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

b. delegated - . hoard - y fovnsed
| Of 49, officers or If citizens not other
wise conn<rs<slx with Official duty
These ana other qsestions presented
in Mr.. Heisbrnn's review are of the
highest importance IN their relations
10 the public welfare and % she con-
vensenae and stability 81 the state goy-
eminent They are subjects upon
which there may be honest difference
OF Judgment. with important consider
atoms in support q varying opinions
II IL hoped that citizens who may be
able to give The results 81 observation
or reflection Hron these questions vii,
during the eornsne week or later make
themselves heard through the columns
II the Posr-TsTELE1sgscEk Is il ;
leading purpose In the publication Of
these articles 70 open the door 10 gen.
eral discussion. and the PosT-IsTEaGf-
aEscKE repeats the invitation formerly
given. 10 make this journal the vehicle
q such discussion
In the creation OF 8 state official
system il should. We think. be assumed
as premise that the State Of Wash
Engt0n IL rich enough 10 pay for all
tie service lie government may re-
quire. That i. any proposition ~ 10
systems should Re considered with
reference 10 the necessities and dig
nifty OF the state. IL viii be, In our
judgment. infinitely better TO give each
important duty Of state into the hands
of an officer chosen with special refer
ence TO that duty. than TO consolidate
several services different In kind in
the bands Of q single officer. For ex-
ample. in our neighboring state Of
Oregon the duties OF keeping the state
records and accounts. the general cler-
ieal work Of the state administration,
the business OF auditing claims, the
prosecution Of 3elInquents. the legal
Judgment concerning matters OF al
ministration, the duty OF succession TO
To the eovernorship under certain cir
en- rnstanees~ali these with various
other minor duties are imposed upon
q single officer, the secretary of state.
who il also an ex-oflicio member OF
the several administrative boards
governing the asylum for in
sane, the renitentiary, etc. OF
course il would he impossible for any
man to attend elosely and personally
10 the work Of these various depart
ments OF administration and the re-
suit IL that mach must be done by
clerks. Far better, ii woald seem,
and hut little more expensive. would
il be 10 have three or four officers di-
rectly responsible 10 the people each
chosen for the special duties OF his de-
partment. In addition 10 the Cover
nor. secrefarT Of State. Treasurer.
Superintendent Of Edueatian. then We
should have a Lieutenant Governor
who shall he president OF the state
senate and sueeeed to the governor
ship In the event OF death or inability
of the Governor; an Attorney General.
ands.an Auditor. Better have officials
for the important duties suggested by
these titles than delegate them to ire
sponsible clerks. II Is an important
point 10 have for succession 10 the
goyernorship man suitable for that
particular duty and this is rarely
found in the men most suitable Tor
secretaries of stas.-
IL is very common for new states to
follow the precedent Of the national
constitution In fixing the official
period. IL Is questionable. however.
! If ii would not be better 20 elect officers
every two instead of every four years.
! There are many sound considerations
in support Of the shorter as against
the longer term. IL makes more fire.
quent reports To the people of the con
disions Of the state government and
gives less time for the consolidation of
powerful partisan rings Frequent
elections are in a sense public annoy
snces. but on the other hand ii islsy
he said that they serve to keep nppop-
nlar interest in public affairs. With
ali its disadvantages and annoyances
an election Is powerful educator as
well as moral and intellectual stimu-
las 10 the country.
II Is the common rule "a require a
| two-thir1s vote of the legislature 10
overcome the executive veto; but
against this rule Is the strong argn-
Iaeni that it violates principle upon
which orr government Is based.
Majority rule is an idea very strongly
Impressed upon the American people.
1t Is applied in every other depart.
meut OF our affairs aud We see no
reason why an exception should lac
made in dealing with the executive
veto.
/ These and other questions sug-
gestcd by the article printed this
morning are worth serious attention
and IL is none too carly Ia begin their
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