GOVERNOR, 1903
pleas of that county and the forces there agreed upon S.J. McCarroll. I was especially anxious not to make mistakes in the appointment of judges and felt that professional fitness was the most important qualification. I listened to everybody who wanted to talk to me upon the subject. Lyman D. Gilbert and Charles H. Bergner, leaders of the local Bar, were in accord in the opinion that the fittest appointment would be that of Michael W. Jacobs. Justice J. Hay Brown of the Supreme Court came to me to urge that appointment, and he was very decided in his opinion. In deference to these professional judgments I appointed Jacobs. The blow was mitigated, however, by the appointment at the same time of John J. Henderson, who had been supported by both senators and had the reputation of having done good legal work in his county court, to the Superior Court. Against Jacobs the party nominated and elected George Kunkel and, therefore, in my first bout with the politicians I finally came out second best.
An act was passed giving to Governor Stone and some of the heads of departments the desks they had used while in office. It pursued a custom which had long prevailed. I approved the act, with the suggestion that the furniture to be put in their places be selected with a view to its remaining as the property of the state.
With the growth of the work of the state there is a steadily increasing need for additional employees to attend to it. Each head of a department is loath to ask for such increase, for the reason that he is at once assailed in the newspapers for causing further outlay. I found a long list of such persons whose salaries were paid from the contingent funds, a timid way of meeting a difficulty, and I put an end to the practice by sending to the legislature a message naming these employees and recommending that they be regularly employed. This treatment of the matter led to no criticism, although it openly increased the force.
As the legislative session progressed, and the bills as
