New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-09-10

stand than grasp like drowning men at
new and greater problems when we give
up and let go on the lesser
H 8 HADLEY, Mlssouri-The Governor
OF Missouri has experienced no difficulty
/ in securing the INTRODUCTION before the
LEGISLATURE OF any bill that he may pre-
pare. And II the same Is not passed oy
the Legislature II can be submitted. under
the provision os the Initiative, to vote
Of the people. IN case per cent OF tho
| qualified voters OF the state are suHlcient-
| ly interested in the object sought 70 Dc
accomplished by the proposed bill to sign
a petition asking that the proposed law %
submitted to such vote
LEE CRUCE. OKLAHOMA-"I DO not
feel that 7 am an authority on what Is
proper for a Governor 70 do In the way
| OF initiating legislation, as 7 was only IN
| augurated on the 9Th Of January and my
experience is not such as 70 qualify me as
ar expert. Nv opinion. however, is this:
.sThe Governor Of state more nearly
rcpresents the people Of the state than
anv other state elective officer; this Is GER
tainly true N this state Here our contest
/ for state officers usually centres around
.
government are usually embodied In the
platform upon which the candidates run.
! I have always been steaLfast believer IN
The idea that the man who Is elected 20
, office upou the declaration Of principles
| embodied in a platform should sacredy
/ fulfil these promises after election. To Go
this the Governor must frequently use Ills
/ influence in matters ~ legislation. and ~ith
! all the influence he can command y -
TOO often the case that principles he stood
for IN his candidacy fail OF enactment ~
| the Legislature.
II have thought that a Governor, In lis
! messages 70 the Legislature. should specl-
icauy state what he believed should be
law, and should not be limited in the *
tent 70 Which he may 20. However, haNH
recently gotten myself into some trouble
with our own Legislature for following my
/ IDEAS along this line in message 10 tlat
| body In this message I had occasion 10
/ call attention TO pending bills by nInoer'
/ and discussed these bills. giving my req
sons for preferring one 10 another. Ihis
message was quite generally criticised py
! the members Of the Legislature. some or
| them feeling that was exceeding my pre-
| negatives as Governor. l stu feel tnat
/ 3, was the correct thing 20 do. and that
| the time IS now here when a GoNernoI
shouId put the responsibility clearly upon
the shoulders Of the representatives, o. ~"
neople 10 carry out the promises theF
made in their platform. I can see no Cd
lection 20 the Governor preparing oA4s'
or having such prepared that emDody Hl'
ideas OF legislation. especially upon mat
ters that are referred 20 In the platform
1pon which lie ran for office, anu a-ISI
such bills are introduced IN the Legislat-
ure any influence that the Governor can
;egitimately exert in procuring their pass
age should be exerted.'
"yyhue the Governor is the executive
head Of the state and 1t IS his duty 10 en-
sorca laws that are enacted. 1t is likewise
bts duty. under most all OF the state con-
: stitutions. 20 recommend needed legislation
, n the legislative branches OF government 70
and this duty imposed upon hm oy lhs
: constitution certainly carries with r. th@
mower 70 see that this duty is performed IN
an effective way and In a way that Will re-
suit In the greatest benefit 70 his people.
JOHN. BURKE. NORTH DAKOTA-"Ine
authority to Introduce bills n the Lesisla'-
IRE would be no advantage 70 the GoNeihol'
{ nor would Il have any more influence OF
the legislature than the recommendation
made in the Governors message. Ane
Governor now has the power under the
constitution 70 recommend any legislation
that he deems expedient lie can put u III
his message in the form Of bill Y he so
desires IL he can make il more PLAIN anu
effective in this way. but as ne "ohla nave
no vote in the Legislature and no right %
sit as a member Of any COMMITTEES n I'7
consideration Of such measures the nitro
duction Of the bill in the Assembly Wouio
have no more influence on the members
than his recommendations made in his mes
sage Indeed. believe the recommendation
, would receive more consideration than the
| bill. for the reason that the members OF INC
Assembly recognize such recommendations
as an appropriate constitutional func'oh
of the Executive but they would look WIKI
Jealous eyes upon law which gives Ain
the right 10 initiate laws by the introduce
ton of bills They would look upon IL as
usurpation OF a legislative function by the
Executive. and while they receive the rec
concentrations Of the Executive with re-
spect they might resent his action IN nitro
ducing legislation into the legislative As
sembly. OF which he is not member As an
interference with their rights
In my judgment II would also be mis-
take 10 give the Governor the power 20 re-
fer bills TO the people that the Legislature
failed 10 pass. This would place tho GOV
ernor in the very embarrassing position or
putting his Judgment AGAINST th' l'as
ment of an the members " both houses 81
the. legislative assembly and the measure
| would be killed by ridiculS. Both prop
lens can properly boz solved by the militia
tive and referendum. and the power 90 ini-
,iata and refer should not be In tho Gov
srnor. but in the people. unde- proper linz
/ itations"
EDWIN T.. NORRIS. MONTANA-"Ths