The chronicle=news., 1915-01-08

I =
rebuilt in substantial manner. A,
the recent election a permanent an.
nual levy was authorized for the sup.
port of this department. As this
fund will not be available until the
taxes are collected in 1916. it is nee
essary to make provision for the
present year. Estimated receipts for
1915 are $4,000. whereas approXi-
mately 100000 will be necessary to
connect the links in the system OF
primary roads. Considering the i'm
perative demand of closing up these
| gaps at once not only to meet the ne
cessities of our local traffic, but to
secure the tourist travel to the Pan
ANA eXpositions, we should postpone
! for ii year further new improvements
on the capitol grounds and pay to the
road fund tho S25O,000 due it for
money advanced in the construction
of the capitol building some years
ago. The circumstances make this a
rear of real emergency in highway
construction and the plan suggested
is the only practical way to meet 1t.
The initiative and referendum
amendment was voted for the pur-
pose of rcserving the veto power to
the people in case of Objectionable
legislation by the general assembly
and the right to initiate laws denied
by the legislature.
do not believe it was contem-
plated that all sorts OF legislation
should he initiated by petition where
there might not be much care in
their preparation and when the en-
pense would necessarily he very
great. nor is it likely the people
meant to put OFF the operation of i'm
portant legislation unless on the real
demand of considerable portion of
the people Where the general as
sembly fails to act or enacts legisla-
tion Objectionable to larS" propor-
ticn OF the voters there would be no
difficulty in securing petitions either
for initiating or referring.
In the past there mas been much
fraudulent work in obtaining sigma
tures to these petitions anu compa-
MES We're organized to secure the re
uuired number of names. The result
was not an earnest expression of the
sisners so much MS il was the solicit
tation of the canvassers who are able
to secure thousands of signers Tor or
against important laws for dime
apiece.
During the past two wears an or
raniZed agency to ccmmercialize the
initiation and reference of laws thru
questionable or bogus petitions was
Effectively offset by concerted action
oi state officials to successfully pre-
vent the reference of many construc-
tive measures passed by the general
assembly, the unnecessary initiation
of all kinds Of legislation and the
rohable saving OF not less than
20 cG0 to the taxpayers.
7 !eel certain the best interests Of
he state will not be materially in
lured by discouraging this line Of
business and |, therefore. urge most
strongly the enactment of law pro-
hibitinE anyone from securing sig
natures to these petitions for pay.
TWO years ago the short ballot was
urged. Experience since then has
emphasized the necessity of this sys-
TEN if we are to have effective.
strong administration. The governor
is supposed to. and should be the
chief executive. and yet the other
state officials are elective and may
De entirely out OF harmony with him
in important public policies. APP
rciutive positions which should be
under the governor are given to in
dependent departments. No one
would think of electing the heads of
the several bureaus at the national
capital. There the president chooses
his own secretary of state. secretary
of the treasury and other advisers
who serve only so long as they are
in harmony with their chief. In this
respect the federal government Is
much stronger than the state. In or
der to strengthen the state govern
ment we should adhere more closely
TO the federal plan. To avoid OBJ
iectionable partisan influences in ad-
ministration. not only should en-
ployes under heads of departments Is
be chosen under civil service rules
and kept and promoted for merit. but
the governor should he chosen at q
different time from the presidential
election His term OF office should
Re four years and he should not he
eligible to reelection. Through this
method he would have The power to
carry out the policy laid down by the
lawmakers. while whatever of credit
ne might hope for his administration
Vroulu have to come from faithful
performance OF duty or constructive
policies established Give your gov
ernor ample power to control mis- ad'
minist ration and then hold him re-
spCnsibie.
Th" nineteenth general assembly
passed during the last hours OF tho
4