OCR Text |
Show ' u! l ) t '' " " Wm TOO MANY OFFICIALS Our constitution and laws elenrly prescribe the manner in which the state shall submit a proposed constitutional amendment amend-ment for the consideration of the voters. We do not find any provision pro-vision which makes it any part of the duty of public officials to use their offices and the public's time for propaganda in behalf of a proposition submitted to the voters. We are well aware of the fact that the subordinates who are becoming so active in the matter of the proposed tax amendment amend-ment have distinguished examples, if not. indeed, instructions, from further up the line. This does not in the least alter the principle' involved. Rather, it makes it all the more pertinent to inquire what justification in law or ethics exists for such employment em-ployment of the public's time and facilities. If, us their recent activities suggest, the public duties of these officials are not sufficient to occupy their time, it would seem entirely appropriate to reduce the personnel, leaving on the pub-lie pub-lie payrolls only enough of them to do the necessary public work. The others could then, with entire propriety, devote themselves to the instruction qf voters at their own expense Instead oC at the expense of the taxpayers. Tribune, |