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

their superintendent and principals.
The same may be said of our colleges
and universities. Under the proposed
change the people would retain full
power to rid themselves of an incom-
petent official, and it would be posi-
BILE for the people to reward honesty,
ability and success by retaining a good
official for an indefinite period.
The salary of the county superinten-
dent is regulated by Section 9 of Chap
ter 81, laws of 1897. That population
and wealth, the present basis, is not a
correct basis from which to determine
the salary of the county superintendent
becomes evident upon a moments re-
Fiction. In the wealthy and populous
counties with one or more cities the
work of the county superintendent is
to a great extent performed by city
superintendent. On the other hand,
1t requires as much time and labor to
look after the affairs Of a district with
a few pupils and small assessed valua-
ton as a district with twice the num-
Der of pupils and double the mount OF
wealth. A more equitable basis should
be adopted and l respectfully recon-
mend for your consideration the law OF
North Dakota upon this subject.
BOARDS OF COUNTY COMMISSION
Frs.
The powers and duties of the county
commissioners are 50 far reaching and
their responsibilities of such lncIe4s-
ing Importance that the existing met
cd of electing the members of such
boards seem worthy CT consideration.
These officials OF the county, with au-
&A~vfNxy b. .A-.a-A-k I'll 49, a~,1z 80
the county, are now, according to law,
elected by districts, and according 10
custom, the county officer so elecred
represents Ibis districts" or one-ffth
of the county, or one-third as the case
may be, instead of the entire county.
This system injects s~eCtionalism and
incompetency into the deliberations of
the board.
A district representative does not
feel any direct responsibility to the en-
tire county. 1t fosters hostility be-
tween different parts of the same coun-
ty, a condition which, even if it
times existed during the Doom" days,
should not exist. Under the district
system, one-fifth of the county may,
and sometimes must, elect men who
could never secure an election from
LII ShNA NSbhIys LIZ tCSiNlChNC " "
county commissioner is of far less i'm
portance than his intelligence, hon
esty and business ability. 4 private
corporation with capital stock equal to
the valuation of a county, selects for
it's board Of directors the ablest men
among the stockholders.
The public corporations should do
the same, and every voter in the coun-
Nv chnplH hnun a unir0 IN thn cp1anfinn
of the men who levy the taxes, dis
burse the revenues and manage the af-
fairs of the county. The board of
county commissioners should be COM
posed of the best and ables men in
the county, and this ideal condition is
very rarely, if ever, attainable under
the existing district system.
LEGISLATURE APPORTIONMENT.
A new ap~portionment of the number
Of senators and representatives for
the legislative assembly is n OF the
duties d~evolving upon this legislature,
not only by the terms of the consti-
tuition, but by a sense of fairness Inc
jnstness. 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.
Trl~ -,cJo,;n~ rnuyor 80 nnnca-
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 it's decree.
Reprieves may become necessary or eX-
pedient on account of doubts of guilt,
arising from the discovery of new tes-
timony after sentence n before exc
cution, or considerations of public pol
icy demand an exemption from punish
ment. The %pardoning 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 or tnlS 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 ap-
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 thar the dead. Or the injured
Is persuaded to join the forces ap-
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 u constitution.
PAN-AMERICAN EXPOSITION.
Eypocitippc on acno11nt nf tbair pd-