The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1888-02-09

TO

GUAR ietter issued by the Territorial
Board of education, because it fur.
nrhes IN argument by which our Co.
G commissioners can determine what
their duties should be in the auditing
aud allowing of bills that may be pre-.
scntei to them by county officials.
The principle involved is worthy Of
consideration, viz: That the official
whose account is before them, is re-
sponsible to a higher power than the
Board Of County Commissioners, and
is not i'll any sense subordinate to
their whims, carrices Or dictation, but
like the Board itself, is the servant
of the people, to whom, and to whom
only, is he responsible for the faithful
and honest discharge of his duties.
The law, in the interest of the people,
imposes on officials, certain duties
either express or implied, which, if
they violate, or fail to perform, the
law prescribes the manne Of redress,
all in the interest of the people, who
by the way, also have it in their pow.
er to relegate to private life any in
competent or unfaithful official who
should again come before them for
their sufrages.
In the case of Superintendent Cath
70, apart from the rights and duties
set forth in the circular referred to,
it should be borne in mind that the
Interests he was elected by the people
of Bottineau County to represent, are
of the highest Importance, and there
is nc subject on which the happiness
and welfare Of the people so much de-
ponds, as that Of education, and no
captious voice should deny or stinted
hand withhold, the just dues Of one
who fills so high, honorable and sa-
cred a trust as that which seeks to el-
evate and ennoblc the rising genera.
ton Internationally.
We trust the Board Of Commission
err in their treatment Of this question
will be actuatcd by no "penny wise
and pound foolish" policy, but with the
broad, expansive views which alone
a make our County prosperous and
respected, will adopt the principle
contained in this circular, and leave
to the people and to the courts, the
redress ofany wrong that may be sup
posed to exist in the account of any
pablie servant, not q creature of the
Board. .
The following is The circular referr-
ed to:
Department. Of Education, Territory of
Dakota.
MELLErTE, Oak, Jan. "a, 'S9.
To County Superintendents:-We are so
often besought to give advice in the matter
OF difficulties between superintendent and
boards of county commissioners touching
the quarterly bills Of the former that we
have thought it best to write this general
letter to all superintendent giving the in
depreciation Of the law governing such
cases.
1t Is discretionary with the superintend-
emf how much time he will spend in tie
performance of his duties. He should be
guided entirely by the needs Of the schools
in his county. But, for all time spent in
visiting and examining schools, holding in
~stitutes and in deciding CASTS Of dispute,
examining and correcting the records Of
school officers, issuing circulars pertaining
to his work, organizing teachers associa-
tons, or executing the instructions of the
territorial board of education or the t~erritor-
ial superintendent, in fact, for all times
spent in the performance Of any work that
he may deem necessary to promote the ed
ncational interests Of his county, he is en-
fitted to receive So per day for every day so
employed and ten cents per mile for every
mile actually travelled in the discharge Of
these duties. The law after directing the
superintendent as to the form of his bill
rads "and when 30 verified, the county COM
m%issioners shall at their next session there
atcr, audit and allow the same.", The boards
Of county commissioners have in no case au-
thority to cut down the bill in any partieu-
lar nor have they a right to say how many
days a superintendent shall be engaged in
the work of his Office nor how he shall trav-
81 to and from the various schools of his
county. They may require that the bill be
itemized and in the form required by law
and if they have reason to suppose that the
superintendent Is making false bills, it is
not within their province to disallow his
bills bpt rather to ottain redress in q prose-
cution for malfeasance in office. Such is
the intention of the law and the opinion is
further sustained by numerous decisions by
superintendents and counts Of other states.
Very truly yours, EUGENE E. DYE,
g. A. MCFARLAND, Supt. of Inst
sec'y' Ty. BID. Of Education.
FROZEN SLEEP.
Considerable prejudice is sought to