Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-06-28

plied TO executive administrative
government in the states of the
American union. That meaning has
assumed double aspect; the one
commonly expressed, in the de-
scriptive "The Short Ballot" the
other 1.-THE Civil Administrative
Code"
The short ballot principle is ex-
emplified in the constitution of the
executive department of the federal
government operating under the III
rection of the president and his cab
met, the vice president sitting in
order of succession for the imme-
date term.
Advocates for the adoption of the
short ballot principle in the govern
uaent of the states of our union are
sometimes called "Federalists' or,
as in the New York state constitu-
tional convention, "the federal
crowd" The leader of this so-called
crowd in that convention was Eli
hu Root, president of the conven-
ton. In stating the findings OF the
convention, Mr.. Root said: I'VE
have found the executive and ad-
ministrative organization OF the
state-New York"--was loose, con-
fused, ill-regulated; that $50 OF
more separate agencies were gong
about the business of the govern
ment responsible to no one in par
ticuiar, each one spending all the
money it could get, and there was
no such concentration of response
bility and power as was necessary
to bring to accountability the agen'
cies of the state which were plung'
ing our people into extravaganza
and debit
MIR. Root saw relief from the
condition stated in the adoption OF
the federal or short ballot prlnci'
pie in the state government.
AS applied to state government
the short ballot principle in its
most restricted sense, means ina
only a governor and a lieutenan
governor shall be elected ny the
people that all the civil adminlstra'
tive functions Of the government
shall be effectuated through the
media of departments, headed by
secretaries or commissioners, ap
nointed by the governor and sub1ec
to removal by him at any time
All subordinate officers and EN-
Moves receiving appointment ane
holding tenure of place under th'
nrovisions of merit system ac
cording to code.
From the standpoint of the pro
| fessional politician, the politica
party guard and gang, the hench
man and heller, there are vital ant
altogether sufficient objections Y
the short ballot principle, CHIEF O
| which is that it involves the very
probable destruction of their Voca
| tton and source of livelihood. Then
| opposition, though secret, or OF th'
gum shoe quality, is nevertheless
exceedingly potent and effective De
! cause of their avid interest ane
| proximate position. Conversely
! from the same standpoint, that Is
from the standpoint of self-interes'
and mayhap, self-preservation' TN
short ballot principle is of vital IN
terest to the plain average taxpay
| ing citizen, still large but unor
ganized majority, VINO goes apou
| his business. expecting little OF III
benefits from tax monies pald on
| and suffering no disappointment II
that matter.
Tho short ballot principle, whei
adonted into the executive depart
mont of the state government, is re
I;od unon to combine the power o
| The government with the responsi
| hi,itv thereof both in the governor
of the state. Quoting Mr.. Root
"crants of power should be clea
ona definite and their Responsible
Nv should be open, public, ascer
tained and unmistakable, so tina
nraise and blame, reward and pun
ishmert NAV be assigned by tn
| reonle themselves with justice AM
Certainty"
900 &C vot has adopted tn
~. W. Sa,lot nrincinle The compro
r,;sa in tho New York state 1911
| draft of nroposed constitution wa
defeated at the vote of the peopl
| thereon, doubtless because of tn
4 onnosition of the "old guard an
| eiactive official incumbents an
! an,nIoves who feresaw very prob
ahla destruction of political posi-
H. and nrestige in the combina
/ t;on If executiye and administra
| t;vo nower and responsibility.
uowever in New York stat
hocause of favorable action by tn
,egisl,tive session recently ad
ionrned the next legislature of tina
ststa lin have hefore 1t for secon
1 T, ,,,ao ,lternate amend