The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-09-12

having unlimited authority TO call out
the militia whom IL Is desired to pre-
vent prize fighting, suppress gambling,
close wine rooms or enforce the Grim
inal statutes I'm general. To attempt to
suppress violations of the various
criminal laws by calling out the State
troops would be about as sensible or
practicable as would be the use of
coast defense artillery i'm destroying
sparrows.
Needs More Authority.
"rhe Constitution declares the Gov
crnor to be the chief executive officer
and commands him to see that the
laws are faithfully 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 re-
gret that any right thinking executive
must experience when he observes that
the laws are fagrantly violated and
that offenders are going unwhipped
of Justice, there is the further one of
knowing that many people whose good
opinions he values believe that he has
adequate authority and that his fall
ure to act is proof OF his connivance
with wrong doing or indifference
thereto. Such conclusions are but nat
ural.
"The Governor cannot go out and
arrest offenders. file complaints, con-
duct prosecutions and in person ad-
minister punishment. These functions
must be performed by Others by peace
and prosecuting officers. II Is upon
them that the necessary authority Is
conferred and upon them the direct
responsibility rests. When they. for
any reason, fail to perform their du-
ties the laws are not faithfully execut-
ed. If the Governor Is to see that the
laws are faithfully executed. he should
have the authority to direct. supervise,
and In case Of wanton failure on their
part to discharge duty, to remove
them from office.
Power to Remove.
'"rhe bestowal of supervisory control
and power to remove from office for
dereliction Of duty certain officers
charged with the enforcement for the
criminal and remedial laws of State
will insure more efficient service and
cure some of the ills that are OF grave
public concern.
I'm 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 invoked as a
means to secure laws that the legisla-
ture would not enact and TO veto leg
islation that in the public mind was
not wise, or beneficial
'At best. however, initiating legisla-
tion by and referring laws to the peo-
pie is cumbersome and not easy OF
use. A companion To and supplement
tai Of these methods the power of the
executive should be strengthened by
for the consideration OF the legisla-
tive assembly.
Submit Bills To People.
'If the bills were not passed in form
as represented. he should
have the right to submit those bills di-
rect to the voters at the next general
election for their approval or rejec-
tlon.
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
was elected and the promises made by
him in public addresses delivered pre-
vious To his election.
"There are other ways i'm which the
power OF the executive might be
TO the benefit Of the pub
lie service. The two methods mention
ed. however. are the more vital and
reference IN tbe unotfers of Iesser mo-