The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1911-09-12
.
De .IRI.g.Rs
AR URGED.
BY Governor Edwin L. Nor
ris at the Conference of
Governors.
ONE IS 10 DISMISS
From Office Men Who Violate
Their on and the Other
is the Referendum.
SPRUNG I;Af. n. j.. Sept. IL.


SPRING Lake.. n. J.. Sept. "a
Two methodsth which the powers OF
state execntiye& tthroughout the union
ought to be strengthened, in the opin-
ion of Governor Edwin L. Norris, of
Montana. were discussed by him be-
fore the conference OF governors
here today.
The first vital step to be taken,
Governor Norris believes. Is to be-
stow upon governors the power to re-
move inemcIent state Officers charged
with the enforcement OF the criminal
and remedial laws. The second is to
grant the governor the right to initi-
ate and refer legislation to the voters
for their approval or rejection.
Governor Norris addressed himself
to strengthening the Power Of the
Executive In part, he said:
';No useful purpose can be served
in having unlimited authority to call
out the militia when 1t IS desired to
prevent prize fightins. suppress gam
bling, close wine rooms or enforce
the criminal statutes in general. TO
attempt to suppress violations of the
various criminal laws by calling out
the state troops would be about as
sensible or practieal5le as would be
the use of coast defense artillery in
destroying sparrows.
'"The constitution declares the gov
ernor to be the chief executive officer,
and commands him to see that the
laws are faithfnIly executed: but he
can accomplish little without the CO.
operation, aid and assistance of the
peace and prosecuting officers Of his
state. In addition to the profound
regret that any right-thinkIng execu-
tive must experience which he OBJ
serves that the laws are fagrantly
violated and that Offenders are going
unwhipped of justice. there is the fur
Their one Of knowing that many peo-
pie whose good opinions he values
believe that he has adequate author
ity and that his failure to act Is
proof of his connIvance with wrong
doing or indifference thereto. Such
conclusions are but natural.
The governor cannot go out and
arrest Offenders, file complaints, con-
duct prosecutions and in person adj
minister punishment. Those func-
lions must be performed by others.
is upon them that the necessary au-
| thority is conferred and upon them
the direct responsibility rests. When
they. for any reason. fail to perform
their duties the laws are not faith
fully executed. II the governor is to
see that the laws are faithfully ex-
Acuted, he should have the authority
| to direct, supervise. and in case of
/ yak NA
! charge a duty, to remove them from
ONCE.
"The bestowal of supervisory con-
/ troll and power to remove from Of
| 6ce for dereliction OF duty certain Of
hcers charged with the enforcement
I of the criminal and remedial laws
| of a state will insure more efhcient
service and cure some of the Ills that
are OF grave public concern.
4 In many states the voters have IN
large measure lost confidence in the
efficiency of legislative assemblies
and the initiative and referendum
methods. of legislation have been IN
voked as means to secure laws that
the legislature would not enact and
to veto legislation that in the public
mind was not wise or beneficial.
/ "At best, however. Initiating Ae6tS
! lat.on by and. referring laws to the
people IS cumbersome and not easy
OF use. A companion to and supple
mental of these methods the power OF
! the executive should be strengthened
by giving to him the right to present
bills for the constellation of the leg
/ islatIVe assembly.
"If the bills were not passed in
form substantially as represented, he
should have the right to submit those
bills direct to the voters at the next
general election for their approval OF
rejection.
There would then be placed upon
the governor the direct responsibility
TO carry out the pledges made to the
people in the platform upon which he
4 was elected and the promises made
by him in public addresses delivered
previous to his election.
There are other ways In which
the power Of the executive might be
strengthened to the beneflt Of the
\ public service. The two methods
4 mentioned. however. are the more
1 vital and reference tothe matters Of
3