New-York tribune., 1907-04-07
rHE aorERyoR,s PRoGRAMME.

In his sneech AZ Glens Falls on Friday night
Governor Hughes emphasized the illoglcallty OF
the uroposal to make the commissioners created
nv tho Public Utilities bill removable by the Sen
ate instead of by the Governor He dld not
have to 60 far for an illustration or the workings
OF the system he criticised, for the Kelsey case
supplied him with just the parallel ne needed.
Experience has everywhere strengthened the tne
orv that the powers Of the legislative. admins
trative and judicial departments of government
should be kept as distinct as possible Respon-
sibility In each branch should be clear and un-
divided. and though we wisely maintain few
essential checks and counter checks like the
Governors veto on legislation and the Senates
right to confirm or reject nominations made Oy
tbe Governor. we are becoming more and more
convinced that better results in administration
will be obtained where authority is concentrated
I'm one official directly responsible TO the voters
than where it is dispersed among number OF
semi-independent intermediary agents.
The Governor should logically have the power
to remove the appOintees on whom he has to
depend for efficient administration. That is the
rule in the federal civil service. Though the
United Stares Senate passes on nominations for
the higher federal posts it is not consulted
abou. removals. The Senate once tried TO usurp
this function. and succeeded for time in tying
the hands OF one isolated President-Andrew
Johnsop. But as soon as the abnormal cOndi-
tione created by Johnson's administration
passed away the Senate voluntarily abandoned
its pTetence of authority to control removals
In this state we have given the Governor power
10 dispIace mayors, sheriffs and county clerks
all elected by the people We have also made
many of the administrative officials appointed
by the Governor removable on his judgment
But officers like the Superintendent of Insur-
ance though holding title from him, with the
approval Of the Senate, are made practically ap-
pointees Of the Senate by the provision that they
can he deprived Of Office only by the Senate's
action. Instead Of ennrging this class Of ad-
minstrators credited to the legislative branch
by including IN it the Public Utilities commits
sioners we should unity our system and return
10 the sOunder principle which governs in fed
eral practice. As the Governor significantly
says. this is not a personal" demand on his
part. lie is not antagonizing the Senate as
such or urging an increase of the Governors
power for his own benefit He is simply stating
his view "as TO correct political principle"
The politicians at Albany who oppose or are
reluctant TO support the Governors programme
take too narrow a view of the situation. In ask
ing for Commissioner Kelseys removal Gov
ernor Hughes is not making war on an individ-
ual In urging reform legislation he is not at
tackng any set OF men or set Of interests He
is not negligent Of or Indifferent to the welfare
Of the party which nominated and elected him.
h is honestly and earnestly trying to redeem
the party's pledges and TO put II in touch with
a sentiment expressed by an indubitabe ma
jOrity Of the voters Of the state. The future of
the party is bound up with his policies. and it
is foolish TO assume that he is merely trying TO
assert his own power and wrest leadership from
any group Of men now influential in party couu-
ellis. He is serving the party best by serving the
public best. and his programme is practical aud
rational in the brOadest sense. because it will
vindicate the claim that the Republican organ
ization can he trusted to use the power given tn
ii 10 promote good government.