Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1913-09-19
A SINpLIFIED STATE GOV ERNNf.\

a >IMpLIEIED STATE GOV ER >NE>T.
Direct action is the modern trend
of governmental policy. We see it
most aptly illustrated in the agitation
which has finally led to the alrect cleo
ton of United States senator's. We see
it again in the initiative and referen-
dun and in many smaller changes that
have been made in our government
city, in the last few years, changes
that in themselves may have seemed
unimportant and insignificant but
which nevertheless succinctly indicat-
ed the direction of governmental pol
icy.
This change of policy is told in an
editorial favoring the commission plan
of government for states, plan which
the Washington State Grange has in
dorsed and for which THE WASHING
TON STANDARD is actively campaigning:
In the institution of the American
scheme of government no less effort
was made to safeguard the people
against those, who might by any means
attempt to deprive them Of their
rights and privileges than was made
to safeguard them against their own
Impotence and emotion. Hence the
entire republican system is one of
checks and balances. The bicameral
legislature in nation and state carries
with it the same idea of pause, extra
consideration and review as that
found in the coordination of the pow
ers of the legislative, executive and
judicial authority, and in the veto.
Representative government Is neces-
sarily government by delegated au.
thority. This being the case, it was
the conviction of the fathers that the
greater the number of representatives,
within certain limitations, the greater
assurance of the dominance of popular
will.
1t has not in these later years work
ed out this way. Moreover, this con-
victiOn obtained at a period long an
terror to the growth of another belief
that has also become crystalized into
conviction in many quarters, name
ly, that the more direct and the less
roundabout the method of government
the more certain are the governed to
maintain control over their liberties
and their affairs. The people were
much farther away from government,
government was much farther away
from the people 1875 years ago than it
Is today. In fact the people of today
are very much closer to government
and government Is very much closer
to the people than ever before in the
history of the republic. AS a conse-
quence less authority is indirectly
delegated, more authority is directly
employed; as another consequence,
there is less occasion for complicated
forms of government, less use for
large and cumbersome and unwieldy
legislative bodies. On the other hand,
there is more occasion for simplifi-
cation of machinery that will enable
the people to get. what they are mani
testify DESTROYS of obtaining, and what
they are determined to obtain by the
shortest cut possible.
The public has been educating itself
along this line for several years. Ele-
mentary instruction, reinforced by OBJ
ject lessons, has been made possible by
the introduction and spread of the
commission form of government in
towns and cities. On all sides COM
mon councils and boards of aldermen
have been abolished. Ward represen-
tation has been wiped out. Where
from 20 to 20 representatives met to
pass upon municipal business, five
commissioners now do the work, do ii
more quickly, do it better. Scores OF
additions are being made annually to
the list of towns and cities under the
commission form. On the whole, the
commission system is working won
derfully we'll. There are few If any
communities now under it that would
return to the old method of local gov
eminent.
Governor Hodges of Kansas believes
that the commission principle can be
successfully applied to state govern
ment. He fayors the abolition of the
two chamber legislative system in his
own state and the substitution for II
of a commission of 16 members. He
does this on the ground that the two
chamber system is misrepresentation
rather than representative, that i
defeats rather than forwards the end:
sought by the people, that 1t stand.
for inefficiency and dishonesty. Man.
thinking people throughout the coun
try are in entire agreement with him
The number and influence of these ar,
likely to grow. Revolutionary changes
in governmental methods are not de
slrable, but there is, to say the least
something we'll worthy of the most Sc
rious thought of the American peopl
in the proposal that state government
be simplified.
Slowly but steadily the conviction
that such reform is demanded as
measure of self protection from til
the single standpoint, at least. of tn
increasing cost of our state govern
ments, Is growing upon the American
people. The plan is being given
greater measure of discussion the cour