Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-12-16


is thus seen that it will be several years
yet before the town can be fully pro-
tected from FIRE.
THE GOVERNOR AND THE BOARD.
Esprit Lake Beacon.l
Ex-senator Funk Is Of the opinion
that the laws have not shorn the gov
ernorship of Iowa of any Of it's real
powers. He quotes from the law to the
effect that Nothing herein contained
shall limit the supervisory or examin-
ing powers vested in him by the laws or
constitution. Mr.. Funk is a man who
knows the laws Of Iowa and whose
statements are generally carefully
made. He is probably correct as far as
the letter Of the law Is concerned And
yet legal citation can hardly convince
the average man that the governorship
has not lost in power and prestige in
Iowa under the existing system. Com
pare the governorship as to functions
and powers actually exercised, with the
functions and powers, in that office a
dozenyears ago. Has there been 4 gov
ernor in Iowa since Larrabee and Gear
who lnemorized the business of every
state department and every state insti-
tuition 1t is said that when Mr.. Lar
rabee became chairman of the board of
control and returned to the various
state institutions that he was after q
lapse of ten years still thoroughly ia
miliar with all their conditions and
wants. For eighteen years he has vis-
tied them as legislator and for four
uau rc Mr ION.
famlliarized himself so thoroughly with
the state institutions that he became
known as "Old Business."-Cedar Rap
ids Republican.
The Beacon meant to speak simply
to the proposition that the legislature
in the enactment OF the board of control
law robbed the governorship of half it's
powers-a proposition that cannot be
sustained by the record. If governors
In the later years have not exercised
the functions and powers inherent a
dozen years ago, and inherent still it is
not the fault Of the law. The admins
trations of Larrabee and Gear stand out
as models in executive contamination.
Neither was gifted in speech. Neither
was at the time excessively ambitious.
1t seemed to be the single ambition of
each to give to the business of the state
all the time and the ability and ex-
perience in their equipment. Both had
been in positions to know the institu-
lions and their needs. Both were close
to the people. Both were 30 fun of
courage as to be afraid neither of popu-
lar clamor nor political powers that
threaten to unmake men they cannot
control This is not saying that other
governors have failed in the perform
ance OF duty as they saw it. Boies and
Jackson, and Drake and Shaw are all
good men. But somehow the Larrabee
and Gear way was peculiar unto it,
self.
Instead OF contracting the powers Of
the governor the board of control sys-
tenn increases executive opportunity.
Trustees were not created nor con-
troled by the governor. Actual power
under the old system was merely NOM
inal. The beard of control system is
bottomed on the idea Of centralized au-
thority and responsibility. The COVER
nor is responsible to the people for the
character of the board. He must ex-
ercise hts appointing power with rare
discretion for his own protection as we'll
as for the good of the state. Members
of the board are responsible to the gov
ernor directly in the exercise or official
functions. Institution managers are
strictly accountable to the board, and
so on down the line.
1t is safe to say that much of the crit
icism of the new system is due TO the
fact that the law is necessarily elabor-
ate and consequently not always well
understood by its critics. In reserving
the right to criticse the system ard the
board the Republican is strictly within
the lines of legitimate and helpful news
paper service.