Arizona republican., 1890-06-12
SUPERVISORY POWER.

Self government IS the pride of all Americans, and yet to hold office in America is to be abused often in an un- stinted measure, not only by one's enemies, but often by one's friends. In no case does this more often arise, than in the exercise of the supervisory power of one officer over the acts of another. Each officer is supposed to act honestly and conscientiousiy, but it frequently happens that this honest judgment leads them apart, so that honest differ ences of opinion may cause serious per sonal differences,
 Last summer the Asylum Directors differed from the Governor as to the ex- tent of his supervisory power and brought mandamus suit in the Territorial Supreme Court to compel him to countersign certain warrants their board had audited and allowed.
 The Supreme Court decided that dis cretionary power over the acts of the Territorial officials was vested by law in the Governor and sustained the Gov ernor in his legal right of discretion over the acts of the Asylum Directors.
 This question has now been renewed by interested parties in the difference of opinion between the Normal School Board and the Govdenor, and in disre- gard of the decision of the Supreme Court. The following extract from a letter of Auditor Clark to the Secretary of the Territorial prison shows that Gov ernor Zulick held the same views and acted on them.
 OFFICE OF E.. F. CLARK, AUDITOR or ARIZONA. Z
 PRESCOTT, A. T., Jan. l2, lss6.) MR. c. H. BRISLEY,
 Dear Sir:-The audited account for last quar-. ter contains some items that on their face do not seem satisfactory to the Governor. Will you please explain the following vouchers (27 to 3O
 Very Respectfully,
 EP. CLARK.
 The above shows plainly that Cover nor Zulick even went Into the details of each voucher, approving or disapprov- ing, as in his judgment he thought proper.
 TIE REPUBLICAN believes that every officer is entitled to the moral support of the people in the moderate exercise of all the duties imposed upon him, and especially so in his super visory duties, because of the fact that there is more natural opposition to be expected there than elsewhere.
 In Mir. Long's case, which has just arisen, the Governor says he offered to submit the question to the Attorney General and to approve or refuse as the Attorney-General should decide. This certainly frees it from the charge of any personal feeling on the Governors part. Politically considered Mir. Long is not entitled to any sympathy, as he ignored the Republican Board by making his application to the Democratic Board, and received whatever appointment he has from that Board. Mir. Long ac- cepted that appointment with the full knowledge that his brother Repub- licans claimed and insisted that the Democratic Board was not legal and that it's acts were revolutionary, in all of which the courts have since sustained them. He is therefore not entitled to any Republican sympathy, as he has in fact been an alder and abettor in the revolutionary acts of the Democrats, as much as any Democratic holdover has been.
 The question at issue is purely legal one and when Mir. Long submits his claim to a legal determination it will be paid or ignored in accordance with the law.