The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1914-06-22
american Educator Is
Pleased With Revised
Constitution of china

anese people are getting control of
their government. II looks To me as
4 a constitution like that now adopted
by China, il the people only work IT,,
is capable of developing representative
government.
President Has Supreme Powers.
"Of course. il is true that the presi-
dent has wide powers under the con-
stltution. He has. i'm the first place,
practically supreme powers over the
executive and administrative branches
OF the government. lie appoints all
civil and military officers, and has the
power TO dismiss all officials with the
single exception of judges; and his
exercise OF this power is not subject
10 the control Of the legislature.
He has also large powers Of legis-
| lation and holds practically absolute
veto power over the actions of the
| legislature. This is TO say, he has pow
er To issue ordinances. not contrary to
law 20 promote public welfare as well
as executions of law. And in times of
urgency, when the legislature cannot
| ne called together he has the power
to issue ordinances which sapercede
existing law. These ordinances, diff
ferent from ordinances issued i'm pro-
motion of public welfare, must he sub
mitted 10 the legislature Tor approval
and if disapproved become void. II
will thus be seen that the president
has concurrent power Of legislation
! with regard To matters which have not
| been regulated by law.
| by means of the power Of veto he
can prevent legislation. on the other
| hand the legislature is given no pow
er for repeating either expressly ol
| implicitly unless it's action secures Tho
presidents approval.
If, however, legislative body
which is at all effective can he devel-
oped, it is hardly to be doubted thai
it will exercise great influence over
the presidents power of legislation
If the body is incapable IL will not
hamper him. If it is effective ant
really represents the peaple the prcsi'
dent will not BE- likely to use his power
of veto in serious matters.
Constitution Still Provisional.
This constitution, il is To be re-
mcmbered. is still a provisional con
stitution, adopted for the purpose al
permitting transition with safety anC
as little friction as possible from th'
autocratic government of the past Il
some form of representative govern
ment based on European ideas.
"Of course the success of the Re
vised Provisional Constitution, rs t'
any constitution that might at thi
time be adopted. depends on tie actor
of tho president. The expression %
any views with regard to the prcsi
dents attitude must be largely base,
on a personal opinion and belief. 1t il
my belief and opinion that the prcsi
dent is sincerely desrious Of contri
buting to the establishment Of a form
of representative government which
will permit China To solve the prob
lens that are before her. Presidcn
Yuan is, of course, unaccustomcd t.
the forms and practices of constitu
tional government as il is seen il
Europe and America.
Il feel sure that he wishes To Civ
China a form of government that vii
permit of the representation and cx
preston of the views of the importan
and influential classes of the commu
nifty. The Chinese people have bee
accustomed to a personal government
and not the rule Of law. Here is
point in favor of the new constitution
i. It lays stress on personal government
as contrary to the legislative mctho
which the reyoutionists attempted t
establish. This is in the nature q
evolution and not radical and DANCER
Gus change