The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-17
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
 OF EMMET 0'NEAL Outlines the Duties Facing the New Administration NO AMBIGUITY IN WORDS Is Especially Clear in Giving His Ideas of the Party's Duties on the Tenn
 perance Question-Duties
 of the Governor
NO AMBIGUITY IN WORDS

'1n the exercise of their sovereign pow CT of self-government the people of Ala bama have called me from the walks of private life to the chief executive of the state.
 T am profoundly gra teful for this man. Hesitation of their confidence and trust and am deeply sensible of the important and responsible duties to be assumed. can only give my solemn pledge, un- der the sanction of the oath I am about to take, that they can command my en- tire devotion to their interests and what ever ability I possess will be earnestly | consecrated to their services
 Before assuming the duties of the great trust committed to me by their generous suffrages, it S but proper that l shall in obedience to an inaugural cus- tom established by the unbroken usage of my predecessors. give a brief exposi- tion of the policies which will govern my administration.
 Three Separate Departments
 One of the most distinctive features of our institutions is the division of gov ernmental power into three separate and coordinate departments. The danger of oppression from unrestricted executive power had been the one conspicuous fact that stood out in the history of the race. The long struggle to limit and restrain executive power, which wrote the his. tory of whole ages in blood and recorded the martyrdom of it's Sldneys and Rus sells, though often repulsed still contin- ued to gain. until it's final triumph was l accomplished In the establishments of our institutions. Although the functions of the executive 'office are carefully de- fined and limited by the fundamental law, and danger of executive usurpation no longer arouses public apprehension, yet the chief magistrate, as has been truly said, still holds everywhere the foremost place in popular interest and | concern.
 "The powers of the judicial department are exercised by a number of men: the legislature is composed of many repre- sentatives, each vested with the law making power, but the chief executive cffice is alone committed to a single in- dividual. In the language of the consti- tuition, he is vested with the supreme ex- ecutive power of the state. He is com manderin -chief of it's militia and volun- teer forces. He alone can determine when the military forces can be called into service for the enforcement of the laws and how they shall be employed
 By virtue of his office he Is connected with the governing boards of all our higher institutions of learning.
 "He is the final and responsible repos- itory of the pardoning power through which he has in his hands the issues of life and death.
 He can remit fines and forfeitures, and restore to liberty any person con- victed of crime.
 He appoints United States senators to fill vacancies and fills the seats of our judges and other offices temporarily whenever there is a vacancy.
 Part of Legislature
 By the terms of the constitution every governor of a state is made a part of the legislature. No bill can become law without his assent and signature. He has the veto power, and although the legisla- ture may ignore his objections, they can only do this by compliance with certain constitutional requirements. In Alabama he is vested with power to amend every bill which passes the legislature, to meet any objection he may suggest but the , house to which the amendment is sent cannot amend the amendment, but must either adopt or reject it. He can initiate legislation by recommending such meas ures as he may deem expedient He is not. according to the popular notion. linn ited in respect to the form in which he can make the recommendations. As truly said, he can make his recommenda- tions in the form of bill if he pleases It is true that the Legislature may Ignore lis recommendations The measures he suggests may peacefully slumber undis- turbed in the quiet recesses of the com rattee room. The governor cannot ap- pear on the floor of the house and urge their passage, but must rely on Such proper and legitimate influences as he can exercise outside of the legislative chambers. While the legislature is a sep arate and distinct department of the gov ernment. yet it is anot usurpation for the governor to use all proper means to se- cure the enactment of the laws he rec ommends. Not only can he recommend measures. but he can submit bills em- bodying his views, and in doing this he is only exercising his constitutional rights He has the constitutional power to con- vene the legislature in special session on extraordinary occasions and can limit | is vested with the power to determine when the extraordinary occasion arises. From Entire Electorate
 Unlike the members of the legisla. ture he holds his commission not from the vote of county or district but iron the electorate of the entire state. He should be careful not to overstep the linn. it's of his powers He cannot with de. cency use his appointing power to co. cree legislation. He must rely on creating that public sentiment which is after al the potent force in all popular govern ments. To him the people naturally lool for leadership. On him they chiefly rely for the fulfillment of platform pledges ] and he is held responsible in the popu : lar judgment for failure to secure sucf reforms as were promised or such legis
 ation as public interest demands. Blu without the cordial aid and cooperation of the legislative department he can ac oomplish but little. With their aid h' can, by the policies he advocates and tn, measures he recommends, either advance or check the prosperity of the state ant promote or retard the development of 1t! great interests.
 This review of the functions of tn, = executive office can but bring to me sobering sense of the importance of tn, duties and the gravity of the responsibil . ities with which have been invested b, . the choice of the people Sensibly i'm , pressed with the arduous duties I mus perform and the difficulties I must en counter. I am consoled with the reflec
 ton that l will not be denied that gen
 erous indulgence which our people alway accord to a public servant who, witl honesty of motive and integrity of pur