The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1917-07-29
CONTINUED from Page Three)


ers which experience has shown to be
essential for successful and vigor-
Gus administration.
Under the present system it is only by
mony or unity of action between the
governor and the different departments
of the state government. The attorney
general, the secretary of state, the state
auditor. the state treasurer. superintend-
ent of education and the other heads of
departments are but necessary parts of
the administrative and executive machn-
cry of the state government and the sue
cessful administration of any governor
is dependent upon their loyal co-opera-
ton, unity of action and effort, and yet
all or most of these important officials
may be openly hostile to the governor
opposed to his policies and earnestly seek.
ing to weaken or defeat his administra-
ton Yet, while the governor is alone
held responsible at the bar of public
opinion for the success or failure of the
state administration, he is denied the
right to appoint officials whose active
cooperation and loyalty are so essential
to an efficient and vigorous administra-
ton.
be claimed that the election of a dema
gogue or some unworthy> and disloyal
man might do great harm to the state
This fear Is based on the assumption that
the people of a self-governing democracy
would be unable to discriminate between
some competent and worthy man and
some self-seeking charlatan-an assump-
toin which cannot be admitted by those
who have faith in popular government
| If the people be so lacking in powers
of discrimination as feared, the harm that
the demagogue might do would prove a
salutary and valuable political lesson. 1t
would be but a small price to pay for
efficient and responsible government.
With such an increase in executive pow
| err the governor could properly be held
responsible for the character of the adj
| ministration and he could not escape this
responsibility by attempt to shift the bur-
den on others. He could translate his
| policies into laws, but yet he could do
little without the support of public opin-
ion. 1t is to public opinion he would
be forced to appeal against reactionary
| legislature or one that in his opinion had
| betrayed the interests of the people or
declined to enact legislation to which he
was pledged by his election His lead
ership would depend on his capacity to
influence and secure the support Of pub
| lie opinion.
| With the increase of power and re-
| sponsibility there would certainly be
greater opportunity for service. for the
display of administrative and executive
ability than ever before in the history OF
! the office.
LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT
| The constitutional convention Of 1900
emba rked the state upon new and I'M
tried experiment. that of quadrennial ses-
sions of the legislature limited to 80 days.
From the date OF Its admission to the
union until the adoption OF the consti-
tuition of 1875, the legislature of Alabama
had met annually There were few re-
strictions upon the competency of the
| legislative department or it's methods OF
procedure In the enactment of laws. Com
menclng, however, with the constitution
| Of 1875. numerous limitations OF legisla-
| tive power prohibition of certain kinds
of legislation and minu,e restrictions and
regulations as to methods of procedure IN
the passage of laws were incorporated
| in the fundamental law. This distrust OF
the legislative department ives further
evidenced by the esta olishment of biennial
sessions limited to 60 ,egisla tive days Not
only was the quadrennial system adopted
\ by the constitution of 1901. but the field
| OF legislative action was narrowed by
| increased restrictions upon methods OF
procedure in the enactment of laws and
prohibition Of local legislation on certain
designated subjects and prohibition OF
| legislation on certain general subjects.
! l think we all agree that instead Of
preventing hasty ill-digested or ill-ad-
vised legislation. the uuadrennial sys-
\ tenn has only increased the evils sought
| to be abated. The vice of the system Is
that 1t denies the people for four years
| the right to repeal or revise vicious leg
| islation. 1t Is true that under the con-
sttution the governor can call the legis-
lature in special session on extraordinary
occa sions but these sessions are limited
to 30 days and can only consider the
subjects embraced in the call. If the
legislature at its quadrennial session
failed or refused to enact legislation de-
handed by the people, the proper rem
| edy would be a new legislature fresh
| from the body of the people, ready and
willing to execute their well considered
judgment Under our system the mem
bers of the legislature serve four years
and ii at regular session vicious or un-
| wise laws are enacted or necessary re-
] forms refused. it Is rather forlorn hope
to expect that the author Of such leg
islation. or those who have opposed reme-