The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-03-21
~rr xuxurErAxT GovEKsoE-
SHIP.

~h;le acme OF the states IN the union
vsc.rd sueh an Office necessary. others
do not. and while many people VIII
consider The Office one which cannot
we'll le dispensed with, Others viii
look upon ii az useless and only the
creation Of an unnecessary title.
its. Of course. wise and prudent 10
establishing the new state government
10 have an eye to the expense Of run
ming the same, and to exercise all due
ecorcmy In creating Offices, The sai-
aries Of which must be met by the tar
payers. At the same time Il VIII be
found 10 be lIl-advised 10 create too
few Offices. for the attempt 10 eeono-
uize by throwing the burden Of adj
ministration upon the shoulders Of a
few. and detailing 70 one Office the dn-
ties which l,eiong 10 two or three, has
never proved success and win invaT-
Ialiy result In the work os some de-
partment being neglected and the IN
ierests Of the people allowed 10 suffer
thereby.
Of the thirty eight states OF the
Union, twenty sesen appear 10 have
deeIsed lieutenant governor neces-
sary and have provided for that Office
IN the constitution. They are Cali
fcrnia. Colorado, Connecticut. Florida,
Illinois. Indiana. Iowa. Kansas. Ken
lucky, Louisiana. Massachusetts,,
Michigan, Minnesota. Mississippi, Mis-
souri,. Nebraska. Nevada. New York.
North Carolina. Ohio, Pennsylvania.
Rhode Island, North Carolina Texas.
Vermont. Virginia and Wisconsin.
In She remaining states lieutenant
R0sernorships do not exist. The lieu
tenant-governor acts as presiding Of
ficer Of the senate. and In the twenty
seven states named his salary ranges
from @ per day during the legislative
session TO 1000 per year in the state
Of New York. In sixteen OF the states
the salary attached 10 the Office Is
fixed, while In the remaining nine
per diem remuneration Is allowed bat
the cmoiuments in twclveof the states
where fixed salary is paid do not ex-
coed &1000, and In most instances are
below that amount.
The question OF salary. therefore, il
q consideration OF but slight impor-
lance In determining upon the advisa-
bifity Of creating the Office. As mat
ter Of fact. that point has scarcely ever
been raised and maintained as a strong
and vital reason why the Office should
he dispensed with. The discussions
which arise are, rather. as TO the all
vantage gained in having as president
Of the upper house an officer who has
been elected 20 represent no eonstit-
ueHcy and who votes and debates only
under certain circumstances. and fur
therrnofe as to fac Justice Of providing
as a successor 10 the governor, in case
Of death, reSignati on or removal, one
who has been elected directly by the
whole people and whose views and
party affiliations are supposed 90 be In
accord Will, those of his predecessor.
II can hardly be denied that a pre-
siding officer who has been elected to
ACT for the people and TO represent NO
particular section viii be fairer in his
decisions, clearer in his rulings aud OF
a more impartial and unbiased mind
than one who Is elected president OF
the senate direct from the upper legis-
lative body. On this issue there j. lit
tie likelihood Of there being great
difference Of opinion. And ON the
second consideration raised there will
be even more pronounced unasim.
ity of thought and belief. IT the con.
stitntion provides for a lieutenant.
governor. the question OF succession
Is decided definitely and for Ger.
tainiy. II the governor dies. resigns
or ia removed. the people know tia,
the executive prerogatives fall TO one
whom they have selected to act in
event OF such an emergency. When
under such constitution. the state
electors vote for a governor. they
select at the same time All individual
whom they deem qualified 10 assum,
gubernatorial duties and responsible
ties should occasion demand Il. and 1
sudden change Of executives vii
bring about no manifest alteration o
policies and no radical innovations il
the administration of state affairs,
Hut with the succession falling, as /,
usually the case. to the elected prcSi
dent Of the state senate, there Is AWAY,
a chance OF the Peoples will bein,
thwarted and the possibility OF t
man being placed ia the COVER
nor's chair for whom malori4,
OF the electors OF the stat,
have not voted and would not vote
1t has often been shown in state cleo
tions throughout the country tina
local Discussions ana difference,
break ar parties ana a. a reSui
one or both Of the legislative hodie.
do net In political beliefs truly repre-
sent the great body al people. Will,
the party in the majority NAV eleci
It's state officers, these local dispute.
frequently have as an outcome Ia,
sending of men To The legissture who
are politically IN the minority AM
who would never have been electe,
but fog the existence of laetsona
auarrels IN certain precincts or dis
tTiets. An election under such cir
enmstances may give 10 the STAT,
senate political complexion iistertn,
from that os the majority of ia,
electors Of The state, an6. Is Sucs,
body il 10 name the Successor ~ th,
governor who may perehaso O. die
resign or he removed. il viii DC Saes
that an anomalous condition Of affair.
may exist, j. e. the executive osllc,
being filled by a man who does 40
represent aad who Is nx in harmon,
With the majority al the people.
The constitutional provisioa Tor she
election Of OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. Oh
viafes the neeeSSity a ever facing suoi
= political ssa!sss aasa sasares the sue
eession 60 the party which hiss xicso
rloass3 expressed is preferences in IA,
eieetleR fer gosernor. This considers