Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1881-11-22
TIT APPOINTMENT OF COUNTY
OFFICERS.

We are surprised To notice in fusion
exchange an intimatiou that difficulty
nav arise between Gov. Plaisted and the
Council in the appointment for next year
of those county officers whose terms OF OF
dee expire the last day OF the present year,
including one Commissioner in each coun-
". and Sheriff. Clerk OF Courts, etc, IN
part Of the counties. This intimation ought
not 10 have any foundation, because the
inst and common sense solution OF the
matter Is so obvious when IL is considered
how the vacancies will arise, what the in-
tentiOn OF the Legislature WAS, aud also
the fact that the appointing power l. fusion
as 10 the Governor and Republican A. 70
the Council.
All OF the offices have for long time,
been filed by elections by the people. aud
the reason for calling upon the Gov
ernor and Council 20 temporarily appoint,
arises from the fact that the change from
annual 20 biennial elections necr>~itSted
the omission OF the election IN ISL and
thus gave no opportunity for the nlling ~
the people Of the vacancies which will be
crested the last day % the present year, I'M
Ill smother wear. NJ far s. the ohcers
elected hy the Legislature were concerned,
the difficulty was overcome by having the
Legislature lat winter elect them for two
wears lust, al Of one So far az the coun-
" officers were concerned, the Governor
and Council, were authorized to appoint Tor
one wear ia the expectation that the term,
Of the officers elected hy the people would
be l-ngtheurj out another year.
Now in view % these circumstances the
iust and common sense solution OF the
matter. j. % SppOint snd continue 10 once
another year the same county officers that
were elected by the prople-thus not only
dividing them politically precisely a. the
counties stood when they were chosen,
Notwithstanding some Of these counties
are Republican now. hut slsO giving the
people The same officers they elected. rs
the intention tn giving the Governor snd
Council the power disappointment Tor one
wear. wsS only 90 bridge over tae gap De
tween annual aud biennial sessions, and not
20 take Swsy from the people of each coun-
" the right 20 elect their own officers, u
would De mauifr>tly unjust, aud IN spirit
almost a u>Urpstion OF power Tor either
Governor or CounCil 10 Undcrtske 10 set
aside the will of the people by the use OF
the temporary power given them.
This view OF the case cummends itSrlI
80 generally 20 candid gentlemen on both
sides with whom We have COuyersed, that
we feel cOufdent the Republican Council
will vote unanimously 20 continue Tor the
next year al fusion county Orccr> elected
hy the people. and We trust We do not err
in assuming that Governor Pisisted Will
meet the Council on this Just and non-psr-
tissn basis BY also nominating the kcpuo-
ncan county officers similarly elected
Such a disposition OF the matter could not
fail 70 give satisfaction TO the candid men
81 al parties.
Prom the ROcklAnd Free Press
The article which we re-puhliSh from
the Lewiston Journal This week, takes
reasonable view OF the rule which should
govern the State Executive in providing
for the vacancies 20 occur January 1T m
comfy Offices. Thee vscsnCies happen
because they We're DO; provided for ~ the
Legislature in pursuance Of the couStitu-
tioual amendments relating 20 biennial
elections. The amendment clearly con-
temp,ated that the Legislature should pro-
vide so that no vacancies should occur
Il declared that the Legislature should
make all needfOl provisions nv law. con-
corning the tenure OF Office OF sll county
officers But either on account OF dis
trust Of a constitutional right 20 extend
the terms OF officers alresdy elected. or ~
oversight, the terms OF County COmmi--
siOner IN every county. and 4 number of
Clerks OF Courts and SherifS expire with
1851. leaving an interreguum OF one wear
before an election can oil them. But here
the power conferred upon the Governor
by and with the sdvice OF the Council 20
an vacancies, can Ne exercised, and. a.
our Lewiston conteTr 0orary suggests. the
obvious course 20 pursue i 20 continue
BY re-sppointment the present incumbeuis
without regard % politics. They were
chosen Nv the people. They represent sll
parties snd a. they do not properly belong
10 the appoiutahle class OF officers, no
changes should De msde until the people
In their own right see ht 20 make them.
We hope both The Governor and Council
NAV take thi~ view 90 the matter. We be-
heve the Republicans OF the State would
recognize The fairness % such a rule ~ &C
IiOn. sud that the Council. IS the R-pUb-
hCsu hrsuch Of the Executive, would bc
fully approved 20 adopting t. In fact, We
have no doubt they would he sustained
even beyond the limits OF their own
party IN Insisting that a general selection
OF new men shall not take place, the
present division smong parties being
nearly prOpOrliOnste 10 the parties them
selves.
Prom the Portland Advertiser
The change from annual 20 biennisl
elections Ia Msine places upon the EXecu-
tive the duty OF appointing county officers
for next wear 20 caseS where the term eX-
pireS with the calendar year. one Com
missioner must DC appointed 10 each coun-
~, and SherirfS and other other officers In
some OF the counties. The Lewiston
Journal suggests that a proper course
would be for the Governor. with the con-
sent OF the Council, 20 appoint and con-
time 20 once another yesr the same cOun-
" ot-cers that were elected by the people
thus not not only dividit them polite
ally precisely a. the counties stood at the
last election. but also giving the people
the same officers that they elected.
IRON the Pennington Chroniele.I
The proposition on the part OF the Re
publicaDs for the Governor 20 III the va
csnciss in the county officers with the men
the people elected in each county, whether
they be Republicans or Fusion, does not
meet with favor with the fusion organs.
IL seems 20 Us that such s course would be
the lsirest and hence the best; and a. II
is understood that the Council would
promptly confirm appointments made up
on that basis, IL would end sll delay and
contention in regard 10 those officers, be-
tween the Governor and Council
From the Kenneboe Journal
II Governor Plaisted concludes 20 APP
point all Fnsionists 20 the vacancies that
will occur in county Offices at the end OF
this year he probably will do il 70 show
his independence Of ignoble party politics,
and % set Sn example such as no other
Governor will initiate as long ss time
LISTS.