Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 January 1915 — REPRESENTATIVE WOOD FAVORS GOOD MEASURE [ARTICLE]

REPRESENTATIVE WOOD FAVORS GOOD MEASURE

Favored Election of Superintendent —Bills, However, Reported Unfavorably by Committee.

(Representative W. L. Wood has sent to The Republican a copy of House Bill No. 9, which proposes the election of county school superintendents Iby the direct vote of the people. The bill was reported unfavorably 'by the committee on education. Nine members of the committee signed the majority report. Two members brought in a minority report and when the action of the committee was brought before the house Representative Wood very properly voted for the minority repoit. The bill provided that at the November election, 1916, county superintendents of instruction be elected to serve four years and that an election be held every four years thereafter and that the superintendents take their office the first of August following their election. The Republican believes the measure to be entirely right and commends Representative Wood for supporting it. We believe that the present plan of having the trustees elect the county superintendent is wrong, for it gives every opportunity for corruption in the eelction and frequently poorly qualified trustees rely on the superintendents doing much of their 'book and paper work, taking the time of the superintendents and placing the trustees virtually in the hands of the superintendents. Then, if the superintendent is inclined to be dishonest, Me can load the trustees up with a lot of purchasing agents and get in on the rake-off. There seems no good reason why superintendents should not be elected by direct vote of the people. The present law allows seven men in Jasper county to name the man who bolds the destiny of the district schools in his power. If an election is close it is an easy matter to undertake bribing a trustee. It is wrong and not in keeping with the progress that has resulted in the election of United States Senators by direct vote of the people. We believe that practically every voter, irrespective of politics, will commend Mr. Wood for supporting the measure and for making a speech in favor of it on the floor of the house.