Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1874-11-04
THE OBJECTIONABLE FEAT
VRE.S.

We were jealous advocate of the
new Constitution. Although there
were some clauses in it we did not ap-
prove, we preferred to accept it as a
whole, and labor for its proper amend
ment afterwards, During the sum
mer Gov. Hartranft in accordance
with an act of Assembly, appointed q
Commission to suggest amendments
Of any to the next Legislature. This
Committee has held number of ses-
sions, but no one seems to know what
il has done, nor will the public know,
until the Committee sends its report in
to the next Legislature.
We could suggest several amend
ments to the Committee, but for fear
we might be considered egotistical, or
asking too much, we will only refer to
one al this time.
The Convention very wisely made
provision for minority representation
in the several Boards of County Com
missioners and Auditors. That is a
proper adjustment, in a party sense, but
it is of doubtful propriety when viewed
in business way. Under the new
code, three Commissioners and three
Auditors are to be inducted into office
on the lst Monday of January, 1876,
probably not one of the six having
ever speut an hour in either office to
learn anything about the duties they
are then about TO assume-mere ap-
prentices-and yet expected to prop
erly administer public affairs, involving
millions ofdollars of the peoples money,
Does a railroad company, or q bank, or
any other business organization, turn
all its old employees off at one time
and fill their places with men who
know but little about the business they
arc about to enter on? Will any
merchant, blacksmith, carpenter, or
the man who runs log job or saw
mill, jeopardize his business in SINH
lar manner? We think not.
Now, we suggest that the Constitu-
ton be so amended as to have both
political parties represented, but in
such way that all are not turned out
at once 1t is the experience of every
man who has filled the Office Of Com
missioner or Auditor that he knows
but little about his duties the first, or
even the second, year he is in Office,
and that he can learn something every
year, and is only properly qualified to
discharge his duties with satisfaction
to the public and with pleasure to him
self at the end Of the second, if not tho
third, year of his incumbency.
As these boards have been consti-
tuted in the past, one member was
elected each year, to serve for three
years. Hence the senior member had
at least two years experience, and
could proftably impart his knowledge
to hejunior members. But as hereafter
constituted, all are turned out at once
and new men put in their place. The
party feature is correct and were we
to remain in the Commissioners' Office
for the next fifty years. we would
rather have Radical in the Commits
sioners Office, than as now organized,
because while slandering us the SIAN
derers would be compelled to libel some
of their own friends.
If the Constitution is not amended
in some way, so as TO always keep up
a rotation in these Offices, the officers
will become mere figure heads, because
business, after all, will supcrscde poll
tics, and compel the employment of
clerks without responsibility, in these
offices for an indefinite number of years,
and the principal or responsible parties
will be ignored. Rotation is the true
business rule, but turning out all at
once lisa burlesquc upon all business.
Our partizanship is rather of the ex-
trcmc kind, we confess. Yet we pro-
fer business and common sense in pub
lie as well as private affairs. The man
who has never paid any attention to
the duties Of County Commissioner
or Auditor, is no better fitted, the first
year, to discharge his duties, than he
would be wero he taken into black.
smith shop, 70 weld steel toe (made ont
Of lron,) on horse shoe. If he did
not succeed in burning up the shoe, he
would at least prove bis unfitncss for
the job no undertook.
n SMART BoY.-The Bloomsbury