Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-03-05

to inquire IN detail as to the fitness
of men to serve as secretary OF state.
auditor Of state or treasurer. They do
know pretty well who they want for
governor and Of late years the work OF
the attorney generals office has
brought that official into the limelight
so that his office is second only to that
of governor in the voters understand
ing. An executive council Of three all
to be elected would simplify the bal
lot and would prove fully as efficient
as the present council OF four. But
it is not likely that the people Of Iowa
are ready as yet to elect one man
governor and trust him to appoint the
other members Of the council.
We now elect men to the supreme
bench without much OF knowledge as
to their ability to serve. Formerly
we nominated them in political con-
vention after most Of the delegates
had left the hall. Then il the party
ticket was elected the tail went with
the hide and the party's candidates for
the supreme bench were elected. 1t is
judge and let the voter look him up
thoroughly. then have this supreme
Judge nominate the other judges and
ask the state senate TO confirm his Sc
lection. This Is the plan proposed for
the reform Of the judiciary in Chicago
by a committee OF the Chicago bar
association after years Of study and
has elements Of great merit in it
There is Capitalization OF authority
but also Of responsibility and 80 far in
Iowa our appointive systems have
worked we'll bcause responsibility for
wise selection has been centralized
upon the one man making the ap-
pointments. Life terms for judges or
anybody else should never be insti-
tuted in the public service as the Osler
law operates with public officials just
as it does in private business only
more So Terms might be made long
enough TO be worth while, blu, there
should be an end to all things, terms Of
office included.
Practically everybody will agree that
the legislature should cut out the
petty graft feature Of its established
custom as to supernumerary committee
clerks. Other states have already
made q success OF a bureau of legisla-
tive research to dig up much desired
information for law makers. and for
eiga governments have long ago shown
US the necessity for an expert bill
drafting department and for a budget
system OF public finance; that Is for a
comprehensive estimate Of all expendi-
lures before taxes are levied or OF. all
revenues before bills appropriating
money are passed. These recommends
lions Of the committee should oe
adopted.
Our present board Of control system
is working Well for the administra-
ton Of our public institutions. Like
wise the board Of parole. The educa-
tional board is founded on a sound
plan and can be made to work we'll
| Our highway commission is founded
upon a plan which works we'll in many
other states and for business OF such
| great magnitude az the states busi-
ness these boards are as necessary as
! are subsidiary corporations with gen.
eral managers and boards of directors
in vast corporate enterprise. There
| is no need for abolishing them and it
does not seem to be so proposed in
the committees report. Men who are
| going to sit in the next legislature
should begin q course in civil govern
ment right now and obtain a copy Of
| this committees report long before
next winters struggle TO get a favor
able committee assignment in the gen
eral assembly begins.