The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-02-08
FROM OTHER PENS
THE AMERICAN SYSTEM.

Inc president, IN speaking TO the as
sembled governors, expressed his ad-
miration for the English system, where
the executive not only is the exeeu-
tive, but also has control over the leg
islative action of the government" He
admitted that 1--WE haven't got that
system and are not going to have it."
and there was no use mourning over
the fact, but the object of his speech
was to emphasize the executive respon-
sibility for legislation.
1t is interesting to observe the re-
cent disposition to lament what was re-
garded, in the formation of the con-
stitution, as one of it's fundamental and
most essential principles-the distinct
separation of the executive, legislative
and judicial departments of the govern
ment. So deeply rooted is this concep
ton in our whole American system that
we have come to regard it as funda-
mental and indisputable. We have even
tried to apply it, unreaSOnably, to
municipal corporations. but that was
mainly because no other theory of pop
ular government appeared possible.
1t seems a rapid stride to the pres
ent point where the executive not only
assumes the general direction and sug-
gestion of legislation. but actually
submits bills for enactment by con-
gress as administration measures" 1t
is true that this is done by the minis
try under the English system, but there
the ministry is only committee of
the arliament.-Philadelp Ledger.
THE NEWER EDUCATION.
The relation of the larger univer-
teal problems of existence is being
emphasized in an astonishing degree
nowadays. If the notion of clustered
halls where pale-faced students pored
over musty tones once held sway,
that idea has entirely disappeared.
Tho NJ thought fn he
how can the training of the schools
be made most useful in lettering the
conditions of human life.
The University of Wisconsin, for
example, has been rendering great
service to the people of our neighbour
ing commonwealth through its NUM-
cipal reference bureau. Recognizing
the activity in the field of city admin
istration, 1t has collected information
from all available sources. and is now
ready to send out material on such
subjects as sewage disposal. water
supply and publication, street sprink-
ling and cleaning, the smoke nuisance,
parks and Fairgrounds, care of trees,
public utilities and public service
rates, civic centers and art commits
sions. The statement that one morn
ing's mail brought inquiries from city
officials in nine different common
wealths indicates the importance Of
such university work.-Chicago Trib
une.
MORE WASTE
Considerable merriment seems to
have been started in congress last week
by a proposition to destroy 1000
tons of printed matter as worthless
public documents" We are not quite
sure where the laugh came in here,
| but we suppose it was on the public
| 1t must have cost the public a tre-
mendous lot of money to print those
worthless documents; and it is sad
dening to think how many additional
| tons of just such rubbish are not in
tercepted and destroyed as worth
Less but get transmitted at great ex-
pense through the mails to the over
| burdened waste baskets of the people
However, the sending off of 1000
tons is something to be thankful for
| One of these fine days a genuine re-
| former in congress will start an insur-
rection against these prodigious print.
ing and ranking abuses that viii
amount to something.-MiiWau
Ira