The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1908-08-13
REMOVAL OF SnERlFFS.

1t is assumed by Mr. Gardner and
the Democratic press that the PROPOSE
ton of the Republican platform to give
the Governor power to remove sheriffs
is the introduction of novel doctrine.
There is no novelty about it, save in
the qualification that appointments to
fill such vacancies shall be made from
the same party-a prudent proviso in
tended to prevent removals for partisan
reasons, 1t is not novel; it was the
practice during the frst IS years of the
States history. By the constitution as
it stood until 1875 sheriff's were ap-
pointed by the Governor and council
and held the office at the pleasure of
the same. In that year the constitu-
ton was amended to make sheriffs
elective. Furthermore a resolve was
| introduced in the last Legislature, pro-
| viding for an amendment of the consti-
| tuition substantially as proposed by the
Republican platform of this year. 1t
proposed to amend the constitution in
section -, article V, part first, so as to
read as follows:
Section -. He (the Governor shall
| take care that the laws be faithfully
executed. Sheriffs shall obey all or
| ders of the Governor directing them to
faithfully and diligently enforce the
| laws of the State. Upon their neglect
OF refusal to do SO, they may be re-
moved, after hearing, and their sue
| cessors appointed by the Governor.
| ANY vacancies caused by such removal
shall be filled by appointment from the
| political party to which the person so
removed belongs. The Legislature shall
| enact laws to carry these provisions in
| to effect.
This resolve was passed by tine House
by vote of rs to 53-a majority but
not the requisite northumberland the
! Senate by 10 to 6, or considerably more
than two-thirds. The record therefore
shows that it is nothing new. "He
shall take care that. the laws be faith
fully executed" That is the constitu-
tional mandate, but for some years it
had appeared and there had been COM
plant that from lack of authority over
subordinate executive officers the Gov
ernor had been unable to do his duty
and execute the laws in certain impor-
tant respects. This inability was the
reason for the legislation which has
been obnoxious to many. The object
of the resolution and the platform is to
do away with the need of a device by
which in roundabout way it was
sought TO remedy the cOnSCltuIloudl
lack and give the Governor power OF
execution through authorizing him to
go over the heads of multiplying sherltfs
and send in State officers to enforce the
| law.
AS long ago as 1875 Governor Dngley
in his inaugural expressed regret at
this change in the constitution.
''Sheriffs and county attorneys are not
! appointed or removable by the execu-
tive, as they formerly were and as 1t
seems to me they should be now. And
| in 1908 Judge Putnam agrees with HIM,
saying that there should be but one
prosecutor in the State 'and that pros
ecutor should be the Governor who
should appoint the sheriffs and be held
responsible for uniformity and et1iclen-
cy." To be sure, the platform says
| executive officers" but it means sher-
| ifs, who are the only ones except one
or two county attorneys, OF whom there
| has been any complaint. 1t is noted
| that Obadiah Gardner daily claims on
the stump that, if elected, he will exc
| cute all the laws without any constitu-
tional or statutory aid beyond what
was afforded by the constitution and the
statutes as they stood in the great and
notable year of 1881. He has not yet
professed ability to lift himself by his
| Observation-Disclosures Press.