The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1859-04-30
The County Judge System.


Either Pottawattamie County has been
very unfortunate in it's selection of men to
fill the Office of County Judge, or the above
system is radically defective in more than
one important particular. Either the laws
and code are very vague" in defining the
duties of County Judges, or the present IN
cumbent of that Office in this County, and
and some of his predecessors, have taken
undue CELEBRITIES - in the exercise of that
wholesome discretionary power with which
they we're invested. Either too much power
is vested in the County Judge, or else, as
far as this County is concerned, that officer
has greatly transcribed his authority. We
care not to inform our readers, where the
fault lies, believing that a work of supereo-
cation, but we wish to call their attention
to the fact that this County is not the only
County in the State, that has reason to be
dissatisfied with the practical workings of
the subject under consideration. Our read
crs will doubtless recollect, that at the last
session Of our State Legislature, a strcnu-
Gus effort was made to abolish the Office OF
County Judge, and which failed only because
those in favor of its abolition could not agree
upon the system to be substituted there
for. The subject has lately been revived, and
many Journals throughout the State are now
discussing the subject, with, as far as our
observations extend, an entire unanimlty 10
favor Of change. As the last Legislature
failed to make change in County Govern
ment, solely because they could not unite
upon any plan, it has been suggested, IN Or
der to obviatc like recurrence OF indec's-
ion, that the subject be canvassed by the
people, " and action taken upon it in the Sc
lection of Senators and Representatives,"
We are ready to act upon this suggestion,
and have no hesitation in declaring our pre-
ference for the Supervisor system of New
York, and shall use our utmost endeavors to
bring the people of Pottawattamle County
to our way of thinking, in this respect.
Without further remarks, at this time,
we commend the following extractt to the at
tention of our readers as embodying our
sentiment. The system Of Government spo-
ken of " which would give each township
direct voice in the direction CT County af
fairs" is the New York Supervisor system
From the Independence Guardian
One-man power is at best exccptionable,
and no matter how cautious y he who pos
scsses it wiclds it, he is constantly an object
CT suspicion, and his authority prone to give
offence. In the hands of competent, honest,
impartial persons, our present system works
well enough, and economically enough, but
its chief objection lies in the fact that the
power can SO readily be abused, and the pco
pie made to suffer. 4 county judge can be,
if so minded, small dcspot, he is absolute
is above and beyond all supervision and all
restraint, so long as he does not directly
purloin from the treasury. The welfare Of
the county rests entirely upon his honesty and
car acity. An error in Judgment, an obsti-
nate persistence in wrong policy, Or AZ
blind partialism, can prccipitate whole
people deeply in debt, strike vital blow at
their interests. and involve them in difficult
ties which may require years to free them
selves from. Instances of this kind have
occurred in Iowa, and are liable to occur
again, ut any time, to any county. Undue
concentration of power IN single hands is
always Objectionable, and if for no other
reason, for this alone, we should oppose the
present system.
But we believe that a system Of county
government, which would give each town
ship direct voice in the direction Of county
affairs. would be more economical, and more
lust to the general interests, as it certainly
would be more democratic, than the present
system. Each township would have its
wants and wishes promptly urged by its own
delegates 10 the county board, and the mer-
its and dement's Of every measure would be
brought out by discussion. Monthly meet
ings of such Il body would give sufficient
o, , .."ptness of action, md the compensation
wouIi be inconsidcrablc. Road business
would be iecil,a more promptly and cheap
" than at present, al quite as correctly
The whole machinery o. administration
would be more public, and Nou:' therefore,
we think, be run with moro cIrcum.pecN0h,
than at present. For these, anu other rea-
sops that We could anne, had we no" the
time, we favor a new county organization,
and we believe such change would be ac
ceptablo 10 L large majority of the people of
this county and Of the State.