New-York tribune., 1919-09-22
Would Centre
State Power
In Governor
and would stand in the searchlight Of
publicity throughout his term.
RPsu1f Of Pat hwOrk
Continued from page 1

and would stand in the searchlight Of
publicity throughout his term.
Result of Patchwork
The present hodge podgc govern
ment, it is said in the report, is in
part the result Of patchwork by many
legislatures, in part result of the
distrust Of governors bequeathed from
colonial times and in part the result
of an effort to install system of
checks and balances, offsetting
executive power by that Of the Legis-
lature.
The improvements suggested by the
commission, it points out, would re-
quire constitutional amendments in
some cases, statutory revisions in
others, and in still others only ad-
mnistrativc changes. No constitutions
al changes could be made effective un-
I'll January ], 1922, since amendments
approved at the next session of the
Legislature must also be approved by
the Legislature Of 1921 and must then
be approved by maj ority Of the voters
at the election in November, 1921.
such proposed reorganization and
budget SYSTEM" the commission says,
IS that it makes the Governor car.
Ihc President of the United States has
administrative powers far greater than
those here proposed to be given TO the
Governor. The Mayor OF the city OF
New York appoints and removes all OF
the important department heads, and
CITIZENS know whom to hold accountable
he Governor does not hold Office by
hereditary right. He is elected for d
tXed term by universal suffrage
II he were given the powers here pro-
posed he would stand out in the lime
light OF public opinion and scrutinv
The system here proposed is
more temperate, not more royal than
that now IN existence. Democracy does
not merely mean periodical elections
III means a government held accountable
to tho people between elections.
II TINS IS not democracy, then it is dif-
hcuit to imagine what it is
Reorganization in Other States
The commission says it has studied
reconstruction programmes instituted
by many states, and finds that re-
trcnchment and reorganization are
planned generally.
1.-The budget recommendations, the
report says, "have passed beyond the
theoretical stage, for thirty eight states
have enacted legislation for a consoli~
dated budget system, with VARYING pro
visions as to methods OF preparations
legislative review and enactment into
law Half of these states have placed
the responsibility for int;sting the
budget squarely upon the Governor"
AS for the principle Of consolidating
and reorganlzing boards, the commits
sion continues, the State Of Illinois.
comparable to New York in wealth and
population, by an act of 1916 swept
away l05 Offices and agencies and con
solldated the government into nine
great departments. Nebraska in 1919
reduced eighty-two departments and
agencies to six administrative depart
meEts, Sin constitutional! officers and
tour constitutional boards. Idaho bv
the act of February 10, 1919, abolished
a long list of Offices, boards and com
missions and created instead nine de-
partments of civil administration.
Delaware has under consideration
proposals for reorganization of III
separate boards, departments and COM
missions into nine departments under
the authority of the Governor. The
Taxpayers Association of California
proposes to set up in that state twelve
administrative departments The Com
monwealth oi Massachusetts, bv CON
stitutional provision in 1917, prepared
the way for a consolidation of the
numerous Offices and agencies of that
state. Similar programmes Of rc-
trenchment and reorganization arc
under way in other states