New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-09-10
Many State Executives Give
The Tribune Their Views
on This Matter.

% the chief executives Of states VIII
meet AZ Spring Lake, y. j.. the odN
a.. tomorrow FOR A conference 10 con-
- throughout the remainder OF the
-. THE Importance of this gathering
,ts latest Of the series begun at me "lN,9
house In 1901. when Theodore hoose'ei'
as its occupant may be realized men II
: noted that the question OF employers
,.sbilitv and workngmen's compcnsauoH
II occupy a whole day; that anotheI
s.v will be devoted 10 the state cohuJi "a
III, utilities. and that the questions OF IN
t.-asta+a traffic rates and the inheritance
-. 80 New York State will also be
discussed 49,.
r.. is a recognized fact which has been
-L.stve6 IN New York State within the
-. few months that a Governor is Some
- -overless 10 obtain the leslsiauoh
.,.s..l, al, enEchtene1 public sentiment oe-
&c owing 10 the inaction. or worst 0A
7,es-r---.ra. lie frequently has 10 0IIr
80. r,,-5e- OF responsibility for the detaui'
@ 80. ,,s-.- FIN the tulflment Of its pledges
~. II. .~s5f+ed by many voters with 7he
i'' 49, f,.,,re TO carry out the plat
-. q, the case of failure II may De
s,s entirely 10 the neglect or re1"sa, -
,--slattre 10 send him desiraoie ull'S 4ol
r.s Signature. with the best intentions
..,ss1,r. b, cannot live up 10 his promises.
7.-~,rs-t.7g the views Of the state IS
.-t,l.. -e is In such cases forced 10 pea
w.. ,,-s af "a group OF men re9resenuiS
--,rs-i,erv small localities or priNa,S II
..-ssts and becomes scapegoat
''-.,-.--..,-. NJ the kind Of situations
.---s..r7rz has 10 face are tounu
--.-- further aleld than Ne"
-'.--.,..-, In that state at the last ele'-
-..- ~, the big parties adopted pial ,
,-,-,Is,,e certain reforms, which !
--.,ob alike as 70 be considered III
--,,- IN agreement as Governor Bass
~ , Vigorous message 10 the Legs
- This message was called forth ~
-. s,,- that. While the House had passed
e.-s- and was considering the remalnlns
- NJ +r. ~af7rm bills. the Senate mad
s..as+ss one and taken no action on any
~ the others. owing 20 obstruction III Get
tan quarters. 49,
IN this case there was no DOUBT OF Inc
demand of the people FOR the leglsiduo (
~r.s men elected 70 Office we're practlca ny .
-rs5red % pass f.. There IS no doubt that
,bs reorre Of New Hampshire want the I
yis-f1r~1 pledges redeemed. wrote Gov
er-or Bass They have spoken with no
uncertain voice. II the General Court re
cords hv refusing TO execute their will, the /
raorle viii feel q Just Indignation, OF which .
,.a consequences cannot be foreseen.
what can be done TO remedy such sit I
,,s,,ora II has been suggested that the /.
Governor be endowed with a power more .
,es-rv commensurate with the responsible !
a. placed upon him IN legislative affairs
Tie rrouosa. IS that he have the authority /
- introduce bills directly into the Legs /
ja-rre. and 10 the event that they are not /
-asssd have the right 20 submit the ol4s /
FOR popular action az an election.
Governors Of states were invited by The .
Tribune 10 express an opinion on these TWO .
suggestions for meeting the wishes Of the .
reople as expressed in the platform they .
rave accented through their ballots. and .
more than a dozen responded. Many shades .
Of oDinion are presented. ranging from dis
tnct disapproval 10 the opposite extreme. /
They are as follows:
JOHN A 8TEAD-VERMONT.- answer .
both OF YOUR inquiries n the affirmative. /
Under our system Of government the law
making power rests exclusively with the .
legislature. and the Executive Depart
rnent is precluded from taking the in
.tstive in any form OF legislation. The .
vii Of the people finds no expression I
save through the acts Of the Assembly /
L was naturally assumed In the framing .
o. our structure Of government that the /
LEGISLATURE would always be responsive /
O. the voice Of the people; but It has
bsen demonstrated that such results are
rot always attained. Under the existing /,
fvsteu In some states, and perhaps 10 a !
certain extent in the national government, /
the interests have at times had strange .
hold or legislation, with the result that !
certain large measures having behind them \
the public demand have failed Of enact ,
nent.
The proposition which you suggest IS /
thar IN all such cases the Governor may, /
T. the Introduction Of bills. Il the Legs |
latu-e uegIects or refuses TO respond 70 /
vel defined public sentiment cause the /
various subjects 20 De submitted 10 the !
public vote To all this I subscribe and /.
urhes.taunglv say that the ultimate law
making power should be vested IN the /
people. where IL belongs. II legislation in /
accordance with public sentiment cannot !
b. had Cd the Assembly. then we should
nske 70 possible 90 leg!slate ar the ballot
box. and I am inclined 10 think that /
should even 20 beyond your suggestion
You would only provide that the Governor
may introduce some bills. Ny proposition
would Do that the Governor shall introduce
g. the commencement Of the session. all
bills which should carry out the large
Measures which a majority Of the people
have asked l1r. and that should the Legs
iat-re refuse or neglect 10 perform IT'S
duties tho Governor shall in such cases
submit these questions 10 the people.
$50 comprehensive statement is possible
The short space Of a letter Of the reasons
which should make this desirable but the
vital and important reason IS that II
VII then rc possible 10 pass laws which
VT, conform % the wishes Of the electors.
Under this system the more important
hIs would then become al once the work
~ The session q the LEGISLATURE, and the
attention OF US members would be directed
70 the solution Of those broad questions
Win which the people are specially IN
Niesiec FroUacted sessions, both expen-
rive and unnecessary would then be
avoided. and The laws which are In ac-
'oroance with tho views Of the people Of
me state would be enacted either IN the
general Assembly or they would become
Avs az the ballot box"
L. y. Foss. MASsACHUsETTs-''In
eAs"er 20 the suggestion that the Gov
'Hor OF state be given a power more
.eailF commensurate with the response