The Oskaloosa herald., 1915-01-14

shall not enter upon a discussion Of II
It involves questions Of great. interest
and discussion of them would dtacoY-
Inasmuch as 1t PROPOSES practleaily an
entire change in the Governors office
with relation to the state government l
think, perhaps + would es In better
SuBgestion 1T proposes to make the
Governor the responsible head OF all of
the departments OF the State govern
ment, responsible for the service and
efficiency of every man throughout the
entire organization, or practically so.
That would be little, II any, change from
the situation as II now exists forsI have
already discovered in my experience that
the Governor is held responsible for eV-
erything that is done or happens with
out being clothed with the powers the
reorganization proposes. don't see
why two or three years should be
squandered in fixing up the constitution
so they can get at him. That would be
= work Of ssinperer0gatiOn They 60
that has been my observation.
Four Year Term for Governor.
But seriously, while there is talk about
rsorganiZing the government, 1 want to
say l am thoroughly convinced, both
from observation and my own expert
ence, that 1t would be far more satis-
factory to the people and far better
service can be rendered them If the
Governor were elected for u term of
four years rather than two and made
ineligible to another successive term. As
II Is, he enters upon his first term with
the incoming Of a General Assembly.
That ought not to be so, but / Will not
discuss that question. Soon, II not inn
medtately, after the adjournment of the
legislature, it the experience Of recent
years is to be taken as a precedent, ana
in view of our primary system OF noni-
mating candidates, he must begin pre-,
paratioDs for and eventually enter upon
a 90 ion
nomination. Securing it he must prac-
tically continue his campaign for re-
election. He must do these things or
ANONYMOUSLY and pusillanimously
sometimes surrender all that he stood
for and abandon all that he hoped to
accomplish in the way of public service.
All this constantly distracts his mind
from his public duties, prevents him
from giving himself wholly and unre-'
serVedly to the study of public affairs as
they relate to the welfare of the people
energies to the public good. 1t all SER
iously affects his efficiency as public
servant. .-'r
If. also. he should be timid soul.
duty, and afraid of his fellow-citizens
rather than challenging them to things
that make for human betterment he
might move softly, gently, whisperingly
through first term in the hope of no
antagonism for second. During y
second term he might become courageous
when there was no enemy in view and
nobody could get at him and might real->
term would be lost. Whatever type OF
man he might DE a four year term and
ineligibility to second consecutive term
would enable him at once and conttnu-
ousiy for four years "a. concentrate ali
of his energies upon his duties as pub
lie servant. studying the business Of the
State, the needs of the State IN all her
diversified interests with. nothing ,to
modest or make him afraid,'h
Another potent reason for a four year
term lies in the fact that two years only
enables one to become thoroughly ac-
quainted with the business of the State
and reach his best efficiency and espe-
cially so if he is compelled to give him
self to two campaigns in the meantime.
Strong, efficient service could be better
rendered in my judgment by four year
term. invite you to consider this mat
ter and the necessary change in the con"
stitution.
Cost Of Legislative Session.
have just made reference to a con-
sideration of the cost of a session OF
the Legislature. think IT not Improper
for me to say more; Based upon ,exps-
session viii cost $218,125.00. OF This
amount $l6S,50Q will be paid as salaries
and mileage to the members and tbs
S54,625.OO will be paid for supplies ana
help" 1 think fair estimate for sup
plies and sundry expenses would be
81, $500, leaving 100000 or 10000
per day for a hundred day session for
help, meaning extra help" clerks.
door-keepers, etc Some of this Is alb
essential, Of course, but much
of it Is pure, unadulterated graft" A.
President of the Senate in the Thirty
third General Assembly l said to the
Senate: Public money Is taken from
the people for public purpose only
and it is intolerable that 1t should DO
mr.
in snail sums to persons who have rem
dered no equivalent Of service IN return.
No young man or woman should 90
taught to feel that the State Is an In
stitution upon which 1t Is permissible
to work a graft, and no old man should
be allowed to do 1t. Such a course
cheapens the public service, dishonorS
the men engaged in it, and lowers the
ideal of public life. 1t does not beget
respect for public officials or for the
State as an institution for the admins.
tration of government or Tor law y
cannot be to our credit Senators, that
doZe in these galleries Tor
one hundred days at the public expense.
the doors not opening half dozen
days during the session except TO per
nit their entrance. On occasion OF need
men called from the extra help about
the Capitol should be stationed there.
A dozen doorkeepers are used In thu
needed. Every man of legislative exps-
rience knows that many more COMMITTEES
clerks and other clerks are employed
than are needed Every Senator and
knows of clerks sitting
around these chambers in luxurious ease
from one end of the session to the other.
doing practically nothing at all, and
every Senator and Representative knows
that such thing should fall under his
/ was criticised then for saying these
things. 1t was said to be small and
picayune" Both the principle of the
thing and the money are involved and
what l said then 1 say again with EN-
phasis. 1t is reprehensible and indie
fensible. The seth General Assembly
ought to organize along different lines.
Habit-Rormin9 Drugs.
Nothing can be more ruinous than ths
use of habit-forming drugs. | need do
nothing more than suggest their dele
terious effect upon health, morals, INTEL
lect, character. Nothing can possibly be
more reprehensible than the sale of
them. No denunciation of the sale of
law, II you can, so as to effectually get
at the evil. Make the possession pre-
sumptive evidence of intent to SELL
Provide as the Attorney General has
suggested. a remedy by injunction.
Make the place where the drugs are sold
or kept for sale in violation Of law
nuisance and abate II as In the case OF
liquor nuisances,
The Short Ballot.
/ discussed the short ballot question
IN my inaugural address two years ago
and the 36th General Assembly made
some progress in that direction. Ths
question Is one OF even greater Interest
than il. was then. L will continue to