American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1919-01-10

partments of the state government,
over a majority of which he exercises
no control. This popular misconcep-
ton is due to two factors.
In the first place the public gener-
ally is thoroughly acquainted with the
machinery of our federal system
where the president and a cabinet of
his selection have full executive au-
thority. The public mind, not being
as thoroughly familiar with the ma
chinery of the state government as 1t
is with that of the national govern
ment, assumes that the governor OF a
state in his relation TO state affairs
bears the same responsibility and au-
thority as the president does to the
national government. No one VINO
has made>a careful study of the sub
iect will deny that this conception is
not we'll founded.
A second factor lending to a miscon-
ception of the powers of the state ex-
ecutive is the intimate knowledge that
most people have of modern business
methods. Through long years of de-
velpment the American people, in
scommon with other nations which
have developed a high state of eff
cheney in trade and commerce, have
evolved that form of business govern
ment which attains a maximum of eff
1 ficiency and a definite fixing of re-
sponsibility. The fundamental prin-
ciple in business government is a sim
gle executive with sole responsibility.
The stockholders of the modern bust
ness corporation look to the manager
alone for results. Combined with this
idea the advantage of counsel is gain
ed through a board of directors who
in an advisory capacity discuss the
policies and plans submitted by the
manager and, of course, propose plans,
but in either case the execution
thereof is left to the executive head.
In the subdepartments of a large
business enterprise definite duties are
delegated and definite responsibility
for the performance of those duties
B., fixed always with a view to the larger
policies and plans outlined for the
whole business. Each department is
co-ordinated and correlated with the
whole. 1t is not run as a separate and
distinct organization. Always the de-
partment head is responsible to the
manager of the whole concern.
The federal system of government
and the business systems with which
we are familiar are not autocracies
They are the essence and consumma-
ton of democratic government, be-
cause the executive in each case is re.
sponsible to his constituency. He is
not only responsible to that constitu-
ency but responsible to its demands
because within a relatively short time
the constituency can demand an &C
counting of his stewardship. In the
state of Idaho where the governor Is
elected every two years he is respon'
sible directly to the public. There IL
no reason why when the public has re.
posed sufficient confidence in him Il
call him to the position of manager o.
state affairs he should not be intrust.
ed with those powers which will en-.
able him to carry out the responsible
ity which 1t is obviously the intention
of the electors of the state to faster
upon him.
The principal reason for the divided
responsibility in our state govern
ments is historical The present sys,
TEN is patterned after the original co
lonial system which was framed at
time when governors we're appointed
by the crown and the crown was no
responsible to the people. Every de
vice was used to curb the power o
the royal appointee and to delegate
that power to those who more directl!
at that time represented the people
Today the governor is the direct rep
Tesentative of the people and SHOULD
be the direct executor of their public
affairs. He should be given the powel
not only to formulate plans for tn