The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1913-02-13
viii They Be Robbed?


the act creating that board makes it a
part OF the proposition to issue bonds
the proposition submitted to popular
vote at a special election and approved
by the people August /, 1911.
The act OF the legislature creating
the board provides that it shall con-
sist Of FOUR commissioners, citizens
and qualified voters Of this state, who
shall be chosen in equal numbers from
the two political parties which cast the
greatest number OF votes at the last
general election in this state. Said
commissioners shall hold their Offices
until the completion OF said building,
unless sooner removed for cause by
the board Of the permanent seat OF
government on charges preferred to
said board and on notice thereof duly
given to the accused" At the close
Of section one OF the act it is expressly
stipulated that the term Of the mem
bers Of the board shall end with the
construction Of the building proper.
This was made a part Of the con
tract with the people when they voted
for the bonds, and with the members
OF the board when they were selected.
Section eleven, the closing section Of
the act, providing for the board and
for the building stipulates That this
act shall take effect and be in force
from and after the ratification, by the
voters OF the state aud the proclama-
ton OF the governor to that effect, Of
an ac. OF the torty-sixth general assem-
bly, OF this state, entitled An act au-
thorizing and directing the contracting
Of the liability OF the state OF Missouri
by the Issuance Of its state bonds in a
sum not to exceed three and one hall
millions Of dollars, and for the sale Of
said bonds, TO provide means for the
building, furnishing and other equip
ment OF a new state capitol at the
present seat of government Of the
state" etc.
Under the terms Of that section the
people as verify approved the provisions
Of the act relating to the creation Of
the capitol commission board and the
terms OF members Of said board as they
approved the issuance Of bonds. Il is
to be seriously doubted whether the
bonds would have been voted had not
this board been provided for in ad-
vance, with the assurance that it would
be bipartisan board and that party
politics could not control it.
The attempt to reconstruct this
board by reducing its membership to
two cannot be regarded as anything
less than an attempt to break laith with
the people; and it must be remembered
that such a change in the membership
OF the board will be breach Of faith
on the part Of the Legislature with al
least two Of the eminent men who ac-
cepted membership with the under,
standing that they would serve till the
completion Of the building. They
were elected for definite term fixed
by law-as securely fixed as are the
terms Of Office Of the governor and
other state officers, They are clearly
entitled to hold membership on the
board and to draw pay for their ser
vices until the completion Of the build
ing. II the legislature sets them
aside they will be robbed Of theil
rights--not only robbed Of the service
and of the pay TO which they are en-
titled but robbed Of the high privilege
Of creating the great structure they
were commissioned to locate, to plar
and to erect The great state o
Missouri cannot afford thus to rob a. 3
wrong high minded, devoted citizens
employed to undertake such an i'm
portant and responsible service. M
citizen Of average intelligence ant
common honesty can afford to sanction
such an open robbery; nor can an!
such citizen reasonably doubt that thI
proposition to legislate two ember
OF the capitol commission board out o
Office is a partisan scheme instead Of