New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-10-11
AGAINST GENERALIZATION
The New Constitution Over
strengthens the Executive.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Without the recall the value Of the
short ballot in democracy is not definitely
established, and the decisive committal Of the
new constitution 10 the Federal policy as APP
piled to the state government should be care
fully studied and its consequences weighed
before It is adopted on Election Day.
The revisers of the states organic law have
stopped short in the application Of the I'M
limited short ballot and have retained several
important state Offices in the elective column,
but my feeling is that IN a representative
government like ours the people should re-
fuse to surrender any power to hold every
responsible official TO direct explanation 70
them for his acts
Another change made in the new constitu-
ton is the introduction of the executive
budget, which gives 10 the Governor power
to initiate all appropriations. This weakens
the legislative side of the state government
and gives TO the Executive still more ex-
elusive prerogatives for the intrenchment of
privilege and unchallenged control of all
branches and functions OF state government.
What official or department Of the state
government will be able under such condi-
tions to oppose the Executive when the latter
is wrong in matters of policy? What party
organization or, for that matter, what party,
can survive his displeasure? The personal
element is already too strong in politics.
Party organizations are being slammed to
pieces by factional contests and personal
ouarrels fought out at the primaries and by
appointments by the Governor, made as a
personal matter, which have not aroused
party enthusiasm.
This government and every government IN
the world is based on party control, whether
they are named the ms and Outs, the Gov
eminent and Opposition or the Republicans
and Democrats. By centring all political
power in this state in the hands of one man
he will have the German Kaiser beaten a
mile. We will all salaam 70 the Sultan OF
SLAM. Do we want to substitute a Zulu plan
for modern government by parties?
Appropriations now originate with the As
sembly, the popular branch Of the state gov
eminent The needs of the state are ade-
quately met in every locality through per
sonal knowledge OF the legislators who live
there To take this power of initiative away
from the Assembly and give it to the Gov
ernor will make Legislators servile dependents
of the Executive will
The budget idea is now in use by the Leg
islature. Il can be easily extended and inn
proved. All voters, all parties and all sec
tions of the state have direct representation
in the State Legislature; the effectiveness OF
this branch of the state government depends
upon public opinion, and it must answer at
short intervals for every act. The state gov
eminent is made just as effective as the
voters Of the state wish IT to be. To weaken
the Legislature and strengthen the Governor
would be a step backward and a loss instead
of gain to the people.
Ny experience in the Legislature convinces
me that the Governors powers are now toe
great and should be curtailed It is nothing
TO gain efficiency and lose liberty and free
dom. Our forefathers sacrificed the king "a
gain land and a government that gave tc
every man the right to demand his needs
The appointing power. ii overbalanced, is q
menace TO the rights and liberties of a self
governing people.
Significant omissions in the new constitu
ton are its failure to protect the people
against military oppression while the civil
courts are in operation, and TO protect police
officers in their right of appeal to the court.
against removal without cause.
| Several OF the influential New York mer
who took prominent part in the delibera
tions of the Constitutional Convention shoulc
have known that New York City has unavail
ingly tried TO persuade the Legislature to de
stroy the pension rights of policemen by de
priving them of appeal to the courts against
dismissal. The idea is to reorganize the New
York police force on military basis 1t i.
still possible to accomplish this. although tn,
Legislature OF 1914, in which | served, re
fused 70 permit Mayor Mitchell and his as
socates to accomplish this wrong and in
justice.
No matter how able or how valuable THEN