| Show wide powers given to state governors for war emergency CHICAGO armed with emergency war powers granted recently by their legislatures or by state statutes of 1917 still in force most of the 48 governors are prepared for speedy mobilization of military and civilian resources of their states a survey by the council of state governments indicates are governors powers that it seems unlikely states will have to enact the mass of legislation found necessary during the first world war for this reason special sessions of the states in 1942 an off legislative year may be less numerous than anticipated the governors war emergency powers in addition to complete supervision per vision of state defense councils cover a wide range of subjects from organizing state guards to controlling oil supplies twenty seven states adopted state guard acts in 1940 1941 and in 26 of them the governor has authority to dispatch the guard in response to calls for help from neighboring governors mobilizing state resources in two states massachusetts and new jersey governors last year were authorized to undertake un unusually wide wartime mobilization of state resources according to the survey the governor of massachusetts is permitted to take any measures which he may deem proper to carry into effect any request of the president of the united states for action looking to the national defense or to the public safety massachusetts last year also re enacted a 1917 statute authorizing the governor to take possession of any equipment and supplies in the state for service of the state or country this act further permits the governor to seize sell or distribute gratuitously cattle poultry provisions fuel gasoline and other materials to inhabitants of the state the new jersey act approved late last month directs the governor to render the united states in the present crisis any assistance within the power of the state to accomplish this he may organize and employ any and all resources within the state whether men properties or instrumentalities mentalities and is directed to exercise any or all power convenient or necessary in his judgment to give such assistance nine other states under 1917 statutes give the governor power to organize all of the states resources |
