Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1911-09-13
Montana Governor Thinks
Authority of State Execu-
tive Should be Enlarged
in Two Important Partic-
lars.
HAS NEW IDEAS
IN LEGISLATION
Would Grant Chief Officers
Right to Remove Subor-
dinates and to Propose
Laws for Ratification by
Voters.

| SPRING LAKE. ". J.. Sept p
Two methods in which the powers Of
State Executives throughout the IN
ion ought 10 be strengthened, in the
IOpinion of Governor Edwin L. Norris
Ioi Montana. We're discussed by him
before 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-
lremOve inefficient state officers
charged with the enforcement Of the
criminal and remedial laws. The sec
Cnd is to grant the Governor the
fright to initiate and refer legisla-
ton 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 i'm
having unlimited authority to call out
the militia when it is desired to pre-
vent prize fighting. suppress gambling.
close wine rooms or enforce the erin
inal statutes in general To attempt
to suppress violations Of the vari-
Gus criminal laws by calling out the
state troops would be about as sensi-
bic or practical as would be the use
Of coast defense artillery in destroy
ling sparrows.
The constitution declares the Gov
ernor to be the chief executive Off
Ger, and commands him to see that
the laws are faithfully executed: but
H..
cooperation. aid and assistance of the
peace and prosecuting officers of his
state. In addition To the profound re-
.gret that any right-t thinking eXecu-
tive must experience when he OBJ
serves that the laws are flagrantIy
Violated and that offenders are going
Unwhipped Of justice. there is the fur
.ther 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 ad-
minister punishment These functions
must be performed by others. by
Toace and prosecuting officers. II is
upon them that the necessary author
ity is conferred and upon them the
direct responsibility rests. When they.
for any reason. fail to perform their
duties the laws are not faithfully
executed. If the governor is to see
that the laws are faithfully execut-
ed, he should have the authority To
direct, supervise. and in case of want
on failure on their part to discharge
q 'luty, to remove them from office
The bestowaI of supervisory con-
troll and power to remove from Of
flee for dereliction of duty certain Of
ficers charged with the enforcement
oc the criminal and remedial laws
OF state will insure more efficient
service and cure some of the ills that
are of grave public concern.
IN many states the voters have
in large measure lost confidence in
the efficiency Of Legislative Assem-
blies, and the initiative and referen-
dunn methods of legislation have been
invoked as a means to secure laws
that the legislature would not enact
and To veto legislation that in the
public mind was not wise or bene-
fetal
AT best. however. initiating Iegis-
lation by and referring laws to the
people is cumbersome and not easv
Cf use AS 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 consideration of the
le gislative assembly.
IF the bills were not passed i'm
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
or rejection
There would then be placed upon
the Governor the direct responsibility
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