The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1913-01-17

ference from other legislation. The
specifications In this covenant are:
First---"A short ballot in the So
lection Of administrative officers az
means for insuring greater scrutiny
In the selection Of public officials and
for fixing and centrslizing RESPONSE.
bility."
The purpose Of this Ia to simplify
voting. The suffrage responsibility
10 30 vital that confusion at the polls
should be reduced to the nearest pos
sible minimum. The ballot should
be shortened by abolishing as cleo.
tive the less important Offices. The
amendments to the constitution which
abolish the positions of commissioner
Of common schools and the board Of
public works ana place these depart
ments under the control Of the gov.
ernor through appointment by him Of
the administrative heads. indicate
the trend Of thought on this subject.
In keeping with the intent OF thu.
short ballot provision. the Legislature
should abolish as elective the offices
Of dairy and food commissioner and
clerk Of the supreme court, both Of
which are Of legislative origin, max.
Ing the former position appointive
BY the governor and the latter by the
members Of the supreme court. An
amendment to the constitution should
be initiated making the positions of
secretary OF state, attorney general.
treasurer and auditor, executive de-
partments to be filed through ap.
pointment by the governor This
would leave only the governor, lieu
tenant governor and judges Of the 81.
preme court to be elected. The result
would insure harmony Of action in the
| state departments and center respon.
sibility in the executive. The sew.
eral executive department heads
could then act In an advisory capacity
with the governor. as his cabinet
This is identical with the federal
plan. which Ia conceded to be eff
| cient.
Second-"Separate ballots for state
and national officers"
Separate Two issues.
This is induced by the desire -
separate two distinct issues In the
election booth. and the wisdom Of
/ the suggestion Is obvious.
Third-"Home rule for cities"
This principle is now a part OF our
constitution. The home rule amend
,ment. in addition to authorizing cities
, to form their own charters, grants
| the general assembly the right to pass
alternative or optional laws which
cities may adopt without going
| through the expense and burden of
calling charter conventions and Ell.
! acting charters for themselves. The
whole question Of municipal organi'
cation is now in a ferment through
out the country, several plans being
tried out Up 70 this time there Is
nothing approaching a universality
| of opinion with respect to the most
efficient scheme. would therefore
recommend to the legislature the
adoption of such laws as will enable
cities with the minimum of expense
and trouble tc make such selection d
their respective needs might suggest,
| either the so-called business man
ager plan, the commission plan, or
the short ballot federal plan, The
last named is obtained by simple
revision Of the existing municipal
code.
Fourth-"'rhe immediate valuation
of property, tangible and intangible,
OF all public utilities
The state regulation Of public utll-
tiles has been OF such benefit to every
interest concerned that every possible
legislative facility should be extended
to this administrative branch of the
government. Regulation Is beginning
TO shed its real meaning IN this state
as elsewhere. While business inter-
ests at first regarded the operation as
an unwarranted trespass upon prop,
erty rights they have, by experience,
found in the state cooperative aid
Just so soon as the main objective of
satisfactory service and reasonable
rates was attained. II Is also regard
cd as more than "a coincidence that
wherever supervision is had over the
issuance of securities the market
yields better prices and reader de-
mand. Public confidence is naturally
stimulated in our state utilities by
off cial certificatiOn to the Legitimacy
of the project. There ID no depart
ment Of our service. however, where
public station calls for higher order
of efficiency than this.
Fiith-"Home Rule In Taxation"
This requires constitutional changes
and nothing can be done save the
adoption of a resolution in behalf of
an amendment to the state charter.
Sixth-'The adoption Of the Initta'
tive and Referendum amendment"
This was merely recomendatory
plank The !. and R., so-called. Is now
part Of the constitution, but some
action by your body remains to set 1t
into motion. The intent Of this amend.
ment IL to give to the people the right
to redress a wrong through the ref.
4 erendum, and through the initiative to