Those bodies,
therefore, are frequently useful, even for administrative business,
but in general only as advisers; such business being, as a rule,
better conducted under the responsibility of one. Even a joint-stock
company has always in practice, if not in theory, a managing director;
its good or bad management depends essentially on some one person's
qualifications, and the remaining directors, when of any use, are so
by their suggestions to him, or by the power they possess of
watching him, and restraining or removing him in case of misconduct.
That they are ostensibly equal shares with him in the management is no
advantage, but a considerable set-off against any good which they
are capable of doing: it weakens greatly the sense in his own mind,
and in those of other people, of that individual responsibility in
which he should stand forth personally and undividedly.
But a popular assembly is still less fitted to administer, or to
dictate in detail to those who have the charge of administration. Even
when honestly meant, the interference is almost always injurious.
Every branch of public administration is a skilled business, which has
its own peculiar principles and traditional rules, many of them not
even known, in any effectual way, except to those who have at some
time had a hand in carrying on the business, and none of them likely
to be duly appreciated by persons not practically acquainted with
the department.
Pages:
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112