The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1889-05-23
DO COUNTY OFFICERS HOLD
OVER.

The jamestown alert contains the
following article on the question Of
county officers holding over:
There seems to be a question in the
minds Of some, says the Grand Forks
Leader, as to whether there will be
an election for county officers this
fall. Section twenty-four Of the ON
nibus bill provides, among other
things, "that all laws in force, made
by said territories at the time of their
admission into the union, shall be in
force in said states, except as modified
or changed by this act or by the con-
situations Of the state respectively.
The same section also provides that
the constitutional convention may by
ordinance provide for the election Of
officers Of full state government,
which election can be had and take
place at the same time that the ques-
ton Of the adoption Of the constitu-
ton is voted upon. The officers Of a
full state government include only
those officers whose duties have only
to do with the state as a whole, such
as governor, secretary, auditor, ETC.,
as well as members of both branches
of the legislature. There is nothing
in the omnibus bill than can be con
strued to give the constitutional con-
vention, Or ally one, the right to or
der an election for county officers un-
til after the territory has been ad-
mitted as a state, when, Of course, the
whole matter rests in the hands Of the
legislature. In no way can the term
state officer lie construed as to include
county officers. Under the title "Ex-
ecutlve Department" the constitution
will undoubtedly provide for the
election of state officers, prescribe
their duties and length Of term. But
unless the constitutional convention
that is to meet at Bismarck takes up
on themselves to incorporate in the
convention more than was ever done
before, there will be nothing what
ever in regard to county officers, they
being creatures Of statue. The differ
ent county officers as now existing
will continue until changed by the
Jaws enacted by the state legislature.
Not only will the offices continue but
the officers who may now hold Office
will continue to so hold until the ex-
piration Of the term for which they
were elected, or until the term OF the
said Office shall be changed by the
state legislature. Under the provis-
ions Of section eight of the omnibus
bill, the vote on the adoption Of the
constitution cannot be had until DC.
tober /, 1889. The returns of the
election must then be made to the
territorial secretary, when he, with
the chief justice and governor, will
canyass the same. The governor will
then certify the result Of said election
to the president Of the United States,
(if for adoption), together with a copy
Of the constitution, articles PROPOSE
tons and ordinances, and if the con.
stitution is found to be republican 2
form and that the provisions OF this
act 1.-THE omnibus billy have been COM
Piled with, then the president will IS
sue his proclarnation announcing the
result. and thereupon the state Will
he deemed to have been admitted TO
the union. All of this will take time:
It's i physical impossibility tor al
the acts that are necessary TO be Done
hafnre The territory is finally admit
ted a i state to be properly done pc.
fore January, 1890. Il will, there