Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1869-02-12
A Proposed Change OF Government.

A bill providing for a return of the
counties to the old county supervisor
system is pending in tho Assembly. The
measure has probably been gotten up by
some disaffected ones, who havea grudge
against their particular board, and there
fore take this method to clean them out.
We append extracts from our exchan-
ges in different parts of the State
TFrom the Madison State Journal
A bill is pending in the Legislature to
return to the old system of county gov
erument, uder which each town sends its
chairman of the town Board of Super
visors TO the County Board. and a mimic
Legislature is organized in each county.
We believe the people generally are op
posed to such change. The present
system is much more simple and econ
omical. Under it, too, we are more like
ly to secure men of some degree of
business capacity and experience.
From the Oshkosh Journal
AT every session OF the Legislature,
somebody who wants to :" clean out" a
board of supervisors in his county, offers
bill to repeal the present and restore the
old law in relation to county supervisors.
Accordingly, he first bill introduced in
the Assembly this winter was for that
purpose.
Sometimes the theory is that honest
men may be selected from each town,
but cannot be from each Assembly dis
trict; but more frequently it seems to be
that honest men are not to be selected
at all, and that it is easier to bribe, buy
up, or improperly influence a small num-
Der than large one.
Her, tofore Notwithstanding these the
cries, the Legislature has recognized the
facts that reasonably honest men of fair
business capacity are to be in almost
every community, and that the affairs Of
counties have been generally better and
more economically administered under
the present system than under the old
one.
A petty legislature in every county
may be a very good training school for
parliamentary practice on the part of 10,
cal asprants for higher honors (and pos
tage stamps), but that is a branch of pop
ular education which Wisconsin has
abandoned-we hope for all time.
From the Racine Advocated
We notice that petition has been pre-
scented TO the Legislature, purporting to
come from the citizens of Racine county,
asking for return to the old supervisor
system.
Who are the signers (? The thing
has been kept very still, as we cannot
find that any one about here has seen it..
From the Burlington Standard.
On reading the above we are remind
ed that at the time of holding our As
sembly District Convention, in canvass
ing the merits of the several candidates,
it was aliedged that Mr.. Gilmore would
favor such a return. Some of his more
earnest friends gave the allegation flat
denial, accompanied with strong assu-
RANGES that under no circumstances would
he favor it unless it should be clearly de-
manded by the people.
We arc clearly of the opinion that the
people arc satisfied with the present sys-
tenn, and will, if the subject is canyassed,
oppose a change. That few men, am
bilious for distinction in a small way, will
favor it, We are prepared to believe. We
do not now propose to discuss this SUBJ
iect, nor will we believe that our Repre-
sentative will give it his sanction, unless
it is clearly demonstrated, by the peti-
ton, that a majority Of the people are in
favor of change.