Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1906-04-20
THE RECALL SYSTEM.

Under the new city charter, the people of Les Angeles havc what is known as the recall, whereby city officers may be removed by the same power that placed them in office-the people The recall idea is growing in ether cities Massachusetts is making d study of it, and now two proposi- tions to adopt it in trust-ridden New Jersey are before the legislature of that state.
 One of these bills adapts the Los Angeles method to elective office 1 holders, the other to appointive off cials. Both are nearly identical with respect to the procedure to be taken i Ky the people.
 The bills cover city, county and state officials. They provide that when 20 per cent of the qualified cleo tors of city, 10 per cent of those of q county, or ) per cent of those Of the state respectively, petition for
 
 ing such petition with the city clerk, county clerk or secretary of state, as the case may require, a special cleo ton shall be held within 40 days. At this special election, which may rot be held within 30 days of gen. eral election, the qualified voters shall determine whether the incumb ent shall be busted from office or re- tained therein. He may himself be a candidate or not, as he chooses, and there may be other nominees. If the incumbent receives the highest number of votes he is retained if not he is busted and the one who receiv- es the largest vote takes the office in his stead.
 The other bill refers to appointivc officers, and provides that when 10, 5 or 3 per cent of the qualified voters ill a city, county or state, respective ly, petition for the removal of an of- ficehoder, the appointing body or of- fcer shall appoint d commission or either three councilmen, five freehold CTS or seven members of the legislat- ure. as the case may require, to hear the petitioners and the incumbent rel ative to the charges against the lat ter. If the charges are sustained, to the satisfaction of the ct6kmission, and their report is confirmed by the appointing body or officer, the incEE- bent is removed if not, he continues in office.
 Reports regarding the recall sys- tenn are conflicting, but the Graphic k not of the opinion that the system will work out satisfactorily. A sim far system existed during the time ol the ancient democracy of Athens with the result that the Athenlans were in a constant state of political turmoil. and exiles, banishments and recalls were of frequent recurrence. h',m the earliest times to the res CHl lle Htotit ild Vt Ss=' t''='i Nht'' - ale and fckle. Ia pop ,'stg tanlon' iacr the people are efteii .''l"d 5N < cIioue or cabal Tlle real syst-Ei tiso.erc.e. presents an eyer present opportunity for political strife and turbulence. It is dangerous power to place in the hands uf political H'' 4als, and offers increased oppoftuni- tv for the political agitator, dema- goeue or grafter No government IS worth the name that is not stable in it's character No community or commonwealth can be prosperous that k forever torn by political dissension and discord. The South American re- rFblics furnish constant evidence ot these facts. The best system IS the recu1ar American system of elections al stated intervals and the electlon of officers for stated terms at stated salary That assures poltiea peace and tranquility to a community for uarjed and then if an officer should prove unworthy it is only short tin,a until the next election when he can be removed.
 .o,n ,.flJnr rn u0II THINK OF