Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1901-01-10

and sometimes must, elect men who
could never secure an election from
the entire county. The residence of a
county commissioner Is of far less inn
portance than his intelligence, hon
esty and business ability. A private
corporation with capital stock equal to
the valuation Of a county, selects for
its board of directors the ablest men
among the stockholders.
The public corporations should do
the same, and every voter in the coun-
ty should have a voice in the selection
of the men who levy the taxes. dis
burse the revenues n manage the af-
fairs OF the county. The board oil
posed or the best and abIes men in
the county. and this ideal condition is
very rarely, If ever, attainable under
the existing district system.
LEGISLATURE APPORTIONMENT.
A new a~ppoTtionment of the number
OF senators and representatives for
the legislative assembly is one of the
duties devolving upon this legislature,
not only by the terms of the consti-
tuition, but by a sense of fairness and
justDess. The partisan inequality of
the existing law is most fragrant. 1t
stands as a monument on inquiry. Let
the new apportionment be what the
constitution directs, and the people ex-
pect According to the number of in
habitants"-in order that the people Of
every county may secure the represen-
tation in the legislature to which they
are Justly entitled. Proportionate rep
r%esentation is a principle which under
lies our system of government.
THE PARDoNING POWER.
The pardoning power is a conse
quence of, "the imperfection Of law
and human nature" A person may be
convicted of a crime on false testi-
mony. After sentence by the court.
the falsehood may be discovered, but
the court cannot reverse its decree.
Reprieves may become necessary or ex-
pedient on account of doubts of guilt,
arising from the discovery of new tes-
timony after sentence and before exc
cution, or considerations of public pol
icy demand an exemption from punish
ment. The p%ardoning power exists,
and was conferred by the constitution
upon the governor, not for exercising
his tenderness of heart, but to further
the ends of justice. OF late years
there has been an Increasing tendency
towards executive clemency, resulting
In gross abuse Of this important pre-
rogative. A convict with numerous
friends and abundance OF means,
promptly begins preparations for Sc
curing a pardon after he has had a fair
trial, and his guilt has been legally
established.
The governors Office becomes an APP
pellate court, where the case is retired.
largely in the nature Of an exparte
proceeding. The victim may be slum-
bering in a forgotten grave. Human
sympathy is apt to be with the living
rather than the dead. Or the injured
Is persuaded to join the forces APP
pealing for sympathy, not justice, ig-
noring the no less sacred rights of So
ciety.
These observations are for the pur-
pose OF the executive TO usurp the
functions of courts and j~uries; that the
pardoning power will be exercised
strictly according to the theory of our
system of Jurisprudence and the spirit
of our constitution.
PAN-AMERICAN EXPOSITION.
Expositions, on account of their ed
ucational, as we'll as commercial val
ne, are today recognized as important
factors in human civilization, and as
milestones in the progress of the world.
The Pan-American Exposition.