Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1860-03-17
THE SUPERVISOR SYSTEM.
Mr.. ROBES SPEECH.

THE SUPERVISOR SYSTEM.
Mr.. ROBES SPEECH.
The bill for substitute Of the Supervi.
sor for the County Judge System Of County
Government was considered 10 Commit
Of the Whole in the House Of Represcn-
tstives of this State, on the 23d ult. PAT
RICK RoBB, Of this District spoke in favor
Of the Supervisor system, IS follows:
Ms. CHAIRMAN: II was my privilege TO
present the first and enc of the largest pc
titions asking for the passage OF law en-
brscing the principal features Of the bill
now under consideration. Duty to my
constituents renders it necessary that l
should briefly express tbsir views aud wish.
es on this important question. II does not
matter so much 10 them what particular
change is made in our county government
provided that change is suited to our new
aud improving conditioa aud combines .
prudent economy with efficiency, and some
adequate protection against the abuse OF
power. now 50 ruinously prevalent.
From all parts OF the State, irrespective
Of party interests aud feelings. multiplied
com plants have come up to this Leg,sla-
,urs against the enormitles prscticed under
our present system. 1t is within the
knowledge Of nearly every member upon
this door that these complaints are we'll
grounded-that wrongs ao sxist-thAt in
divdual and public rights and interests
have been grossly sacrificed BY an uncon-
trolsd and uncomfortable Sutocracy Great
ed By the existing law. The people have
a right to make these complaints and it is
our duty aud privilege ~ their representa-
tives, to duly consider their petitions and
if possible grsnt their prayer.
What, sir. are the facts in this matter ?
Excessive revenues have been and are now
being raised and equsndered through IA
voritisn, negligence and schemes OF pri'
vate spec ulat,on. Base frauds have been
perpetrated upon the rights OF the counties
by heaping upon them y heavy indebted
ness, withou. returning therefor any pro-
porlionats benefit; their resources have
been exhausted and pledged to an extent
which years Of economy aud prosperity
will not repair. Combi.atiens with the
County Judge ss y party, and in which
the public veal had nc representative and
no friend, have been formed, and schemes
for personal aggr~ndlzsment thereby ma
,ursd and carried out, Until in Iowa, Court
House, Jail, County Seat, roads and bridg
es have become syuoni,ns for fraud. extra
vassnce aud corruption. Local pub lie
improvements have been projected Of such
. character rs are neithsr desired or need
ed, or justified by the wants aud financial
ability OF the counties. The credit Oi
mauy Of our counties is prostrated-their
orders deprsci.ted in numerous instances
| fifty per cent. and no purchasers in the
a .rket, aud ss necessary conseq uence
the ordinary expenses vastly increased
Orders drawn upou treasury that proins
- to be empty for years are not such funds
as will secure economy iu expenditures
When . county's promise is worth but fiji y
cents on the dollar. any service rendered
will cost the county double its real value
Divisions, anim0sity and bitter contentious
have sprung up among those who should
be animated by common interest and
feeling. When coun.ys resources are
thus exhausteG-its faith impaired, the
property Of its citizens absorbed by taxa
ton, and their harmonious relations bro
ken up, its growth must be retarded and
its prosperity checked. All this and more
is effected in the very eyes and despite the
protects Of M outraged people. Il is no,
nssssssry 10 instance these ihings. They
are facts familiar to you oil.
! Nor should such result BE- surprising,
Il 10 the natural consequence Of . system,
which makes one man the repository oi
al pswsr and oos6dss 90 much Of coun-
tvs welfare IN his discretioa. Your county
Judge is the gsaeral Agent Of the County
lis the legal custodian Of its property.
audits I'll claime fSr money, opens and
CLOSES highways, srects public buildiugs u
bis pleasure, manages the school fand and
exercises unrestricted control over the
finances. Where there are such great and
unQuali6ed powers. abuse will follow. The
present laws leave the people without pro
lection or remedy. They have tried pub
lie sentiment, and it has been set Ut def
sncs. They have appealed to the Courts,
but found no relief from imposition, fraud
and tho most vexatious tyranny. True
these oppressive results are most common
in new counties we're the revenue is very
large 10 proportion 70 the population. and
where the permanent improvements are
for the 6rst time being mo- Ye, they
are nut peculiar to them alone. Com
plaints are made svcn. in older counties,
where your public buildings have been
erected, your bridges built, your roads To-
ca,ed. your credit established, and where
public sentiment 10 more o~erful and
restraining. The present system may work
With comparative satisfaction IN tho more
populous psr,ions Of the State, but this 70
suits not from any intrinsic merit in the
~ stem hself, but rather Ees@ ths Absepcs