The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-12-30

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tee other than the committee for the
petitioners, then the necessity Of sub
hitting that particular measure to 9
vote Of the people would be elimin.
ated," the report explains.
Election machinery has been slowed
down, according to the survey, by the
great increase in the number of things
the voter is required to act on when
he enters booth at the polls. There
is a multiplicity Of officials to be
chosen, the report adds, and there are
initiated and referred measures and
constitutional amendments to be voted
on, all adding to work for election
boards.
Therefore, the commission con-
tinues, lit is recommended that Of
fices hereinafter specified be filled by
appointment instead Of by election as
at present: township and county jus
tees Of the peace, city justices Of the
peace and police magistrates. town.
ship and county constable, county cor
oner, public administrator, and county
surveyor" with the county commits
sioners empowered to appoint the
county officials and the governing
body Of the city naming city officials.
Want Longer Terms
The commission feels" the report
says, that the two-year term of Of
flee now effective as to most county
and state officers is not conducive to
the most efficient service by the Of
ficers, and it is recommended that the
two-year term of office be increased
to four-year term, limiting the hold
ing of the offices of state treasurer.
county treasurer, and county sheriff
to one term. Not only would this
reduce to large extent the expensive
elections but would also tend to pro-
mote efficiency in office"
Regarding registration of voters, the
commission remarks that 1.-The pres
ent system Of registration of voters in
cities where registration Is required Is
not as valuable in practice as in
theory"
1t proposes a change whereby voter
lists are compiled from previous lists
by the various city auditors with
certain fixed period during which new
voters could register.
Such plan." 1t continues, should
be as effective as the present system
and the cost would be nominal"
Pointing out that in some counties
the cost Of distribution of election
supplies was as much as $500 for each
election when done by the sheriff on
a mileage basis. the commission re-
fers to other counties where the cost
of distribution by parcel post has
amounted to $40 or less and 1t "has
never been more than $12 and has
dropped as low as &c."
In view Of this, it recommends that
q law be enacted making 1t manda-
tory that election supplies be distrib-
uted to the various precincts by in
sured parcel post.
There Is no reason why these sup
plies may not be consigned In perfect
safety to the care Of the United States
mail service and at material saving
in expense"
Theory Doesn't Work
Referring to the presidential pri-
mary system, the report remarks that
the theory Of 1t Is for the voters to
express their preference Of presiden-
tial candidates. At the same time they
elect delegates to the national con-
ventions of their respective parties, at
which conventions the actual nomin-
ationS are made.
1T happens" the report adds, ''in
practically every presidential primary
that some, often q majority of the
delegates elected to national party
convention from this state, are OPP
posed to the candidate for whom the
party's preference vote is cast. The
delegates, when they reach the ma
tional convention, usually vote &C
cording to their own views and not
according to the preference expressed
by the voters, thus practically multi
flying the preference vote.
In the last Republican preference
primary in this state neither Of the
candidates whose names appeared on
the ballot for nomination to the pres
idential candidacy. had the support
Of any considerable number Of the
voters. So far as express
ing the preference of the Republican
voters of the state was concerned, the
election was a farce which cost the
taxpayers of the state $134,635."
The commissions report terms the
primary important to the political
parties involved, but that fact does
not justify that the taxpayers Of the
state be required to bear the expense
Of setting up this party machinery"
THE expense in each case should be
borne by the party directly involved"
the commission recommends. The
cost otherwise "is out Of all proper
ton to its value" and since two ses-
sions of the legislative assembly will
be held before another presidential
primary the commission points out
that there is sufficient time in which
TO set up the machinery necessary to
carry out the work Of party organiza-