Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1922-02-09
STATE TEAPP'0INTEES
MAY BE REMOVED
BY GOV. NEST0S
Evidence Has Been Submitted
Upon Which Removal Of
Several State Officers Is
Askc d-Has Refused to
Act Unless Evidence War;
rants.
REMOVALS DEMANDED

REMOVALS. DEMANDED
Bismarck. Feb. 4.-Demand for
the resignation of J. l. Cahill and
George T. Totten, members OF the
state board of administration, charg-
ed with the management of the ed
ucational, penal and charitable in
stitutions of the state was made to-
day by Governor Nestos.
Unless the designations are forth
coming formal charges will be filed
against the two men, hearings held
and removal made by the governor if
held justified by him.
Governor Nestos declined to make
public the detailed charges against
the board members but it was learn
ed that they will be charged with
misconduct, malfeasance and mis-
demeanor in office" if formal char
ges are filed. 49,.
The basis of the charges against
the board members is under stood
to be in part based upon contracts
let for supplies for the various state
institutions, it having been alleged in
reports to the governor that the
state interests have not been con-
served in the letting of contracts,
some of which have been let to high
est bidders.
No formal answer was given to the
demand to resign. it is understood
but it has been reported that the
two board members expecting to be
removed had engaged legal counsel
in advance to to resist removal eng charg-
:. ,'.,
Bismarck, N. d., Feb. 4.-(Spec-
|iaD-Evidence has been submitted
to Governor. R. A. Nestos on which
the removal of certain appointive
Estate officers is asked. Action lead
ing to the removal Of at least two
Of these officials is believed to be
imminent.
The chief complaints have been
registered against J. I. Cahill and
George Totten of the board of ad-
|ministration and members of the fish
and game commission, it is believed.
The nature of the charges is not
learned, but it is reported that the
game and fish board has been charg-
ed with extravaganza and misman-
agement.
Governor Nestos, who has stead
fastly maintained that he would not
begin any removal proceedings until
he felt that evidence submitted to
him, if any,, was sufficient, to war
rant removal and to stand the test of
the courts.
During the first six weeks of my
administration, no evidence was sub
mitted for the removal Of any ap-
pointees that seemed to me to be
sufficient to warrant the commence
ment of an action" said the Cover
nor, "and it is only during the last
couple of weeks that the evidence
submitted has been such as to make
me feel that removal proceeding
would be just, and certain to be sus-
tanned by the courts in the event that
an appeal was taken. There are at
least a couple of cases now where
evidence has been submitted ,and
where it is likely that action will
be brot very shortly" .o
st Governors Statement
Reviewing the complaints of many
persons who had expected "house-
cleaning under the new administra-
tion, the Governor said: &'r@
Il notice that some people and
newspapers are inclined to be crit
ical of the administration because
they claim that long before this the,
Governor should have removed GER
tain appointees from the office to
which they were appointed by the
former administration. LIDO not be-
lieve that this criticism is warrant
ed, altho Of course, It is question
upon which there may be differ
ence of opinion. Practically all of
these appointments were made for a
certain definite period of time, such
period expiring in the different cas-
es In 1928, 1925 and 1927, and in
most cases these appointees are re-
for cause only.
It .is true that a general impress
sion exists that abundant cause ex-
lists in many: Of these cases, and ap-
parently this impression seemed to
be we'll founded in the light Of the
reports Of the general activities Of
these appointees and their .qualifica-
tions for the position they hold.
IT have announced 1t as my atti-
tude, however, and I have seen no
occasion to change my mind, that I
will commence none OF these pro-
ceedings until the evidence produc-
ed before me appears to- me to be
sufficient TO warrant the removal and 4
such as would be legally sufft ftcient
to sustain my order Of removal In 4
Ease an appeal were taken theref from
To the courts 2of the state
Nonpart tiaanA rho I haye been ac-I