New-York tribune., 1908-09-27


tained2 Shall the effort to enforce public rights
with fairness TO all concerned and without un-
just or arbitrary action be censured or ap-
proved?
Shall the effort to demonstrate that the win
of the people as expressed in the constitution
cannot successfully be defied tricked by any
power. however strong and unscrupulous. be
rebuhed or vindeated? Shall the effort TO purify
our electoral methods and TO enlarge the oppor-
tuntieS for the expression Of popular VIII IN the
selection of candidates be encouraged or stthed?
The question is not one Of persons. but Of a
cause. This is the fnexOrable logic of the events
of the last two years
Because of the violent opposition which our
efforts have created. because of the miscOn-
Struction TO which they have been subjected,
because of the vindiCtiveness which threatens
vengeance at the polls. ask not only for ths
enthusiastic support Of all members OF the Re-
publican party. but for the support Of all citi-
zens. irrespective of party who believe in the
standards of administration which we have
sought to maintain and who tndorse the pur-
poses we have endeavOred To achieve
GOVERNMENT BY COMMISSION"
We have endeavored to bring the great ad-
mnistrative departments Of government. so far
as we have been intrusted with their adminis-
tratiOn. to the highest point of efficiency. These
departmental fnstrumentaIities relate to our in
sane asylumS. our charitable institutions. our
prisons. to public education. TO public health,
TO the conservation of our forests. to the devel-
Opment of our water powers. the protection and
promotion OF our agricultural interests, the safe
guarding of the interests or labor. the super
vision of banks. of insurance companies ana OK
public service corporations, and other essential
activities of government.
These activities are appropriately placed in
the charge of departments or commissions. with
one or more heads. and this has been the time
honored and constitutional policy of the state
Yet the Democratic platform reckIessly de-
nounces what II calls governing the state BY
commission" II is evident that the alleged
vice of the system does not reside in the word
commission for it matters not by what name
the office is called. The evil is said to consist
in Withdrawing from the constitutional officials
of the state the power which should be directly
welded by them" It is sOlemnly declared that
the government of the state should be restored
to constitutional lines so that only those elected
by the people and directly responsible to them
shall have the power of expending the public
revenue, regulating public business and con-
trolling within the law the afTa1rs OF the cltl-
The constitutional officials elected by the
people are the Governor, the Lieutenant Gov
ernor the Secretary of State. the CONTROLLER
the State Treasurer, the Attorney General and
the State Engineer and Surveyor Each one or
these officers has his prescribed duties. which IN
most cases are obviously limited to certain lines
of work Most Of them are already heavily
burdened and il would manfestly be impossi-
! bile TO transfer to any one Of them 10 any large
extent the varied and extensive duties now de-
VOWED upon the other administrative depart
ments. But were this done it would merely
shift the appointing power, ana instead OF ths
Governor appointing. either alone or with the
consent of the Senate, some other elected Ofhcer
would appoint the bureau chiefs who would
necessarily manage the activities Of their re-
speCtive departments.
Further to provide for the election by the
state at large of the great number OF heads or
departments and members OF administrative
commissions would inevitably result in a seri-
Gus loss of efficiency These activities Of gov
ernment constitute the great administrative
business of the state. which should not be de-
pendent upon political considerations and should
be conducted by those specially fitted for their
tasks. 1t would be extremely difficult for the
public to act Discriminatory in the choice OF
many officers. and the difficulty of wisely Sc
lectfng candidates would be enormously in
creased. Nothing worse could be conceived OF
than to throw all our administrative oIlces INTO
the maelstrOm of politics. To secure a business
like administration would be impossible
RESPONSIBILITY OF THE GOVERNOR.
The interest of the people is naturally centred
upon the selection Of the Chief Executive OF the
state. With regard both 10 the nominations ana
elections for this office they can exercise the
maximum control and have the best opportunity
for discriminating Judgment. If they DO NOT
choose the highest officer IN the state Wlsely. II
is not likely that they will choose great NUM-
Der of subordinates wisely.
1t is far better and more in accordance with
efficient popular rule 10 charge upon the Gov
ernOr the responsibility for administrator, 10
choose him in the light of that responsibility
and to hold him accountable for its discharge.
This is not removing the government from tns
people but is merely proper concentration OF re-
sponsibility upon the chief officer elected by ths
people, in the interest of efficient government
The present state constitution itself PROVIDES
for three boards or commisslons-the state
Board of Charities, the State Commission N
I.unacy and the State Commission Of Prisons
1t also provides for two administrative DEPART
Tnents under the Superintendent Of Prisons ana
officers and all the members Of said comnts-
sions are appointed by the Governor with the
consent Of the Senate, and they are made re-
movable by him either upon charges or, as in
the case of the Superintendent Of Public Works.
at his pleasure. Furthermore. the constitution
recognizes the authority Of the Legislature TO
create stICh additional Offices as the extgencfeS
Of administration may require The Banking
Department and the Insurance Department have
been in existence for approximately fifty years,
and their heads are appointive officers
COMMISSIONS BY DEMOCRATS.
This policy has been approved by Democratic
as well as Republican Governors. Under Grover
Cleveland there were created the offices of Capt.
tol Commissioner (afterward continued as the
State Architect). OF Commissioners Of Claims.
OF Niagara Reservation Commissioners. OF Civil
Service Commissioners. of the Bureau of Labor
Statistics Of the State Dairy Commissioner and
of the state Board Of Pharmacy All these were
appOintive.
Under Governor Hill the Forest Commission
of three persons the office of Factory Inspector.
the state Board of Arbitration of three persons.
the. state Meteorological Bureau OF three per-
sons the state Commission in LunaCy OF three
persons. the Office OF State Mining Inspector
were created, and all these officers We're ap-
pointive. The railroad law. with its provision