The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-01-19
Editorials by the People
Senator Lee states t:is Position.

Senator Lee States t:is Position.
To the Editor of The Times: My
| attention having been called TO an
editorial in your issue OF the 14sh,
taking me to task for my vote on the
confirmation OF Governors recess APP
pointees, | desire to take this .privi-
lege OF stating my position In this
matter.
Governor Warner sent to the senate
approximately thirty-odd names OF
gentlemen whom he had appointed on
various boards since the converting OF
the last legislature. and these differ
ent officials had held Office for terms
| varying from one to fifteen months.
They had accepted their appointments
at the hands of Governor Warner In
good faith, and. relying upon the un-
broken precedent of the state, had
every reason to expect that their APP
pointments would be confirmed by the
senate OF 1911 could see no reason
why Governor OSBORN should pick out
twelve from the thirty-odd recess APP
pointees Of Governor Warner, and ask
the senate to displace them with men
OF his own choosing, and especially
when no reason was assigned why
they should be displaced, and when
Senator Fowle, the administration
leader in the senate, admitted that as
far as he knew there was no reason
for displacing the present experienced
incumbents.
| believed that In justice to these
various gentlemen, they were entitled,
I'm accordance with the unbroken
precedent of the state. to confirma-
ton, and they should not be summar-
lily removed without charges being
brought a-d substantiated Affecting
their efficiency. / see no reason why
such citizens as d. Il. A. Honey. OF
Kalamazoo, member OF the Dental
Board; DR.. J. +. Runner, OF Dawson,
i-elnber of the Pardon board; II. II.
Pattengill, of Lansing, and Fl. M. Loud.
Of Au Sable, members OF the Board OF
Library Commissioners; W. G.. Nal
comson, of Detroit, member OF the
Board OF Trustees OF the Eastern
Michigan Insane Asylum, and others
Of the twelve recess appointees OF
Governor Warner should be displaced
with men of Governor Osborn's choos-
ing. These citizens have given their
best services to the state gratuitously,
an. I would not stigmatise them and
compel them to bear all the odium OF
the evils o. "Warnerism."
Governor Osborn acquiesced In the
confirmation of twenty-odd OF Govern
or Warmers recess appointees, ana,
IL he is sincere in his contention that
the senate has handicapped him In his
house cleaning" by refusing to re-
move twelve of Governor Warmers re-
cess appointees, why did he not send
in an entire list of his own choosing
to displace all the names sent In by
Governor Warner?
I am a believer In the doctrine OF
civil service. AS | understand that
doctrine, the public official shall be
allowed TO retain his position as long
as he Is competent and efficient, and
the minute his efficiency ceases,
charges should be brought against
him, and II substantiated. he should
be removed from the public service.
With the exception OF Mr.. Fletcher,
Labor Commissioner, and Mr.. Dickin-
son, Railroad Commissioners, had
heard nothing whatever detrimental
to any OF the gentlemen appointed by
Governor Warner, and what ! heard
regarding Mr.. Fletcher and Mr.. Dick
lnson were the vaguest rumors, for
which | could find no foundation or
| substantiati0n.
II is for these reasons and no other
that | voted to confirm the entire list
OF Governor Warmers recess APP
pointees, and by so doing, have up
held the unbroken precedent Of the
state.
My position in this matter must not
be construed as antagonistic to Gov
ernor Osborn. Many OF the things
which he has advocated were advocat-
led by the Democratic party and
contained in the Democratic plat
form. regret that the duty OF
house cleaning here In Michigan has
been intrusted TO the Republican par
ty. but the people have acted as they
saw best, and |, as n Democrat, shall
do all that I can to assist the governor
In the accomplishment of the much
needed reforms. and the meritorious
Legislation which he has advocated.
JAMES III. LEE,
State Senator, Fourth District
l Lansing. Jan. Is. 1911.