Opinion ID: 3673405
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: the meaning of ch. 121, public laws 1941:

Text: The following pertinent provisions of ch. 121, Public Laws 1941, are clear and explicit: Section 1. Any elective or appointive State official may obtain leave of absence from his duties for military or naval service, protracted illness, or other reason satisfactory to the Governor, for such period as the Governor may designate. Such leave shall be obtained only upon application by the official and with the consent of the Governor. The official shall receive no salary during the period of leave. . . . The period of leave may be extended upon application to and with the approval of the Governor if the reason for the original leave still exists, and it may be shortened if the said reason shall unexpectedly terminate: Provided, that no leave or extension thereof shall operate to extend the term of office of any official beyond the period for which he was elected or appointed. If, by reason of the length of the period of absence or the nature of the duties of the official, the Governor deems it necessary, the Governor may appoint any citizen of the State, without regard to residence or district, as acting official or substitute for the period of the official's leave of absence, such appointee to have all the authority, duties, perquisites, and emoluments of his principal. (Sections 2 and 3 contain similar provisions in respect of county and municipal officials.) Thus it will be seen the General Assembly has spoken on the subject, and, to the extent of its legislative authority, has taken care of the situation. There would be no question of your right to grant the comptroller a leave of absence, and to appoint a substitute or acting official in his stead, during his absence, if he were going into the Army as a private and not as an officer. Critchlow v. Monson , 102 Utah 378 , 131 P.2d 794 . The constitutional question which has occasioned your request for an advisory opinion arises only by reason of his acceptance of a temporary officer's commission. It is conceded that the acceptance of a second office which is forbidden or incompatible with the office already held operates ipso facto to vacate the first. Barnhill v. Thompson , 122 N.C. 493 , 29 S.E. 720 ; Whitehead v. Pittman , 165 N.C. 89 , 80 S.E. 976 ; In re Martin , 60 N.C. 153 ; Annotation 53 A.L.R., 595. Page 847 Page 848 Page 849 Page 850 Page 851 Page 852 Page 853