Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-01-08
Governor and Council Like
Corporation Board OF Directors
BY George w. +eadbetter. Messenger

| portant and extensive part of the
business of the state. II we think
| of the Governor and Council as the
president and board of directors Of a
corporation, we will have on the
whole a clear idea Of their relation
to the various activities of the
state. There is annually raised by
the state eight to ten million dol
lars, and all this vast sum of money
expended under the direction of the
| Governor and Council. 1t is impos-
| sible in a brief statement to give
| anything like complete statement
| Of the work Of this department
| Therefore. the following is only a
brief outline OF the important
| features OF the work.
Governors Council
The constitution and statutes, set
forth certain specific duties for the
Executive Department. By the con-
stitution, the governor is constituted
the supreme executive power and he
is given a council of seven members
to advise with him in the conduct of
the affairs Of the state. These coun-
cillors act in much the same manner
as does the Cabinet of the United
States, but individually the council
lors do not head q. department, and
they have, in addition, certain legisr
J latlve functions. While the COVER
! nor is elected by popular vote, the
| councillors are chosen biennially on
| joint ballot by the legislature. The
state is divided into seven districts
with a councillor for each district.
Appointment Of State Officials
| Four department heads; the
| treasurer of state, the secretary of
state, the commissioner of agri-
| culture and the attorney general. are
| elected by joint ballot of the legis-
/ lature. The state auditor is elected
| by popular vote. The governor
dominates. and with the advice and
consent of the council appoints. all
| judicial officers and all civil and
military officers whose appointment
| is not provided for otherwise by the
| constitution and statutes. The con-
stitution also provides that the
| tenure of all offices not otherwise
provided for shall be during the
I pleasure of the governor and council.
j Pardons
| The governor has power with the
! advice ard consent of the council to
remit after conviction all forfeitures
and penalties, and to grant reprieves,
| combinations, and pardons except
| in case Of mpeachment, with such
restrictions and limitations as may
be deemed proper and subject to
| such regulations as may be provided
| by law.
Commander of Army and Navy
The governor is commander in
| chief of the army and navy Of the
! state and of the militia, except when
| called into the actual service of the
(; United States, and he has authority
! on extraordinary occasions to- con-
i vene the legislature in special as
s.. sembfy.
! Election Returns
! The governor and council are re
! quired to tabulate the returns and
/ elections Of votes cast at primaIy,
; state and special elections, and cleo
/ tions for the choice Of presidential
and vice presidential electors.
i General Duties
! The statutory powers and duties
! of the governor and council cannot
/, be enumerated without reference to
/ many of the chapters of the Revised
Statutes and Session Laws. Some
, of the more important are the power
: given to the governor to appoint
+, agents to demand and receive of the
I, executive authority of any other
a, state fugitives from justice charged
! with crimes in state, to issue his
| warrant to surrender fugitives found
! in this state charged with crimes in
, ether states, and he may offer re-
! wards for the apprehension of fugi-
! tives from justice.
He is required to issue his procla-
nation for an election to fill any
! vacancy in the representation of the
state in the Senate of the United
! States or the National House of
| Representatives, or any other Office
| required to be filled by vote of the
| PEOPLE, as we'll as his proclamation
for a primary election to select
| candidates.
OF all the duties of the Executive
! Department there is none greater
| than the constitutional provision
which says that no money shall be
| drawn from the treasury except by
/ warrant from the governor and
:. council, and in consequence of APP
! preparations made by law. In adj
dition to this the governor and
| council have general supervision of
the work of all state departments,
\ institutions and commissions. thel
| great majority Of which are required
| to make detailed reports at regular
| intervals. The governor and council
| are also constituted board oil
| trustees of the State Library.
| Payment Of Bills
| Because Of these provisions. the
Executive Department has intimate
| control over the functions Of all de-
! partments and institutions. Since
! no money can be paid out without
warrant, from the governor and
! council, 1t follows, that every eS-
penditure of money by any sub
| division Of the state government is
authorized first by the governor ana
| council Further than that, no bill Is
paid by the state except by check OF
the treasurer Of state. In other
words, no Indebtedness OF the state
| of Maine whether it be million dol
lars or one cent, IS paid except by
check from the treasurer.
| State Budget
| Under the provisions Of Chapter
! 1O2 of the Public Laws Of 1919. the
governor becomes the head OF the
| budget committee. He with the
| state auditor, state treasurer, chair
man of the committee on approprla-
/ lions and financial affairs on part OF
! the Senate and chairman on the part
| of the House Of the Maine Legis-
lature make up this budget commit
tee.
, An informal budget was inaugur-
| ated in 1917. 1t was continued IN
1919 and the Legislature OF 1871
handled the first regular budget.
The law provides that the commit
! tee shall transmit to the legislature
not later than the fifth day of the
first session thereof the budget,
and upon request of any committee
| of the legislature the secretary OF
the committee on budget shall trans