The Nevada journal. [volume] (Nevada City, Calif.) 1851-18??, 1857-07-31
FRIDAY MORNING, JULY 81, 1857.
Constitutional Convention No. q.

In former numoerS We nave shown
the amount of money which can be
saved the State by reform in the Leg
islative and Judicial departments of
government. Pursuing our investiga-
tions fartf er we find officers in the Elk
ecutive department whose services are
not worth their cost, and easily dispens-
ed with. The duties of Superintendent
of Pr bic Instruction can be imposed
upon the Secretary of State for many
years to come, as was formerly done in
the State of New York. Much of the
efficiency of the common school system
CT that State is due to the labors of Sec
retaries of State in their capacity as Su-
perintendent of Public Instruction, and
not until the children of New York num-
bered twice the entire population of Cal
ifornia at present, were those labors i'm
posed upon separate officer.
The expense saved by the abolition
of the office of Superintendent of Public
Instruction, can be set down at the
least estimate, at three thousand FIVE
hundred dollars salary, and not less
than two thousand dollars in contin-
gents.
Another officer for which the State
las no need is that of Surveyor General.
This office costs the State annually,
two thousand dollars for salary, the
same amount for clerk hire, and like
sum for other contingents, making in
all some six thousand dollars. Give his
duties into the hands of County Survey
ors and save the expense.
The Quarter Master General also
costs four thousand dollars per annum
at least, without corresponding benefit,
or in fact any benefit at all.
The annual average expenditures of
the officers before enumerated have
been far larger than the sums we have
given. In all of them there are found
deficiencies at the close of an appropri-
alton year. calling upon the treasury for
payment and generally with success.
But at the low estimate we have made,
the abolition of the three officers would
save fifteen thousand five hundred del
lars expense annually.
There are still other important chan
ges necessary in our State constitution.
Not the least among them is the remov-
al of the election for judges from that
for political Offices. This is a serious
defect which ought to be speedily rem
edied. No judge should be elected in
times of political excitement. His can
vass should be free from partisan feel
ing. As the constitution now is he be-
comes a low scrambler for spoils, pan
derer to the passions and prejudices
evolved in political contest like all
other aspirants for Office. The man
and the office are thus demeaned and
lowered in the respect of the people
1t should be our aim to build up judi
eiary commanding respect and conf
dence. The constitution does not pro-
mote this end and should be reformed
But it is contended by some that all
the defects in our constitution, which
are acknowledged to be numerous,
should be remedied by the Legislature
and the people, without the expense in
separable from Constitutional Conven-
ton. This opinion is formed without
consideration. 1t is jumped at rather
than reached by mature reflection and
reasoning. Let US see, if not the i'm
practicability of this method of reform
ing the organic law of the land, at least
the danger of its adoption. To produce
the changes desirable in the Judicial,
Legislative and Executive departments
of the government, will require the
modification of sections of the constitu-
ton not numbered by score. Some of
these changes will be slight - in some
cases word or two will suffice. Sup
pose the Legislature amend the consti-
tuition in every desirable respect and
submit the numerous amendments to the
people. The constitution as amended
by the Legislature is harmonious in all
its parts. Its organism is perfect and
complete. Will it be so after the peo-
pie have exercised their prerogatlve of
adopting this and rejecting that amend
ment? The value of some changes
may not, and would not be discovered.
except by those who had given the
subject more study than the mass of the
people is liable to give. Some amend
ments taken separately and unconnect-
ed with others are liable to be misun-