Western Carolina Democrat and French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1913-1915, 1915-09-16
ROTATION IN OFFICE.

ice suffered more from the IalIac1ouS
idea that after while officials should
he retired in order that some other
good party-men may have chance.
That this doctrine is unsound IN
principle and unwise in policy is cyl
dent from the fundamental structure
and legislative history of our state
government, as well as from
comparison with the conduct of men in
the other important affairs of life. Ii
there were any wisdom or public ben
eft in such a policy, it should and
would be written into our constltu-
ton and bill. of rights or our statute
law, and not left to the prejudice and
ambition of individuals or groups OF
individuals. And yet neither the
founders of our State, who were deep
students of the science of govern
ment, nor the many wise statesmen
who have followed them, have under
taken to formulate this doctrine into
law-with one single exception. 1t is
provided in the constitution that the
Governor shall not be elected to sue
coed himself, and this exception prob
ably due to the hostility against the
chief executive in colonial days rather
than to any necessity under our pres
ent system. But even if such re-
striction should be considered wise
in the case of the Governor, who on
account of the great dignity and pub
lie influence of his office, is supposed
to control in a measure the pOllt1cai
destinies of the State, there is no rea-
son for it's extension to other Off
Gals
The supree consideration is the
public service Officers are created
to give the public efficient service, and
not to provide employment for in
citizens. So long as an off,
cial is performing the duties of his
office faithfully and efficiently, the
purpose for which the office was
created is fulfilled and the public is
content. To remove him for the sole
purpose of giving others an oppor
tunfty to get employment is a posi-
tive injury to the public service.
Elections are frequent for the pur-
pose of improving the public service
and not for injuring it. Terms OF
office are reasonably short so that
inefficient and Objectionable men may
be removed and better and more eff
cient men put in their places, and nor
for the purpose of re-apportioning the
emoluments of office. No private am
bition should be allowed to stand in
the way of the public good This does
not mean that men shall not aspire to
offices already filled, but it does mean
that when man seeks an office it
should be on the ground of ability to
serve the public, and not because his
opponent has had the office long
enough.
Other things being equal, a long
term of service enables the official to
render superior service, and should be
counted to his credit instead of his
discredit. To show that this is true
and that the dismissal of a public SER
want on account of the length of his
service is both unwise and unjust,
consider for a moment how men are
governed in other important matters.
In all private business, experience
and fidelity, to duty mean efficiency
and continuous employment Suppose
the doctrine of rotation in office were
generally applied. The presidents of
colleges. the heads of great business
enterprises, and the presidents of
banks and railroads would be remov-
ed every now and then for the sole
ACdSOA LudCi Iu0y ndQ n0lQ their posi-
lions long enough and should be dis
missed to give others a chance. Eff
cheney would be subordinated to am
bltion, and progress would give place
to business chaos.
If we turn to our official represen-
tation in the United States Congress,
we lind that experience and long
continuance in office have been
counted as valuable assets, and have
not been without decided influence in
giving this State the splendid posi-
ton it now occupies in the councils, of
the nation. What patriotic citizens
and students of government are striv-
ing for above all things is efficiency
IN the public service. What we need
is to get the public business attended
to like private business is. This can
never be done so long as official ex-
perience and length of service are
considered disqualification for re-
election to public office. People
should not be misled by the cry for
rotation in office, or think that q
mere change in officials means i'm
provement of the public service
State Journal