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


Either Pottawattamie County has been
very unfortunate in its selection of men to
ELL the Office of County Judge, or the above
system is radically defective in more than
one important particular. Either the laws
and code ares 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 were 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 work of supereo-
CATION, but we wish to call their attention
to the fac, 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 recolect, that at the last
session Of our State Legislature, strcnu-
Gus effort was made to abolish the Office of
County Judge, and which failed only because
those in favor of it's 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 unanimity in
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 obviate like recurrence of indecis-
ion, that the subject be canvassed by the
people, i" 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 endeayors 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 extract to the at
tention of our readers as embodyng our
sentiment. The system of Government spo-
ken Of " which would give each township Il
direct voice in the direction cf County af-
fairs" is the New York Supervisor system ::
From the Independence Guardian.
One-man power is at best exccptonable,
and no matter how cautiously 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 50 readily be abused, and the pco-
pie made to suffer. 4 county judge can be,
if so minded, small despot, 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 acitv. An error in Judgment, an obsti
nate persistence in wrong policy, or a
blind partalism, can prccipitute Il whole
people deeply in debt, strike a vital blow at
their interests. and inv olive 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, at 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 a direct voice in the direction Of county
affairs, would be more economical, and more
Just to the genera, interests, as 1t certainly
would be more demo cratIc, 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-
It's and dement's Of every measure would be
brought out by discussion. Monthly meet
ings of such u body would give sufficient
., mnIncss Of action, and the compensation
would be inconsidcrabe. Road business
would be iecil,a more promptly and cheap
" than ut present, al quite as correctly
The whole machinery % administration
would be more public, and Nou::' therefore,
we think, be run with moro clrcums pet'loh,
than at present. For these, anu other rea'
sops that We could name, had we no.. the
time, we favor new county organization,
and we believe such a change would be ac
ccptabl. to 4 large majority of the people Of
this county and of the State.