Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1911-01-27
PLAN CHANGE IN
THE STATE LAW
Voters win BE Asked to Put Ban
on Two-Term Limit for County
Oiiicers-Supt. Dewey Asks
Assistance.


state law which limits the terms of
all county officers to two successive
holdings, or four years, seems evil
dent from the action being shown in
the educational department, where q
strong effort is being made to have
this third term ban removed.
Governor NJ. E. Hay has endorsed
the plan OF electing teachers for
more than two terms, If the people
believe them competent to hold the
office. The Washington Educational
Association also adopted the plan,
and from all indicitions it is meeting
with little opposition. 1t would
have no effect on superintendent
now in office
In letter to County Superinten-
dent Nation. State superintendent
H, B. Dewey says regarding the
matter:
much dissatisfaction is expressed
by the people of the state with the
constitutional provision that makes
it impossible for a county officer to
hold office longer than two terms in
succession. This works an especial
hardship upon the schools of the
state, because of the necessity i'm
posed to change county superinten-
dents so frequently. The voters are
quite competent to decide that point
and should have a change to re-elect
an officer as many times as they
deem his services needed. I, there
fore, recommend that section 7, of
article II, OF the state constitution,
be resubmitted to the voters of the
state for their action.
Il find, however, upon discussing
the matter with various members of
the legislature during the past week,
that very few Of them have definite
views upon the subject, and many of
those with whom l have talked have
not had the subject presented to
we are in a fair position to secure
this legislation, which the county
superintendent and the State Teach
ers' Association have been seeking
for the past 20 years, if definite
and we'll directed effort is made for
it, The amendment which will be
!, r,,it tn he CT f1JT mi n
clude all officers except the county
treasurer There seems to be de-
cided opposition to having the coun-
ty treasurer eligible to more than
two terms in succession. While
do not share this feeling myself, it
is too general to undertake to change
in the short space of so days
May I ask you to write me the
names Of such of your representa-
to tho proposed amendment, and
that you make an effort to secure
the cooperation of the other county
officers? So far as l have been able
to ascertain, there has been very
little agitation of this question by
any county officers other than the
county superintendents. 1t is true
that the county commissioners last
SUNNI err adopted a resolution in fa-
yor of submission, but this was done
at my suggestion. I presented the
matter also to the county auditors at
their convention held at Mount YER
non a year or so ago. So far as |
can learn, no other organized body
of county officers has taken any in
terest in this matter. 1t seems to
me that it will not be a very difficult
matter for us to secure the co-opera-
ton of the other county officers in
securing the submission of this much
needed amendment. May I ask you
to give this matter your personal at
tention and to make very vigorous
effort to secure the active support Of
your representatives in the legisla-
ture?
"The question has been asked me,
in talking with some members of the
legislature, of what would be the
effect on officers now in office or Of
flcers who were elected at the recent
election If the amendment were sub
mitted? The same question has
been asked me as to the proposed in
crease in the salaries of the county
superintendents-w it affect those
now in Office or those who were
elected at the recent election?
think it will not, under the provision
of section s, of article II, of the con-
stitution, which reads in part as fol-
lows:
The salary of any county, city
town or municipal officer shall not
be increased or diminished after his
election, or during his term of office;
nor shall the term of any such officer