The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1910-11-03
The AMENDMENTS
Editor Mathews lourna.-
BT PEhoivAL LIcKs

Al ioSN "CCNS ISSUE was COuSiO-
cred the advisability of contin-
ueing the present arrangement by
which our County Treasures are
limited in their term of office.
In this issue l propose to briefly
take u2 the question of the cleo
ton. rather than the appoint
ment of Commissioners of Reeve
nue..
This is one o. those laws men
toned by Aristotle. by Lock and
McCauleY IN their respective
treties on Government. which of
seemingly Democratic tendency
have in reality the reverse effect.
At first glance one is apt TO
jump at the conclusion that where
all officials are elected by the peo-
pie, the Democratic principal is
most fully exemplifed. but this
Office of Commissioner of Revenue
is the exception which proves the
rule. The correct principal is
that he who decides upon the
amount or taxation (our Super
visor in this instance) should con-
tribute at least as the average tax
payer toward the maintinance of
the State, for there by we are
protected from extortion, but he
w h SpporlioEs h amount
among the individual citizens
(our Commissioned of Revenue
in this instance) shou d receive
his appointment not from the
people among whom he will exer-
else his Office, for there by is at
onceengendered tedancv toward
favoritism 20 influential politi-
tons, but from some source from
whence he can expect no favor
and can reLder in complacence
no return. If the foregoing is
admitted. and it seems to me to
be conclusive as to the principle
incurred. I see no reason why
the Circuit judge should not ex-
ercise the appointive power. 1t
must of necessity be lodged in
some one. and a judge who visits
the community bi-monthIy is suf.
ficiently near the people to afford
opportunity for intelligent selec-
ton, which being free from the
bias of self interest. in every coun-
tv but his own. / will admit that
in the latter case there might be
some objection, but to give the
appointive power to any State
official at once removes the ap-
pointer TO far from the masses
for correct judgement to be exer-
cised and the very part of judge
being Of necessity a man Of views
large enough to embrace the
whole circuit is partial safeguard
against undue favoritism. Fur
ashermore it must be remembered
almost everv political con-
may be subject to abuse.
Iho< hat every argument against
"a Ciycuit Judge holding this APP
poi4tive power NAV be Used With
equal fnrce against The election
of tie officers, for surely it were
better that one man in the judi
cial circuit should seek favors
from the Commissioner than
that every pollution and in the
last analysis every voter should
do so. l shall a welcome discus
sion of this question but to me it,
like the proposal to indefinitely
elect County Treasures, had best
be negatived. and / shall cast my
vote against both amendments.
There remains now. the pro-
posed amendment designed to
modify the existing legislative ar
engagements. First. by extend
re session from 60 to 90 days
without additional pay. and Sec
ond. by allowing the Legislature
to pass bills more\expeditiopl.ssIlyy
than heretofore. bN disPe6cing
with all but one reading. These
proposed changes can not be treat
ed as were the other proposed
amendments because. here there
is no question Ct principle involv-
ed. it is merely one of expediency
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