Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1883-03-08
eureka Dailp 5eutiuel.


scheme. 1t is impossible to imagine a
thing more r%epugnant to the spirit OF
American institutions thar this precious
bit Of special legislation. 1t deserves
and receives the condemnation OF almost
all persons, except those directly inter
ested in it. II the Legislature had a
right to extend the tenure Of office OF
these Assessors, the Twelfth Legislature
will have the same right, so the same
men may be kept in office until the end
of their natural lives, even though the
people may not want them. II the bill
is not vetoed, there will doubtless be
several big lawsuits over the proposition.
The Supreme Court will be called upon
to decide whether the Legislature has
the right to usurp the privileges OF the
free electors of the State. Territorial
Enterprise.
Under the Constitution OF the State
the Governor has four days yet in which
to veto this bill, which he can do by
filing it during that time with his objec-
tions in the office of the Secretary OF
State. Should he not act upon it at all
it will become a law without his ap-
prevail, as it reached his office within five
days of the adjournment Of the Legisls-
ture. The SENTINEL has not the sight
est idea what his Excellency has done or
what he proposes to do with the bill, but
we are satisfied that his action in the
premises will be taken advisedly and for
what he deems the best interests OF the
State. The merits of the proposed law
have been very thoroughly discussed by
the press, while the Governors office,
from the time the bill was handed to
him until the adjournment of the Legis.
~lature, was t~hronged day and night by
the friends and opponents of the meas
ure, who poured into the ears OF the
Chief Executive all the possible argu-
ments pro and con. He listened to all
that was said on both sides OF the ques-
ton and has delayed final action longer
than on any other bill that he had to con-
slider during the session, evidently for
the purpose Of digesting its provisions
thoroughly before either approving or
vetoing it. The Enterprise is probably
correct in its opinion that the bill to
extend the term of office Of the County
Assessors two years does not meet with
popular approval. The people are jeal-
Gus of their right to choose their own
servants, and will certainly resist any
u~surpation on the part OF the Legisla-
ture OF the authority which they be-
lieve they have not delegated to that
body and which they apprehend is re-
served to themselves. In so far the
Enterprise is eminently correct in its
remarks upon the much discussed Asses
sors' bill. The Enterprise goes beyond
this point, however, and, in our opinion,
goes too far. 1t is sound in its enun-
citation of popular sentiment, but it gets
off the track in expressing its views OF
the policy and law involved in the propo-
sition.
As to the law, a Ease exactly in point
occurred about twelve years ago in Cali
was extended two years, as is proposed
in the present instance. The question OF
the right of the Legislature to enact such
a law was raised in the Supreme Court,
which decided that the law passed was
valid; that the Legislature had not acted
in contravention of the will of the PEG
pie. but las it had the right to do) had
but ratified their action by extending the
term Of Office Of those whom they had
elected, within the limit of time pre-
scribed by the Constitution. The de-
cision Of the Supreme Court Of California
covers the Nevada case entirely, from
beginning to end, and, as far as it can &C
by way Of precedent, establishes the
validity Of the Act of our State Legis
lature. Says the Enterprise: eff the
Legislature had the right to extend the
tenure Of Office Of these Assessors, the
Twelfth Legislature will have the sam
right, so the same men may be kept il
office during their natural lives, ever
though the people may not want them
This is a bit Of pretty talk merely, and
contains no argument, for it states ar
impossibility as something that is proba
BILE. Our State Constitution limits the
term Of county officers to four years.
hence any extension of the term Of any
officer for more than two years IN ADD
I TO THE TIN FOB wH1cH HE I:
ELECTED ia legally impossible.
As to the policy or expediency Of the
proposed law, the friends of the measure
say that the trainers of the Constitution
had it deliberately in mind to do so, and
did leave out Of the list of county off
GERS named in the Constitution the Asses
sor and Treasurer, the inference being
that these two offices should be left free,
if thought expedient, to regulation and
control by the State Legislature in con
nection with any revenue policy that il
might deem best to adopt. Also, that
the experiment having been tried in Cal.
~ifornia, a provision was inserted in the
new Constitution extending the term o.
the Assessors Office to four years. This
movement in regard to the Assessors, il
is claimed, is only the entering wedge,
which will eventually make the term o.
all county officers four years in duration,
When this is accomplished it will be safe
to say that it will effect a saving Of
$3.50, 600 to the various counties of the
State, as the compensation will for four
years be reduced very considerably per
annum. an in now nronoasd for III.