The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1921-02-19
The Highway Tanele.
(St. Adams Messenger. J


1t is to be regretted that the first nub.
nc nearing on the merits of the bill that
designs to take from the governor of
y ermont the appointing power so far as
the highway commissioner is concerned
10 be sure Mr.. Barber, of Brattleboro,
qua secure from Governor Gates a dec
iafation that on general principles it
would be pernicious principle to let
the legislature elect the states admin
lstrative officers. but when Mr.. Bates
ana the highways are involved MIR
Gates sees an exception to the rule.
No one can successfully deny that H.
~ Is. a piece of private legislat ion
Robbed of all the trimmings it is an at
tempt TO make Stod Bates secure in the
tenure Of his Office. If it is passed it
means, in all probability, that MIR. Bates
VIII remain a fixture, superior to any
governor. until he desires to relinquish
the relns. One of the real issues then.
Is: Is Bates bigger than the governor of
~ ermont, not necessarily bigger than
Hartness. but OF any governor that is
to come IN the future while Bates wants
to remain in office The effect of this
legislation win be continuing.
Now there Is Il principle underlying all
this matter, Just as Governor Gates adj
mitted, and it is dangerous when princi-
pies OF government are deserted to meet
special case. The whole tendency of
government, under the pressure of de-
mand for efficiency and better admins
tratl0n, has been to put the appointing
power in the hands of the governor.
sometimes to be checked BY the senate,
sometimes rot. Theodore Roosevelt GER
tainly was a friend of popular govern
ment. but he even looked with disfavor
on the confirming power, desiring to
place the authority and the responsible
ity all in one place.
There is no disputing the proposition
that there can be no responsibilit" with
out authority. If the governor il to be
deprived of his appointing power of the
highway commissioner, then there viii
be no one whom the people can hold res
ponsible for poor highway work. Ger
tainly the legislature can not be held
responsible for it is up and gone when
the time comes and the legislature &C
tually represents such a small portion
of the Vermont people that the majority
would fail in any attempt to make the
legislature answerable because the ma
ioTitv of the people are actually much
in the minority in the general assembly
With the legislature electing. the PEG
pie would be completely at the mercy
of power held by narrow interests work
ing in the dark If the governor has the
sible man. Now in Vermont it is the
governor that Is most truly representa-
tive of the people. The legislature il
not repres sentative because OF our town
system OF representation. But the gov
ernor is elected by all the people and
represents what has been called the col
| Iective authority OF all the people He
IS the logical one to make the appoint
ment
Vermont has accepted and approved
this principle of government. We arr
witnessing now the very evils whicl
legislative elections would entail. Yer
mont wants to avoid this if possibl,
and it is possible to do so hy, the defeat
! of H -222. Vermont may well look to tn,
/ senate in this matter. The house may
| pass the bill. although that is by ne
/ means assured for there are many goo,
men in the house who look with dis
/ pleasure on the personal and private
rolitics which surround this whole IS
sue. but if the measure ever gets to tht
senate there in all probability, it viii
! be killed The senate acts with mucl
j more calmnesq and elaboration. But
if the senate fails there still is the gov
ernor. If necessary The Messenger hopes
: the governor will exercise his veto pow
er. He should stand up against this on
slaught against good government. Ant
j The Messenger believes he has the cour
! age TO meet the test.