The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1917-02-22
MAY |MPEACH GOVERNOR
IS TALK At THE CAPITAL
REFUSES TO APPOINT A LABOR
AND STATISTICS COMMITS
SiONER LAW REQUIRES.

The refusal of Governor Alexander
to appoint a commissioner of immigra-
ton. labor and statistics may result in
Impeachment proceedings being
brought against him in the lower
house of the Legislature, it is an
nounced, says the Boise Statesman.
The state constitution provides for the
appointment of a commissioner by the
chief executive, but for months he has
refused To name successor to Major
Fred r. Reed, who retired after the
last legislature had failed to make an
appropriation for the office.
DIR. c. S, Moody three weeks ago
introduced bill in the lower house of
the Legislature, which, if it passes and
is constitutional, would make it unne-
cessary for the governor to name a
commissioner. At the same time the
democratic floor leader introduced a
joint house resolution providing that
I llc NoteiS Sildi We dSheu 10 So clullSe
the constitution that the position
would be abolished.
The bill by Moody was reported out
of the committee of the whole in the
house Monday for passage. If it be-
comes a law the governor can not be
forced to name a commissioner. Mem
bers of the minority attempted to
keep the Moody bill from being favor
ably acted upon, but they We're voted
down by the members of the majority
When the bill was under discussion
Representative Grice of Shoshone
county, democrat, sent to the legis-
lature by the laboring men of his sec
ton said that there would be no
commissioner during the next two
years."
No Source of Information.
The absence of a commissioner of
labor has made it impossible to gather
statistics during the last two years,
and now with the Legislature wrestling
with a compensation act the members
have no place to turn for information.
This has led to talk of impeaching the
governor unless he agrees to appoint a
commissioner
The Moody bill is recognized as an
administration measure wanted by the
governor, who is known to be opposed
to an appropriation for the depart
ment he proposes to have abolished.
Section I, article 10, of the state
constitution provides for the appoint
ment of commissioner. 1t reads:
There shall be established a bureau
of immigration, labor and statistics,
which shall be under the charge of a
commissioner of immigration, labor
and statistics, who shall be appointed
by the governor, by and with the con-
sent of the senate. The commissioner
shall hold his office for two years, and
until his successor shall have been
appointed and qualified, unless sooner
removed. The commissioner shall col
lect information upon the subject Of
labor, it's relation to capital, the hours
of labor and the earnings of laboring
men and women, and the means of
promoting their material, social, in
tellectual and moral prosperity. The
commissioner shall annually make a
report in writing to the governor Of
the state of the information collected
and collated by him, and containing
such recommendations as he may
deem calculated to promote the efli-
cheney of the bureau"
Section V of article in which the
duties of the governor are defined,
says:
THE supreme executive power of
the state is vested in the governor,
who shall see that the laws Of the
state are faithfully executed"
Provision for impeachments of state
executive officers who fail to uphold
the constitution is contained in Sec
lions III and w of article of the con-
stitutiOn. Section III reads as follows:
Method Of impeachment.
lie COURT IDT TIE lIl6ll VI IIllptcttH-
ments shall be the senate. major
ity of the members elected shall be
necessary to a quorum, and the judy
ment shall not extend beyond the re-
moval from, and disqualification to
hold office in this state; but the party
shall be liable to indictment and pun
ishment according to law"
Says Section w:
1.-THE house Of representatives SOLE
ly, shall have the power of impeach-
ment. No person shall be convicted
without the concurrence Of two-t thirds
of the senators elected. When the gov
ernor is impeached the chief justice
shall preside"