Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-09-05
COUNTY NOMINATIONS.

When we come TO the list Of county
nominations, it is proper to say that the
people from time to time have been TAX
ing the appointing power from the Exec
cutive and msking officers elective by the
people. In the earlier history Of the
State, SheriiFs, Clerks OF Courts. County
Attorneys, County Commissioners, Judges
and Registers Of Probate, were appointed
by the Executive About forty years
ago, however, the people amended the
Constitution, shearing the Executive of
the greater part of its appointing power,
and provided that the people Of the sew
eral counties in the State should elect
these officers themselves, merely provid-
ing. in case Of vacancy, how the duties
of the officers should be performed, so
that no inconvenience might arise to the
public. In case of vacancy in the office
of Sheriff, unless filled by the governor
and council, its duties should be perform
ed by the Coroners Of the county until an
election. Clerks of Courts and County
Attorneys were to be appointed by the
Court. The duties of Register Of Deeds
were to devolve on the Clerk Of the Courts.
The aim has been toward giving the
right of local self-government to the peo-
pie of each county, and thus let no Exec
utive override the popular will. The peo-
pie have so exercised this power all these
years, instead of entrusting it to any gov
ernor and council
But two years ago, in the change from
annual to biennial sessions of the Legis-
lature, the terra of State officers was ex-
tended year, but no such extension in
case of county officers. 1t therefore fol-
lowed that on the first day of January
last, one County Commissioner for each
county, sixteen in all, several Clerks Of
Courts, Sheriffs, and County Attorneys
went out of office. There could be nc
election by the people until September
Hence here were vacancies to be filled
either by the Courts or the Governor ano
Council, or other provisions of law were
to be followed. This was an emergency
such as had never arisen in the State
and will probably never arise again
Looking the situation in the face, in tn
light of the past history of our legislation
any fair-minded man, of any party, woul'
say, let the known will of the people o
each county be regarded by the governo
and council, and the vacancies filled &C
cordingly. The Council so desired.
, In the sixteen counties the outgoing
officers were Republican in ten, and c
opposite politics in six. The State off
: GERS had had their terms extended.
4 was fair, in harmony with the popula
will of each county, with the full spir
of this Constitutional Amendment pre-
longing the official tenure, and certainl
n with all ideas of Civil Service Reform
# that the outgoing officers have their tern
:. extended by appointment until the Poop
n could pass upon the question OF whol
e they wanted for those places at the con
n ing election. The council has been 81
h verely criticized as partisan by the go'
q ernor in his public arraignment, and
% all his political organs, and one Of Il
70 Conventions putting him in nominate
10 in one of its resolutions gravely charge
70 that by the action Of the council Dem
d Gratis had no rights to office which Repu
a licans were bound to respect" And ye