The Alaska daily empire., 1919-04-12
DANGEROUS LEGISLATION.

The bill making the office of Territorial Treasurer elective and providing in specific terms that the pres incumbent shall remain in office until after the general election is subject to two objections either of which should be fatal to the measure.
 The Treasurer of the Territory is also bank iner Therefore the duties of the office ministerial and technical The Empire believes that men to fill ministerial and technical positions should be appointed
 And let it be said at the outset that partisan po
 tics are not and ought not be taken into account in considering this matter None recognizes more clearly than The Empire the fact of mutation in po tics Our Republican friends claim to be confident that their party will win the next National election If that should to pass in the course of very short time Alaska would have Republican Governor.
 The Empire believes that legislation which is de signed to perfect the political structure of Alaska should be with only temporary conditions in mind It believes foundation should be put in to remain for all time far that is possible from the viewpoint of the time of the placement It be- lieves that there should be head the common wealth of Aaska--a responsible head-and that those in ministerial and technical positions should be re- sponsible that head, The best results mpos- sble where those the head of different departments of the executive branch the government work ing Independently of the head of the government and, frequently occurs at purposes with it each other. The whole trend of modern affairs is to make these classes of offices appointive rather than elective. In the State of Washington the only elective offices those which provided for in the Constitution. The Legislatures of the last ten years have changed several offices that for mery were elective to appointive-and some of these changes have been made by Legislatures when the occupant of the Governors office of opposite political party. Oregon has had similar experience. It likely that the Constitutional convention of Wash ington, which authorized at the recent referen- dunn election will make a lot of offices that now elective appointive The recent Constitutional con vention in New York dominated by such men as Elihu Root and Judge O'Brien provided only three elective offices for the State-the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor and the Controller Auditor, the latter whose duty it would be to keep books the men selected to execute the peoples laws regarded a proper official responsible directly the people It is true that the New York Constitution deeated at the polls, but it defeated because of this "short ballot provision. The experience of State Governments has shown it to be unwse to put man at the head of the government and then tie his hands with in ministerial positions who not respon- sble to him for the administration of their offices
 The making of office elective does not remove it from politics. It puts it in politics Many Govern take politics into account in selecting men for technical positions Gov Riggs has appointed Republicans to office ir Alaska Gov Lister has in Washington. When men nominated by political parties and voted for by the people the positions be removed from politics. Men who hold their positions by election to appeal to certain elements of the voters. When a man in office. { therefore. caters to class of voters and man in another office to another class there is ire quently naturalization that brings to 
 The Empire is a firm believer in non- partisan Civil Service It believes should be selected for min isterial and technical positions solely on their qua for the office It has been pleased to support the efficient administration of Commissioner of Educa ton Henderson Republican It believes men should selected for positions like was MT Henderson, and others in Alaska without regard to their political aith The Empire has consistently supported this ioctrne from the time of its acquisition by its present But that condition cannot be brought bout by making ministerial and technical official po- itions.x elective instead of appointive