Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-09-21
Limited Power of Governors.


1t is with more OF less amusement
that the student of politics, as applied
to government. ant the student Of
government as related to politics, re-
card some of the demands made AZ
the conference of governors. Il is no
liable that the chief executives If the
various commemorative differ widely
lon most of the subjects which come
lander their discussion. nut they seem
ltc be unit ON the desirability of gov
errors of the states possessing more
power than they do at present.
1t is patent to the public that the
leverage chief executive does not figure
50 very largely in the affairs of state
is his title would imply. As Il rule.
The state machine seems to push
things along, and the governor finds
| little to do but to trudge along be-
hind It, When the colonies began 10
form state constitutions. they gave
considerable attention 10 the powers OF
1
been irritated and oppressed, To a de-
gree. by the overbearing assumptions
of certain elected officials. Thus the
powers IF the chief executive were re-
duced in most cases to Il minimum.
They were hedecd about with restric
tons which not only prevented the
governor from himself becoming OPP
pressiyc. hut, as Names chief execu-
Itiyes have often complained efttmes
prevent the executive frcm becoming
even efficient
Willie any chief executive MAY wish
10 have more authority. there is Il
great difference in the degree OF DOW
er now exercised by the various gov
errors of our States. Some have no
Veto power at all, others have u veto
which may be overcome by a mere
majority OF the Legislature, while iii
Pennsylvania, owing to the habit in
the Legislature of adjoining with most
Of its measures in the governors
lands, his veto power is very nearly
absolute. Some governors appoint
most OF the state officials and the
judges, while in other states the most
unimportant officers are filled by cleo
ton. Some governors nave absolute
await the recommendation of par
doning board. Some governors have
original power To preserve the peace
and may enter any county aud sus-
pend the sheriff if he does not main
tain order in his bailiwick Other
governors seem unable to do more
than protest and issue proelamations,
while the law is defied in any portion
of the state unless the local authori-
ties call upon them for assistance
After all the restrictions that have
been placed upon the governors by the
people of various states, they have be-
gun Harvesting the legislatures, and in
some cases are seeking 20 curb the
judiciary, through the agency of the
recall. The tendency or the initiative
and referendum is to establish pure
~ popular government, but the exc
cutive who occupies the honorable po-
sition before the people Of governor. if
he is strong man, with ideas backed
by honesty and character. should be
able TO impress his ideas upon his
state and attract attention to himself
from the vantage point of once having
been elected by the people. In other
words, the opportunity to lead his peo-
pie is as broad and high as ever it
Was,and the voters are just as willing
| To be led, if the chief executive. or
other official has the happy faculty of
KNOW ing the peoples needs and Of
consulting them before he attempts to
make a splurgc before other states or
before his own legislature.
on TINS topic, AN exchange points out
| that the federal government, with its
concentrated authority in the presi-
,ient. offers a far better examine az
efficient administration than most Of
tae states furnish The trend, just
| now, however. is toward purer Dom
oeracy, and until tic initiative, refer
| endum and recall have ceased To he
novelties, and no longer engross the
| attention Of those who are ALWAYS
eager for change. the desire OF the
governors in convention for grant Of
greater power to executives, is not
likely to meet with favorable re-
spouse"
SOME PosTscRIPTs.