The Republican., 1891-05-08

Reasons Why the Commissioner
Should Pc Elected Rather
Thar, Appointed.

Reasons Why the COMMISSIONER
Should he Elected Rather
Than Appointsd.
q Jay" In Cumoeiiand News
8 OAKLAND. A Aprit 26.-- In adding to
what Ihaxe already written upon
The sutJect II public schools in
Harfett County. / propose to refer
siritf1y TO the mode Of appointing
school commissioners FOR the several
counties. Before proceeding. how.
|pv~k am not writing for the pur-
pose 0f finding fault, either with in.
or p,lilical parties. hut for
abe purpose If advancing &C f,r as /
sau the i,lsrpsls Of The people Of Gar.
Tire hdl'i Il general laws Of Mary.
|aF,d tAfl ~. See 81 provide that
uiattefs affecting a c0un-
~ shall be under the control nf II
hoard of county school commissiO.
ners." and further provides (Art. II.
SEC. g. that "the board Of county
>chOul commissioners shall he com.
posed If three persons appointed by
the judges of the circuit court 10
serve for two years from the first day
Of January next succeeding said ap
pOIntmpnt and until their successors
shall quality"
Without causing here to make in.
quiry as 10 the influences which H..
duced the legislature to confer the
appointing power upon the courts or
I call in question the wisdom of the
legislative body il doing so. 1 may
be permitted to remark that there is
an impression which has become
fixed in the minds of many people
that it is contrary to the genius aud
SPIRIT of our institutions to confer
lhtronage of that sort upon our
Judges, 1t is a fact we'll known that
some of our most eminent jurists
hDld the provision of our statute
which cOnfers upon the court the
pIWer to make these appointments.
10 be unconstitutional and for that
reason they refuse 10 participate in
sach appointments. 1t is equally
rue that othp judges hold differ
ent view and take pleasure in dis.
charging the duty Imposed upon
them by the law. But apart from
the conslituli0nality OF the provision
referred TO and aside from any Ques-
ton Of plaring patronage ut the dis
issal of Judges 1t would seem that
this mode IF appointment has been
found unsatisfactory in many local
tiles.
In Prince George. Charles. Caro-
line. Montgomery and Garrett coun.
lies local laws have been enacted
prnvi,ling for the appointment Oi
school commissioners hy the Gnv+r
nor. The fact that these changes
have been made clearly indicates
that the original mode Of appoint.
ment WIS unsatisfactory. II does
not follow. however, that the Guv-
ernOr should make the appointments.
If these officials are to he appointed
BY any tribunal or authority outside
the county in which they are to serve
/ believe the Governor should ap.
point them. l am unable to perceive
any reason why school commission.
ers should be appointed by the
courts, unlPas Justices Of the Peace.
Registrars of voters and like officers
are to be selected in the same way
Indeed 1 think the reasons for the
appointment of JUSTICES and The like
by the court stronger than in the
case of school commissioners are
much nearer the peop'e Than Justices
of the Peace. The public school. are
more intimately connected with the
homes of our people than any other
institution We have. ST. far rs Gar
rttt county Is concerned she has no
resident Judge, and the appointment
of her school commissioners under
the old mode had tO he made outside
her borders and the Judges in max
ing their selections, bad to look TO
the recommendation of few indi-
viduals, and these were generally
politicians who had some AK to
grind.
repeat that under these circum
stances if the appointments are to he
made by an authority outside the
county believe the Governor should
make them. But my contention is
that neither the Governor nor the
courts should appoint The school COM
missiGners. l desire to record the
fact that l believe they ought to be
elected by the people in each county.
Ce, tainly the people can he trusted
to select officials with whom their
children are 80 closely identified ami
upon whom the welfare of treir chill
drtn 50 largely depends. If however
o. her counties which To continue the
nude Of appointment now pursued