Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1866-02-02
THE SUPERVISOR SYSTEM.
Debate In the Legislature over the Pro.
posed Change.

posed Change.
January %.
The resolution looking to q change of
county government was under consid-
Grafton, and the House went into Com
mittee of the whole with Mr.. Finkbine
in the chair.
Mr.. Brown of Van Buren,, (the mover
of the resolution said its OBJECT was to
test the sense OF the House on the sub
ject. He said the present system OF
county government did not meet the
wants OF the people in his section. 1t
assembled together too large body OF
men. He questioned whether thirty
men could tranact business as speedily
rs three men could. Under the pres
ent system the men represent local in
tcrests, and those are so conflicting
that at times while there is money
enough to build bridges, &C., no bridges
are built because OF opposing local I'M
terests. He would have no Supervisor
owe his election to any one Township,
but to the whole county at large. In
that case he would be more likely to
represent the interests of the whole
county. ......r...
Mr.. Mexican preferred an old law
well understood to new one which
might be little better than the old one
in some of its minor details. The SUI
pervisor system was just becoming UNI
derstood. 1t worked well not only here
but in other States. 1t might perhaps
be modified to advantage. But we had
tried the commissioner system and the
county judge system, and had become
dissatisfied with both. Now we have
the supervisor system, let US try it ten
is
meet our wants, we can safely discard
it. But no State which had adopted
our present system had ever done away
with it. Although it might be more
expensive. it was safer and less easily
corrupted. The one man power Is
stronger, more efficient, and cheaper
than any other government ii the right
man is in power. But politicians are
not to be trusted. Hence it was neces-
sary to have all sections of the county
represented, and to have a tOlerally nu-
merous representation so that one may
watch the rest. ......
Mr.. Hale offered substitute, giving
it as the opinion of the House that Il
change would at this time he inexpedi-
ent. He agreed with the last gentle
man that a change now would not be
advisable. The people do not fully un-
derstand all the workings of the super
visor system, and hence their dissatis-
faction in some quarters. When they
understand it better, they will like At
better. He believed the present system
was tie nearest perfect of any system
ever devised. 1t was in perfect harmo
ny with the spirit of our Institutions
| 1t was government in which each sec
ton has Il representative to look after
its interests. 1t was like the State Leg
islature, and, like it, secured more fully
than any other could the interests of all
sections.
Mr.. Bolter said there was one objec-
! ton to the commissioner system which
| had not been alluded to. In counties
where there are large cities, the cities
will own the county.
Mr.. Sapp-May not that be avoided
by re-districting the counties?
Mr.. Bolter-There is no provision in
the bill for that.
Mr.. Barker had leave to offer an
amendment providing for dividing the
counties into supervisor districts, which
he wished to hear discussed.
Mr.. Bolter resumed. He considered
this amendment as not opposing the
system, but only limiting the number
OF Supervisors. He desired to have the
rights of the sparsely settled portions of
a county secure.
Mr.. Barker favored less number of
men to sit in the county legislature. A
smaller number could do the work bet
ter and be better paid. The represent
alton could be prescribed, and the coun-
ties districted so as to give the agricult-
urai sections an advantage in numbers,
il SO desired. He considered that in
some such way all objections to a limit
ed number could be obviated. He
would not change the system, hut re-
duce the number and pay them better,
SO they can sit longer, understand the
affairs of the county better, and trans
act all business before them to better
advantage.
Mr.. Close offered a resolution which
was read for information, changing the
representation. He argued that the
present representation is Unjust that
no township should be entitled to rep
resentation only upon basis of GER
tain number of qualified electors that
no more than four townships should be
placed in one district, and that no coun-
| ty should have less than five represent
atives.
Mr.. Tracy opposed the commissioner
system, on the ground that it would
give the control OF county affairs to cit
les and thickly settled portions of the
county. The county judge system was
so liable to abuse that it was unnecessa-
ry to speak of it. He didn't consider
the proposed change would prove more
economical than the present SYSTEM
Neither did he believe the gentleman
from Van Buren, would be any more
likely to have bridges built just where
they were needed than now.
Mr.. Burnett hoped no change would
be made. We are doing well enough
under the present system. Frequent
changes were not beneficial.
Mr.. Bennett moved that the commit
tee rise, report progress, and ask leave
to sit again ut 10 O'Clock to morrow
morning.
Mr.. Wilson, of Dubuque, had leave to
offer an amendment, which was read
for in fOrmaton, favoring the Michigan
system.
Mr.. Benefits motion prevailed, and
the committee rose.