states, the executive is By no means
endowed with the ultimate right OF later
pretIng the laws that it Is bis duty to en-
force. This right is vested ia still another
department OF gOvernmcnt--the judicial.
It is clear, therefore. that the sovereign
powers formerly embraced In one person
are in this country 80 divided Us 10 render
oppression dificaIt IL not impossible. The
governor of state, far from being an auto
crat like the falers OF old, r. in reality the
servant Of the people. bound By their wi
and auswesahle Il, them fer the perform
ance of certain delegated and well defined
pferogatiyes.
when the state constitutions pro
vide that 'lhe executive power OF tire state
shall DC vested ia a governor" or. as other
wise expressed, that Hthe supreme exeeu-
/ tive power OF the state shall be vested in
chief magistrate who shall be styled the
governor Of the state" they By no means
eouies as much power as would at FIRST
sight appear. On the contrary the voweFs
/ delegated are In every case fully set forth
ia the constitution and clearly defined
aud limited. Before considering. however.
| the powers Of the governor as usually pro-
yided FOR In the state constitutions II may
/ be well ia refer IN the subordinate officers
OF toe executive department, or rs they are
sometimes styled. the administrative Of
| aeers.
Ii Is usually provided that the executive
department shall consist OF certain officers,
generally governor, lieutenant governor,
secretary Of state, auditor. treasurer, super
/ intendent Of public instruction and attor.
I ney-geHerai. To these are sometimes added
ad acknowledgement aud commissioner OF
Pa.
/ the number Of officers of the executive de-
partment Is much more limited. The con.
stituiion Of Oregon, indeed, provided oniy
/ for governor and secretary aud treas
/ urer OF state. the secretary Of state being
q 60, By virtue of bis Office. auditor of public
accounts. ofiieers Of the executive depart.
neut are "a a rule elected at The same
/ tame as the governor and in the same man
/ ner, although in some exceptional cases
! the appointment Of ali OF part of them Is
! otherwise provided for.
Ia = large majority OF the states the con
situations provide for the election Of
/ lieutenant governor who shall be x-oficio
/ president OF the senate. having anly east
Tag vote In that body. and who shall in
/ case OF the death or disability of the gov.
eruoF. perform the DATES of that Office
This seems an eminently wise pFoyisian
iaasmueA as IL ensures the election by the
people 81 a successor 10 the governor ia
case of bis death or disability, and docs
not npea 1ae sHrees ion la the FIRST instance
/ ca an ofsiciA4 not OF the peoples choice.
The same result would. IL iSiFue. be attain.
I Cd by making the secretary of state or
some ether elective officer the governor
successor, but II this were done IL would
create . vacancy To sn ofIiee that should be
I alled By al eleetioa of the people. which
/ would inyolvs both expense and delay.
! This objection would not apply to the pro.
+ motion Of the president OF the senate since
/ :hai Is position that might properly be
I Riled by the senate itself The question
/ Of expense reed hardly be considered in
discussing the ACCESSIBILITY OF providing
J for the election 81 a neufen4ns- governor.
since bis salary eoeid De hxed az su h a
SUN ~ would he pseper for the presiding
officer Of the senate 90 receive. with the
Z proviso that in case he were called upon
! - Gll ihe positson az governor has salary
/ woala be- saeh - attached to thas nsfiee.
VITA reference as the other officers OF
the executive department il may be said
I that IL Is better 20 err on the side 81 having
teo Ensay than too lew. Whale IL might
he wei so combine Ia enc person the On.
ties at secretary Of state and xmdItor. there
should certainly be provision made Ia the
constitution Tor tAe appointment ~
treasurer. attorney general, superiutena-
ent ~ pWhlic instruction sati aaiutAns
general Power might he given 10 tire leg
tslsiars To provide for the election Of .
commissioner Of immigration. surveyor
general or such ether administrative Of.
EecTs a. the needs Of the state required.
. fae general sule is for the Constitution 70
provide ibas the salaries of al ofticers Of
The executive department and the duties
es al excepting tho governor and lientea.
sat governor shall kS axsi hy aaw. The
dataes ~ the governor AMI lieutenant
governor are axes by the constitution
itself.
The time % sEe elSctsan OF TIE gov
esEos Is usually sxei 81 the same tins as
that Of representatives his term Of ofgsee
varies il the dlnsFshs states frau cue 30
sessF yeags. sZG IN zaaay Instances prayss- {
iaas are Adopted against toe frequent r. (
elections. The most ccEssaua reSsgictloa in
taas respect y sass sae sSnss ~ csau shah {
aos ese s3txiese f8g sackIGa aseF fear wears
IA 81 eg fsaE u eight TAe a<e eOaan.onlv Z
ras3Giress hy TIE constitution Is make =
rssscu eligible ~ tAs position % gxxezaor
u 20 years. although Is few states L j.
lsiscess a. los as = ye&Es OF as high a. *
The SoEssuee EggsSs ia = large MAJORITY a.
tx states De q esa9eEi ~ *ne nfsea Ssssss
sszt AaYs esSs resident az gs@ state sos
Eez1a vzEyaas fsosa ozse "a scxen years.
Css1aeSssG gAAST3AssliIel escetlsas are xss-
tis-i esfAss y a ssssnt rosc af b~sh seas<z i
q sAe aeEsEszsars ~ In ssarsa ether sssa.
usr pFs=sSiss& * the constitutions % y
an. Tss manner 81 declaring eassesssns
= sVsesAl,g ENss hg iAe consultation
Eae easxTuors u al sas states ar mzsGe
e9 thx eeSasssiHtsosS commanders sss c hsSf 4