New-York tribune., 1907-04-29

I also favor full publicity with regard 10 e!ec-
fion expenses and the Improvement and rlgld en-
forcen1ent OF our corrupt practices acts. There
IS no more important service that can be rem
dered al organizations like this than TO create
a powerful sentiment against corruption at the
polls. I also believe in so improving our PA
mary laws that the candidates selected shalI De
selected in a democratic manner and not as "a
result Of dictation or corrupt bargaining.
I should like TO have time 10 talk further on
these ana other subjects but there Is i aiolher
matter which 1 especially desire TO e-npiaslzo
tonight.
NEED MORE RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT
We need a more responsible government
government which is directly responsive
10 the sentiment Of the people. The heads OF
departments and the members of commissions
should be more directly accountable 10 the peo-
pie You elect a Governor charged IL popular
opinion with the duty Of administration lie
should have opportunity 10 discharge mat
duty and should be held responsible for the way
in which ne discharges IL. If the head Of a de-
paTtnent is incompetent or inefficient, tle Gov
ernor should have the right 10 remove him, ana
should account 70 the people for the manner IN
which lie exercises his power ana, having inc
power, should be responsible for bringing the de-
paTtnents to The highest standard of efficiency
Now. there are those who urge that the best
course is 10 have the heads OF departments and
the members Of commissions elected by the peo-
pie I do NOT agree with this. II is not neces-
sary in order 10 have responsible government
on the contrary, ! believe II would prevent Us
from obtaining the best administration. Neces-
saFily we have = large number OF departments
and commissions Tor executive work me PEI
pie cannot in the nature of things obtain me
information and exercise the best judgment WI M
regard 10 so many state offices. by eIecsIAs an
heads OF departments and members or com
missions the disadvantage Of assoclatlng ad-
minist-ation with politics would be vastly III
creased.
The wise owner Of a vast business who could
not undertake its direct management would Sc
lect a competent superintendent. and would say
10 him: You this business; YOU PICK
out tho men upon whom you can depend; you
can make the matter Of each department me
subject Of special study and VIII be best able 70
judge who IS the best man for the place: i VIII
hold YOU responsible for the results and for haV-
ing this business properly managed.
The attention Of the people is centred upon tIe
selection OF the Governor as upon no other on
Ger. The influence OF public sentiment II the
selection of candidates IS nowhere alse so
strongly felt. The more important the power
the more careful will be the people &c the
person in whom il is repOsed. The Governor Is
selected for only two years, He Is directly re-
Rponsible 10 The people. And in my judgment
the best course IS 10 say 10 the Governor; We
have intrusteG YOU with the administration OF
the executive departments; YOU can studF thtir
needs: get the best men, remove the incalabIe
and those who fail 10 appreciate the lrnport tah's
of The duties devolyed upon them; can watch
The course Of the governments business, ana
we hold You responsible fo- the manner IN
which IL is conducted.
POLITICAL MACHINE IMPROBABLE.
But Il is said that the Governor can use this
power 70 build up political machine. lhere Is
more likelihood OF there being a political ma
chine when those who are in charge or depart-
,penfs hold little fortresses which they can main
tain against an executive chosen hy the peopie'
ana thus against the people themselves.
If il were now proposed for the first time 70
give the Governor the pardoning power imagine
the outcry: shall we give the Governor the power
- set loose anv criminal who has been duly con
nicted? Why, an unscrupuious Governor IllslI
have a general jail delivery ana pulId up u
political machine differed 10y mugs aIG & &coI
victs who would scrUple al nothlhg alu I'D, no.
no fear 0f the court, for their benefactoI coul9
release them the moment they were appfehehueo
and convicted Of crime. -,
bgFra haI
Governor for many years, and "ll4e some no g
exercised il much more freely tnan lllI-h -,
no Governor has ever dreamed OF using IL Iot
this purpose which the nervous ana t-IIll4 mo s-ie 81
think was so easy Of accomplishment We nav
the pardoning power because II IS hecgSsai: -.
rhe interest of mercy and luSilce aLlht ti1e
somewhere this great responsibility should be
lodged and we have il exercised with due re-
gard 10 The public interests because the Gov
trnor is a responsible officer and acc5untaple %
The people for the manner in which he performs
his duty ,.,
This is a matter Of particular interest with
reference TO the proposed commission for regu-
aatiOn Of public service To elect thtSe com
lnissioners would be mistaken poilcN Ihdl y
part of the administrative Work oI me s'a'-'
The responsibility for which should be lodged IN
the Governor, Who should have the power ol r.
moyaL In this way unity, r'sponslp lpiilty- ana
efficiency of administration would be secured
which otherwise would be impossible
No ARBITRARY POWER
But in proposing that The Governor shall have
the power ~ removal I do not believe il should
rc arbitrarily exercised. II should be exercised
under conditions under which alone Governor
with a due sense Of responsibility would eXer-
else IN. j have not the slightest objection. but
rather favor, the duty being imposed upon the
Governor To formulate charges and give the
officer an opportunity To be heard But the re-
;noNal should not Ic limited 10 acts which con-
siItute a crime or involve moral turptuae. We
do not want offices conducted by men who
simply keep within the Penal C0Gs and do not
outrage HE moral utlMeut ot the community.
We want efficient OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES who
arc not only honest. hut capable men. who have
a high standard OF administrative duty, who do
not proceed along the line OF least resistance,
but intent on giving The service 10 which
the public Is entitled. The proposed commits
soners should be removable not only for NAL
Teasance or misconduct in office. but tor IN
efficiency or neglect of duty. Let the Governor
he put his lespOnsb bility To state his charges;
Jet t2e officer have an opportunity 10 be heard,
and tncn let the Governor decide his re-
spoaGibilry and according his oath Of office
His position would nos bc reviewa3e by the
courts Of law, fut 81 would be renewable before
the bar of public opinion, and thus ne would
give proper administration the one hand
while on the otie e. hand he would act IN Il
sponsi5ie and not IN au arbitrary manner.
II is not necessary that ! should talk to Citi-
Zens of New York The need Of the regulation
of public service corporations. You have wit
messed in this community the most fragrant dis
regard Of public du,y the part OF those who
enjoy public privilege. You have Witnessed
stock Jobbery ard financial operations which no
one has the audacity 10 defend. You have
seen economies enforced at the public expense