The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-06-22
CHINESE PRESIDENT HAS EQUAL POWER
 WITH LEGISLATURE
Under Constitution, He Can Promulgate Ordinances
 All By Himself.
New Head of John Hopkins University Outlines Re-
 public's Government.

Pekin, Junea 22.-Dr. Frank J. Goodnow, who plans to give up his post of advisor to the President of China and return to America in Aug
 ust to become president of Johns Hopkins University, is pleased with the revision of the Provisional Con- stitution Of this country. Though the I revision of the Constitution is criti- cized and ridiculed by the foreign press published in China-the Chinese press not daring to do so-Goodnow says it is much like the drafts which he drew up at the request of the pres ident. ''It is modelled in a large meas ure," says Goodnow, t'on the Japanese Constitution, making allowance for a president as differing from an. emper- or.
 It will be remembered that Presi- dent Yuan Shi-kai found the Provis- ional Constitution, which the revolu- tionists drafted two years ago at Nan king, unsuited to the effective admin istration of affairs during the crit ical first years of the republic. He desired, therefore, to See the perma- nent constitution drawn up on lines which he deemed suitable to this country. But those radical reformers who wanted a peoples government g disregarded the presidents wishes and advice, and, when the parliament was assem bled, undertook the work of drafting the permanent. constitution not only without seeking his assist ance but in distinct opposition to him.
 The committee selected to do the work declined to receive message from him and also refused to admit his personal enissaries into their con ferences. Thereupon Yuan Shi-kai took matters in his own hands, issued a mandate dissolving the Kwo Ming Tang the radical party, which was the largest, and thereupon- dtslocated the parliament The presidential mandate declared that the Kwo Ming Tang was a. rebel party which had done harm to the state by interfering in a hostile manner with the admin istration and by creating a rebellion in the southern provinces. The man date referred to the so-called sec ond rebellion.
 As a result of the forcible dissolu- ton of the Kwo Ming Tang the par there was not a sufficient number of members left to muster a, quorum The president later caused a committee to be appointed for the purpose of re- vising the provisional constitution The committee was composed directly and indirectly of nominees of his own group of politicians; and the present revision was the result.
 AS reported in the cable dispatches, the revised constitution gives the pres
 
 He has held them httherto-to such an extent as any single man can be a dtctator-but not legally. He is now surrounded with the form of le- gality.
 "Iapan's constitution |Goodnow explains, "has been a, successful att tempt to adapt Ideas of an European representative government to an Asia tic people that has always had au- tocratic government. The last two years especially shows that the Jap anese people are getting control of if a constitution like that now adopt ed by China, if the people only work it, is capable of developing represen-5 tative government
 ''Of course, it is true that the presi- dent has wide powers under the con stitutiOn- He has, in the first place, practically supreme powers over the executive and administrative branch es of the government. He 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 sub ject to the control of the legislature
 ssHe has also large powers of leg islation, and holds practically abSo- lute veto power over the actions of the legislature. This is to say, he has power to issue ordinances not con- trary to law to promote public well fare as well as executions of law. And in times of urgency, when the legislature cannot be called together. he has the power to issue ordinances which supercede existing law. These ordinances. different from ordinances issued in promotion of public welfare, must be submitted to the legislature for approval. and if disapproved be come yuid. It will thus be seen that the president has concurrent power of legislation with regard to matters which have not been regulated Ey law.
 "HBy means of the power of veto he can prevent legislation. On the oth- power for repeating either expressly or impHedly unless its action secures the presidents approval.
 eff, however, a legislative body which is at all effective can be de- veloped, it is hardly to be doubted that it will exercise great influence over the presidents power of legis- Iation. If the body is incapable 1t will not hamper him. If it is effect i've and really represents the people the president will not be likely to use his power of veto in serious matters.
 'tFor the past two years this coun- try has been financed by foreign loans In this way the annual heavy deficit in revenues has been made to meet the increased military and oth- CT expenses Unless we can look to a great increase in taxes further loans
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