The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-01-24

George A. Reishus, representative
from Ward county, which will provide
for the voting of soldiers now on for
eign soil. This measure will follow
lines laid down by Judge e. B. Goss
Of Minot in an opinion furnished Rep.
Reishus, holding that such a law
would be. constitutional. 1t is prob
able that the absent voter provisions
extended by special enactment to sol
diecs in foreign countries will pre-
serve the franchise of fully 10000
North Dakota young men in the gen
eral election next fall. Their vote
will be, it is predicted, a patriotic fac
tor in this general election, when an
entire state ticket, a full body Of rep.
re%sentatives, half Of the membership
Of the senate and a supreme court
Judge are to be elected. t.g a. f.. ~
After the SIackers. .
Unless the cloture enforcement by
Senator Heckle's joint amendment, an
interesting measure aimed at slackers
among the states official family will
fall by the wayside. Justice James E.
Robinson, the venerable league mem
her of the supreme bench, is author
Of this bill, which would provide that
or or about the last day Of each
month it shall be the duty Of each
Judge and other elected state official,
receiving a salary from the state, to
make and file in the office of the state
auditor a monthly report in regard to
his daily service during the month.
1T must show" provides Judge Rob-
inson's draft of the bill, that during at
least six business hours Of each day
faithfully to the duties Of his office.
ut must state concisely the work
Of each day and the number Of hours
glen to work in both the forenoon
ari the afternoon. 1t must show a
proper excuse for any failure to work
at least six hours in each business
day. 1t must be verified by affidavit
to the effect that the same is correct
and true. 1t shall be open to public
inspection.
Section 2. "The State Auditor shall
not give to any judge or state officer
q voucher for his monthly salary until
the making and filing of such report
and affidavit. If any report be defec-
tive, it shall be at once returned for
correction to be definitely specified by
the State Auditor. He may prepare
and mail to each state officer blank
forms for the making of reports.
Section 3. Each monthly voucher
must show that a verified report has
been filed in accordance with this
Act, otherwise it shall not be paid by
the State Treasurer"
Efficiency in Public Service.
In further support of his bill, Judge
Robinson says:
efficiency in the public service,
that Is the most important question
before the House. The present sys-
ten offers a premium for inefficiency.
1t is contrary to all business princi-
pies. The state officer is elected.
sworn to do his duty faithfully, put
into office and then left without the
!east supervision n accountability. He
reports to nc one. He is free to go
and come as he may please and to
do his work or leave it undone and to
draw his monthly salary without any
reporting or accounting. Whether his
work is done or left undone, nobody
knows and nobody seems to care. OF
course the result is everywhere gross !
neglect and inefficiency; and our
Judges are the chief sinners.
ts E The Judges. H.
"A Judge never seems to realize
that 1t Is neither honest or honorable
for him to receive pay for stolen
time and for services which he does
not render. While receiving a good
salary he steals his time and leaves
his work undone without the least
regret or shame. We see judges lay
and neglect their work day after
day, week after week, month after
month. District judges are under leg
al obligations to decide and dispose Of
every case or matter within thirty
days. and yet they do often hold up
matters for months or years. The
same is true Of our Supreme Court
We have now pending manv
cases of Importance which should
nave been decided at least six months
lg0. The delay can mean nothing on.
y neglect or incompetence.
What is the remedy? Is there no
way TO secure efficiency in public ser J
ice the same as in private service?
not the same, rules govern each !
ase? Who would think of paying a /
God. monthly salary to private e ]
ant or business manager, and permit !
him to work or play or go a fish :
ng without any supervision, report ,
ng. OF accounting No business. can !
g done in that way only when the
axtpayers bear the losses and the 1
nTdenss Sad experience has shown I
he utter folly Of trusting any bust |
Iess wholly to the honor OF either the ]
.utlic Of the private servant. +.
Hence It is the plain duty of the
assembly to pass q bill pro-
iding for q monthly report by each !.
tate officer who receives a monthly /
alary. It is q duty that should be no /,
,nger deferred"
Judge Robinson heads his measure:
i5ill for an act to secure more af-
cient public service by establishing
system of monthly reporting by the /.
ate officers" and his preamble re- ,
49, 80 SS-.A----- Ia :