The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-11-27

the satisfaction Of the tax payers
therefore, We stand unaIterably IN
afyor OF the appoIntfVe power be-
ing vested In the Board OF Public
Works, not temporarily but per-
mantly. we shall De glad 10 have
The views of any Republicans on
this question:
was not surprised to see the article
In question appear in print, because u
has been discussed about the STATE
House for several weeks, and have
been approached personally on the
question.
1t seems to me the first and only
consideration is. Fl this proposed radi-
cal departure is to receive serious
consideration by our Legislature, w:A
the peaopIe receive better service by
the proposed change VIII our scnoo!
for the deaf and blind, our hospitals
for the insane, our Industrial Home
for Girls, W. Va, Industrial School Tor
Boys, our hospitals, Board Of Control,
Department OF Mines, State Tax Com
missioner. Wor6men' compensation.
Publs Service Commission and all ota-
er State institutions be made more Ell
hcient2 II they will, then this matter
should be given careful consideration
II it caa not be shown that the pre-
posed change would be of real value
to these great institutions, and the
masses given better service, it SHOULD
not be seriously considered. The fact
that the head of some OF these tnsti-
tutions happened TO be Republican
or a Democrat. the great mapority o.
the people are not so much interested
in. What they want is efficient ser
vice.
Let US examine some Of the reasons
given for the proposed change. The
first reason giyen-''-The a2po;ntive
power in this State is vested in the
Governor by statutory enactment, and
not by constitutional provision. There
! fore the Legislature has the RICH; 70
lodge the appointive power in tho
Board of Public Works.
| Let Us see what the Constitution
really says about it,
Sec. $ OF article reads as follows:
THE Governor shall nominate.
and by and with the advice and
consent Of the Senate, Ia majority
OF all the Senator'S elected con-
curing by yeas and nays) appoint
all officers whose Offices are es-
tablished by this Constitution. or
shall be creaed by law. and whose
appointment or election is not
otherwise provided for; and no
such officers shall be appointed
or elected by the Legislature"
Suppose we admit It has been held
hat under this Section OF our ConssI-
tuition the Legislature has the power.
If It is desired to use 1t, to pass a law
revcnt:ag the Governor from making
any apointments at all, for If the Leg
islature, by act. can deprive him OF one
appointment they could deprive him CT
all. But the trainers of our Constitu-
ton evidently intended that the Gov
ernor should make them. because the
following. section 9, of article Z, reads
as follows:
IN case of a vacancy. during
the recess of the Senate. in any
Office which is not elective. the
Governor shall. by appointment
ell any sCch vacancy. until the
next meeting Of the Senate, when
he shall make nomination for
such Office. and the person so nom
mated, when confirmed by the
Senate. "a majority OF all the Sen.
ators elected concurring by yeas
and uays) shall hold his Office
during the remainder Of the term,
and until his successor =a1H be
appointed and qualified. No per
son, after being rejected BIZ the
Senate. shall be again rom;natEG
for the same Office during the
same session. unless al the re-
quest of the Senate: NOR shall
such person be appointed to the
same office during tie recess OF
the Senate"
This gives the Gov2.nor unques
.!cmsd authority to fill vacacc!es Toy
~. cause. So If the proposed change
ere made BY on: Legislature. we
wluId have a Gne state IT aT4:'' the
&c. I'd OF Public Works making these
st,o: Ltme:lts anl var gee; fillH1 By
;h2 Governor. so it would be possible,
r1'der the present condition. i: the law
were amended. TO have 4 Republican
appointed by the Board of Public
Works. and II for any cause the Office
became vacant, filed by the Governor,
who would of course appoint Demo
! c~as and thus It would go. :,ee-Sawi1S