Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-06-22
RULE, OF LAW HAS
CHINA F0OTROLD
Goodnow, Advisor to Presidents,
Sees Improved Conditions
for Republic.

post of advisor to the president o.
China and return to America In Au
gust to become president or JohnE
Hopkins University, is pleased WITT
the revision of the provisional consti
tuition of this country. Though the re
vision of the constitution is criticized
and ridiculed by the foreign press pao
lished in Climatic Chinese press not
daring to do so-Goodnow says IL Is
much like the drafts he drew up at the
request of the president. at it model
led in a large measure" says GoodnoW'
Ion the Japanese constitution, making
allowance for a president as differing
from an emperor
1t will be remembered that Presi-
dent Yuan Shi-Kai found the provls-
ional constitution, which the revolu-
tionists drafted two years ago at Nan
kin, unsuited to the effective admins
tration of affairs during the critical
| first years of the republic. He desired,
therefore, to see the permanent consti-
tuition drawn up on lines which he
deemed suitable to this country. But
those radical reformers who wanted
peoples government" disregarded
the presidents wishes and advice, and
when the parliament was assembled,
undertook the work of drafting the
permanent constitution not only with
out seeking his assistance but in dis
tinct opposition to him. The commit
tee selected to do the work declined
to receive a message from him and
also refused to admit his personal
emissaries into their conference.
Thereupon Yuan Shi-kai took matters
IN DC lot q
dissolving the Kwo Ming Tang, the
radical party, which was the largest
and thereupon .dislocated the parlia-
ment The presidential mandate de-
clared that the Two Ming Tang was
rebel party which had done harm to
the state by interfering in a hostile
manner with the administration and
by creating a rebellion in the southern
provinces. The mandate referred to
the so-called second rebellion.
AS a result of the forcible dissolu-
ton of the Two Ming Tang the par
lament ceased to function, because |
there was not a sufficient number of |
members left to muster a quorum. |
The president later caused a commit |
tee to be appointed for the purpose of !
revising the provisional constitution. |
The committee was composed directly |
and Indirectly of nominees of his own |
group of politicians; and the present I
revision was the result.
AS reported in the cable dispatches,
the revised constitution gives the pres
ident practically dictatoriaI powers.
He has held them hitherto to such an
extent as any single man can be die
not legally. He is now sur
ia
"Japan's constitution" Goodnow ex-
plains, has been a successful attempt |
to adapt ideas of European representa-
tive government to an Asiatic people
that has always had an autocratic gov
The last two years especial
y shows that the Japanese people are
getting control of their government. 1t
ooks TO me as if a constitution like
hat now adopted by Chin, if the peo-
de only work 1t, is capable of develop
ng representative government
"Of course, it is true that the presi-
lent has wide powers under the con-
titution. He has. in the first place,
practically supreme power over the ex-
cutive and administrative branches
4 the government. He appoints all
ivil and military officers, and has the
over to dismiss all officials with the
ingle exception of judges; and his
xercise of this power is not subject
the control of the legislature
He has also large powers of legis-
itlon and holds practically absolute
eto power over the actions of the leg
lature. This is to say, he has power
issue ordinances not contrary to
W. to promote public welfare as well
) executions of law. And in times of
rgency, when the legislature cannot
called together, he has the power
issue ordinances which supersede
listing law. These ordinances, diff
rent from ordinances issued in pro-
otion of public welfare, must he sub
tilted TO the legislature for approval, !
Id II disapproved become void. 1t
III thus be seen that the president
is. concurrent power of legislation
it'll regard to matters which have not
en regulated by law.
BY means of the power of veto he
n prevent legislation. On the 9th
hand the Legislature is given no
wer for repeating either expressly
implicitly unless its action
cures the presidents approval.
II, however. a legislative body
Itch Is at all effective can be deyel-
ed. 1t is hardly to be doubted that
will exercise great influence over
presidents power OF legislation.
the body is incapable it will not
mper him. If it is effective and re-
y represents the people the presi-
nj VIII not be likely TO use his pow
or veto In serious matters.
For the past two years this coun-
has been financed by foreign loans.
this way the annual heavy deficit
revenue has been made to meet the
reased military and other expenses
less we can look to great Increase
taxes further loans will have to be
de They. TO be valid, must. ac
ding TO the constitution. be made I
the legislature. whose action is also
'essary for any increase in taxa ii