Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-03-21
THE GOVERNORS PRESENT AND
PROPOSED POWERS.

EXTRAORDINARY power is already
vested in the man who holds the
Office Of Governor OF Utah. He lays
before the Legislature \ message
which j. presumed to Indicate all
the important Legislation which the
Territory requires. This message
is divided up among the committees
Of the Assembly, who report upon
their respective portions Of it in due
time, by bill or otherwise. Thus
the Governor introduces all or most
Of the important bills of the session,
or at least the subject matter Of
them.
Then, by a judicious use Of the
absolute veto power, he may coerce
the Assembly into such amend
ments 70 any bill as will cause it to
conform TO his views or wishes, on
pain Of depriving the people of
legislation which they may greatly
need. Or, by an unscrupulous use
Of that same power, be may kill any
bill he may choose, and his caprice
may nuDify any portion Of the
labOUs Of the Legislature.
The Governor has the nominating
Of all Territorial officers, subject t.
confirmation by the Council; but
should the Council fail him. he
may appoint ad interim, notwith-
standing its objections. The COM
mand Of such a patronage alone
makes the Office one Of great power:
and. in view Of modern political Gus
toms not unknown in Utah, We NAV
add, profit. The Governor NAV
pardon any criminal convicted Of a
violation Of any Territorial law. He
is also presumed to exercise, in a
legitimate way, an influence upon
congressional legislation, and the
policy Of The various departments.
respe cling the Territory, by means
Of his annual report to the Secre-
tary Of the Interior. which is sup
posed to contain statistical and other
information OF a reliable character.
and good faith recommendations as
to the Territory's needs, made by
its Chief Executive. In addition To
all tins, he has all the authority
usual to the same office in other
Territories and the States.
Is not this enough power for one
man to WELD? Is it not n strain
upon American principles and in
situations TO vest so much in enc
individual? No State Governor in
the United States approaches, in the
extent Of his power and patronage,
the Governor Of Utah, population
considered. Not a single official
known to the laws Of the Union, OF
any State thereof is vested with |
such extensive authority. The ex-
istence, beneath theStlrsand Stripes.
Of au efiice bearing such a close re-
semblance to an old world despot- |
ism, is a discredit to our country.
But 1t is coolly proposed to make
Of Utah's Governor an autocrat Of
powers enormously Increased be-
yond those he already wields. The
Stone bill, Of which we have already
briefly treated, aims to make him,
the Secretary Of the Territory and
the President of the Legislative
Council, successors to the Utah
Commission. As we have ex-
planned, this would virtually
b, TO transfer the powers of
The latter TO the Governor
direct. Still, as our readers are
aware, another measure. now pend
ing in the Senate, proposes to give
the Governor power to appoint all
The important county, district and
precinct officers at present elective.
Senator Paddock is credited with
being the principal advocate Of the
latter scheme. 1t will be remem-
oered that he and the present Exc
cutive Of Utah, were on the Utah
Commission together, when, doubt
less, the ties were formed which ex-
plains the Senator's interest in the
1ggrandizement Of the Governor.
Seriously, is it not time to call a
halt in these endeavors to enlarge
he already kingly powers of Utah's
Governor? What need exists here7
ia man clothed with such might?