The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1915-08-10
Essential Defects
InPreSentConstitutiOn
Of New York State

The striking fact about the present
state constitution of New York is
that, In drafting it, every one of the
accepted principles of management
have been V olated. We are told by
way of justification that delegates
were afraid to give to citizens the
right to select some one who will
be held to account for getting things
done-that they are afraid he would
abuse his power. We are also told
that they were afraid to give the rep.
resentative body the usual power of
control. Instead of making the Gov.
ernor responsible for dong things
and the legislature responsible for
reviewing what he has done ami
what he proposed TO do-for approx.
ing or disapproving-we have taken
away from the Governor nearly all
the initiative and set him up as
check on the legislature. While the
governing prime pies were discussed
in convention as If they were vital,
in so far as expression is given in
the constitution itself they are mere
plattudes; such words as executive
are used in the draft in only a figur-
alive sense The constitution in
1894 when carefully read discloses
these facts:
/. While the Governor is said to
be vested with the executive power
in one paragraph Of the constitut on,
he is specifically deprived of every
direct means of exercising this pow.
er in another.
2. While the representative body
is given power to decide what is to
be done and what funds are to be
provided, such cond tons and limita-
tons are attached to the exercise of
these powers as to make them inef-
fective as agents for locating and en-
forcing responsibility,-instead OF
Representatives being made the watch
dogs of the treasury they have beer
constituted irresponsible dispensing
agents who arrive at decisions thru
methods of logrolling and what has
come to be known as invisible gov.
eminent.
3. The Governor is directed annu.
ally to tell the legislature what is
the condition of the State, but Is
not provided with the means foI
knowing the facts or keeping repre-
sentatives and the people advised
about what is going on.
4. There is not only no provision
for official leadership in the manage
ment, but the eonstitut on has been
} carefully framed so that the only
leadership possible is that of an un
official, irresponsible boss.
.. No provision is made in the con
stitution for having issues raised be
} tween the executive and members OF
the leg stature in such manner that
they may be voted on as executive
! measures, and If not supported by 9
: majority, submitted to the people al
, a regular or special election called
, for the purpose.
6. No provision is made for the
prompt dismissal of persons who are
found to be out of harmony with the
majority or for unfaithful prediction
, pledges; no provision Is made fol
, the prompt retirement of an eXecu
5 tive who does not retain the support
of the majority of the representativ,
: body.
' Z. Citizens vote, but they mus
: vote in such geographical units ant
: under such conditions as to make i
. impossible for them to express op n
5 ion of state wide constitution, OF
r questions of policy, or in the choic,
| of officers, the result being the ger
5 rymander for the defeat OF the popu
S lar will From The Short Ballot AM
{ the New York Constitution, by Fred
$ erick A. Cleveland in the American
0 Review of Reviews for August.
=, rNNK TILE nhDCp A ruCh NEhp,