The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1860-04-04
The Suneryisor Bill.

GH we publish, on the OUTSIDE OF TO-
days paper. the bill passed by the legis-
lature for the creation Of a County Board
Of Supervisors, in whose hands are here
after to be entrusted most Of the affairs of
the county now supervised by the Coun-
ty Judge. We have always. as our read
ers well know, opposed the County Judge
system, mainly because that system con-
centrated too much power in one man.
making him petty but absolute sover-
eign. He is subject to butlittle restraint,
and through dishonesty, wilfulness. or
lack Of judgment, might involve his con-
slituents in almost financial ruin. This
has been the experience in many instances
throughout Iowa, and it would doubtless
be constantly recurring. The true and
democratic method is, to distribute pow
er. and place it, as directly as possible.
in the hands of the people. There it will
be less liable Of abuse, because its exer-
else is narrowly scrutinized. and those
who exercise it have direct and person
nj interest in seeing that it is welded for
the public interests, and in accordance
with the pubic wish. Thus it is that
we favor the newly adopted system above
any other proposed The Commissioner
System, which many favored, is obnox- '
ious, like the County Judge plan, though d
not so much so, TO the objection of CEN O
ralizaiion Of power. 1t does not, so m
fully as it should, place that power d. bl
recly in the hands of the people; does m
not, SO fully as it ought, reflect the gen. pl
eral wish. The Supervisors, however, VI
coming directly from the different Sec "
tons Of the county, fully aware Of tho t
wants and wishes Of their several COM {
munitles, directly affected, with those
communities, by their own acts, and ac-
countable to their neighbors alone for the !
manner in which they perform their du-
lies, will most certainly endeavor to as
certain and to carry out the wishes OF
their constituents. And thus not the
judgment. or the interests, or the preju-
dices OF one man, or one locality, will
control. but that of the majority Of the
communicable majority of the peo-
pie. This is democratic, this is just, this
alone is consistent with the theory of our
institutions. l, has worked satisfactorily,
to an eminent degree, in New York and
Wisconsin. and proper care in the selec-
ton of men will certainly prove it equal
" adapted to our newer communities.
J" as well-governed county as our own,
perhaps its advantages will not be mme-
diately apparent, but here, as elsewhere,
men are suspicious Of Capitalization OF
power. and will cheerfully accept the
change. even without its proving any
more economical. Our County Judge,
true TO his democratic instincts, has al
ways avowed himself axerss to the pres
ent system. and we are glad 70 record the
fact that both our Senator and Represen-
tative have labored and voted for the plan
u government now adopted. The South
ern portion OF the State almost pnaqi-
nnously opposed the change. and some Of
The ablest men Of both parties in the ley
islature were arrxyed against il. The
friends Of the Supervisor system. how
ever. were determined and pncompromis-
ing. and backed by numberless petitions,
and strengthened by unansverable argu- I
ments, went steadily forward until they
,riumphed. I
And in this connection we cannot for 6
bear to copy the following just tribute 10 a
our friend ALDRIcH, which we find in !
the Capital correspondence of the Bur 9
lington Hawkeve. Every word of it is S
Fne. Tic writer says:
bu. to 20 man do the friends Of this law s.