Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 February 1917 — Limitation of Executive Power Tends to Hamper State and City Governments [ARTICLE]

Limitation of Executive Power Tends to Hamper State and City Governments

By PROF. ALBERT BUSHNELL HART

Head of American history Department of Harvard University

We have a thoroughly articulated system in Washington which presents vast advantages over our system of state government. It is remarkable that the states have not done more to imitate federal concentration. At Washington great executive power is vested in the president, who appoints the heads of important state departments. The president has power to remove departmental heads. In state government the governor does not name the heads of departments. Boards and commissions are created which result in oyerlapping of activities and increased expenditures, —These-Wies are. noL responsible to the governor or to the heads of departments. The authority of the state is subdivided and packed away in little boxes which have no relation to one another. It is amazing what good service we get from In city governments the mayor is often mayor in name only. Common councils often appoint committees which usurp the power of the executive. The remedy for the evils in our present system of government is greater belief in and attention to men; a broader and fuller support of men. We need character, ability and positiveness at the head of our governmental affairs. Democracy might as well make up its mind that it cannot get what it wants through a thousand channels.