The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-03-10
THE SYSTEM TO BLAME.

but all legislatures have been more or
less subject TO that criticism. It was
we'll called the county legislature
for when broad issues came up. and
the welfare of the whole State was in
volved. its perspective was short and
its horizon limited. The people can
profit by the omissions OF this General
Assembly and elect men who will do
AT least some of the constructive
things that this body which ceased to
exist yesterday could not do. TIL, in
hcrent defects OF our legislative. sys-
tenn limit Legislature to accomplish
Ing az best very little. The Times
Dispatch docs not criticize any one man
for the failures OF the General Assem-
bly,, nor can It indict the General AS
seEnbiy as whole The fault lies
deeper
''whera there is regular scheme OF
operations carried on 1t is tho system.
and not any individual person who acts
In it, shat is truly dangerous" de-
clared Edmund Burke. That criticism
applies TO tho General Assembly of Vir-
Einia. In another sense. 1t must be snid
that there is no system al all, no gen
cral plan TO be followed. no definite
general policy Of procedure. The leg
islators act in a haphazard way; n null
tiplicity Of detail bcfogs the substance
no well thought out plan OF proceeding
and acting prevails. Tho lack OF con-
structive legislation is Justly charge
able to and is the almost unavoidab bic
result of the present system under
which tho lawmakers act.
The executive powar should not be
divided. Part of st is vested IN the
Governor and par, in tho Legislature.
The General Assembly IS primarily
eject I'd TO pass laws and not to ad-
minister the various agencies and &c
tivities Of tho State. The lawmak!nG
body ought not to supervise the de-
partments Of the State; that power
should ba vested in the Chief Execu-
only n few, and those the least impor-
liant There is a lack of co-ordi ina ton
In the administrative affairs of the
State which can only be cured by maxi
ing the Governor in fact as wei as In
nsma Chief Executive. Tho Constisu-
lion expressly provides that the Gov
ernor shall see 10 il that the laws be
faithfully executed. yet no is without
tho power TO enforce this Unandate in
many departments technically under
:, 9
ganizcd with heads in control and with
al of tho heads responsible to the
Governor and liable TO removal by him
Tor cause; If the Governor be made re-
sponsiblc TO The people of the state
fur thu VISION aa:d efficiency OF the
administration The State would be
vastly better off and the State would
have better legislation because the
lawmakers could devote their time TO
making laws instead of cumboling
themselves with administrative poll
les and questions
The Chief Executive should also be
placed III close contact with the Cen
eral Assembly. fIe should be made
more than a neglected adviser and a
negligible ohjcctor. He and his subor4
d!nates. if they be made responsible 10
him, ought 10 be allowed to par,ici-
pate i'll the deliberations OF the Cen
cral Assembly, though not allowed TO
vote. In such way the Legislature.
would &C; more efficiently because IT
would aet upon fuller iuformauon ana
the E%eeu'ive might place before ,he
Legislature It's plans, dimoulti.s ana
needs
Professor Raleigh c. Minor. Of the
Eniversi,y Of Virginia said in an able
address pefore the Virginia bar AZ.
aociation in 1911:
Gould we have one chief executive
"Nh a council Of advisers, consisting
% the Heads Of tie departments or
executive activities. appointed ana 70
movable hy the chief ana rusponsible
20 h!la for thcir acts each executive,
Junction being referrcd to It's appro-
nriate bureau or commission for in
NcS'!esHon, study ana Anal action. or
recommendation OF legislation whore
existing legislation is antiouatod or
-hsuhelent' great energy and actiyit,.
7rouid be developed In tho cond,,,t,
reforms in executive and judicial pru-
cednre would be made easier, and tie
Drholems CT statecrait and the OBJ
atanles In the way Of progress might
he SUBJECTED to an expert analysis anu
study impossible under a docentral.
ized government"
The prime defec: Of our present leg
!slative system is its lack OF plan
It's failure 10 have cor.
policy. Senator Tolkes. with ,ha,
ability and foressh, born Of long OK.
perienee. has realized this fault. ana
ne wisely caused to be enacted I reso.
lution which viii require the senat,
finance Committee TO NEE, some Tim,
before the next session OF the Genera
Assembly TO formulate an appropria.
ion bill after hearing representative,
.! all the institutions, charities anc