The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-07-22
fWritten for The Times.D

In The Times of July 18TH we discussed the
f3ll of Rights and the Elective Franchise
The present article will treat the Executive
and Legislative Departments.
The State Constitutions exhibit great
ssarneness in their provisions relating TO the
powers and duties Of the Executive. In the
early history of the country the Governor
was in all the States elected by the LeSis-
iature. but in few years this right passed
to the people. Certain property and re-
l;GiouS qualifications were formerly re-
ouired of all governors. South Carolina
provided that nc must be worth nfteen
hundreds pounds; Louisiana, that he must
own real estate OF the value OF 5000; Zen
nessee that he should hold five hunnfed
acres Of land II was not until 1892 that
Massachusetts, formally discarded her re-
Quirement that the Governor must be
worth one thousand pounds ReliSl"uS
tests wore formerly quite common. New
Hampshire going fer as 10 PROVIDE lnaI
the Governor must ne a Protestant. me
only vestice If such un-American pfovls-
ions now remairinc is an the Constitutions
of North Carolina and Tennessee. winch
require of their C,hi,f Executive that ne
must believe In God, Tennessee ADDING also
that he snail also believe in future state
of rewards and punishmerlts. The term OF
the governors range from one 20 ioui
Years and their salaries from one to ten
thousand dollars the constant tendency
having been towards ienctheninE terms anc
Increasing salaries. The early Consttu-
tons provided for the Governor. tTiNy
Council-a kind Of Cabinet-and Massa-
chusetts. Maine. North Carolina ana New
Hampshire still retain this seemingly use
less relic of colonial rule.
All State Constitutions. except that OF
Connecticut. give the Governor more oi
lass OF parionins power, but IN most cases
provide that lie shall send to the Legs
lature list OF pardons, together Wath MS
reasons for granting the same. In some
States the advice of the Senate is required
before a pardon can be granted. In Con-
,,ccticut the Governor can merely reprieTe
until the end Of the ensuing session OF the
legislature while the Legislature alone
can pardon The Maryland Constitution
of ISL required that public notice OF ap-
plication should be given before any par
don was granted
All the States except Ohio give the Gov
sr-nor The veto power, but in a few OF the
States the power is only nominal, as d
bare majority may override the Vote Inc
general rule is that q majority OF from
slree-ff1hs TO two-thirds may pass oiii
over sne Governors veto,
One Of the tendencies III modern coh-e
gtttu1lons is the increased power OF the
Executive in the temporary removal OF
high officials for corruption or gross
nergecs OF du1S. In such cases the GOV
err,pr must suspend the accused and re-
mort the facts 10 the next session OF the
Legislature. The appointment OF minor
officials of the executive department We're
in the early constitutions frequently left
10 the Governor. Later. their election.
-Sssseti 10 legislation, and NOW. III keep
Ing with the constan; and natural trend
of Democratic institutions, the sovereign
Deople in most OF the States have taken
arYro themselves The privilege of elecitns
no, only their Acknowledgement. bat their
secretary Of State, Auditor and Treasurer
In California, the people iearals lest
thei. Governor would rndGiy use his IN
fl,ience with the Legislature TO promote
his own political interests, provide IN Their
csnstitutaan that he shall not during has
term OF Office be elected to the United
states Senate.
THE LEGISLATURE.
During the last hundred years there
has been a marked change in the attitude
q, the people towards their legislatures.
In the carly history of the country the
Teonle teoke1: upon this body as the great
hulwark of liberties: they expected their
representatives to protect them against
the possible tyranny OF the Executive and
40 eamtE. Eo&Sx III Is QslaA ss2Ez seSensaa'