Omaha daily bee., 1915-01-28
On COnstitution-Making


In general let me say that my views that the
constitution should not have put in.o any matters
Of detailed LEGISLATION that possibly be kept out
We should avoid the unfortunate and nempering policy
that has been adopted IN many western states OF put
ting the mercst details Of public administration into
the constitution. II goes without saying that this
leads 10 the breaking down OF the fundamental dis,
tinetion between constitutional principles and egsla-
tive acts and that It tempts to constant tampering
with the fundamental law. am in favor Of:
a. The short ballot I understand this to mean
that all OF the state officers elected by the people,
with the exception Of the governor and lieutenant gov
ernor should be appointed by the governor. subject
20 confirmation by the senate for term as Ions as
his own and made subject 10 removal by him for
cause publicly stated and filed with the senate, There
Is question in minds whether the office Of
controller should be treated Personally believe
that IL should not raising uneer this head the
question Of appointive Judiciary, although be
lieve in that policy simply because It seems to at
tho present time to lie outside Of the Of
tical politics.
"s Revised Legislative Procedure--This I under
stand mean that the governor heads OF depart
ments appointed by him should have the right 20 sit
in either house OF the legislature. and to t. T. part in
debate with the Limitation that heads Of departments
shall participate only in debate subjects germpne
TO their several administrative tursdctions In such
Il should be the duty OF the governor and the
heads OF departments to answer at stated times and
upon notice interpretations addressed to them by
members Of the legislature in regard TO public business
or policy.
aton In the sense that II should be within his
in submitting to the legislature TO accompany
II with formal legislative proposal. which should be
dealt with by the legislature precisely as II II were
| bill introduced from its membership.
II do not believe that the governor should have the
right TO refer TO the people measures initiated by hi
which rejected by the legislature. There should
be two restrictions upon the right to introduce bills
into the legislature No bill should be Introduced into
the senate unless three senator's whose names should
appear the bli, were willing to join in standing
sponsors therefor. and bill should be introduced
| into the assembly unless five assemblymen, whose
names should appear upon the BILL arc willing to join
In standing sponsors therefor This IL in effect tho
system prevailing In the House OF Commons as regards
| private bills
Moreover, no bill appropriating public money
should be introduced into either senate assembly
| except by the committee OF the senate assembly
| charged with reporting money bills The object Of
this provision is to lay the foundation for genuine
budget The terms OF senators should be heightened
to four years and those of assemblyen to two years
and sessions of the legislature should be biennial in
| stead of annual now In case OF emergency ex-
ceptona need there should be special sessions OF the
| legislature called either by the governor the
request OF two-thirds of the members of either house.
The legislature should have the right con-
current resolution requesting a formal opinion from
the court of appeals 70 the constuuonslity OF any
legislative proposal before enacting it into law.
49, Lengthening the Governors Term TO -Four
Years-I do not approve OF a referendum at the end
! of two years TO whether there should be new
| gubernatorial election OF not
50 Home Rule for Understanding by itself this is
a and uncertain phrase. For me it means TIE
complete control by each municipality of those fea-
lures of municipal business and housekeeping which
not involve directly the exercise Of the sovereign
power OF the state which not under our Amer
system distinctly state functions In drawing the
line between these two classes of undertakings
would give the benefit OF the doubt to the munich
paty in order that its measure OF local control might
as large possible An inspection of the bills
troduced Albany each winter dealing with New
York City affairs amending the charter would indl-
cate that the Legislature would be cut
down nearly two-thrds II workable scheme of mu-
nicpal home rule provided by the constitu-
| ton