The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-11-29
HUNTING ron 4 sEssArros.
Private Parties vast Ia Bxanine II
eehoel Bousdss Recoras-

Notwithstanding the recent investiga-
ton OF the dosngs Of the board Of educa-
ton of this city By the grand jury and
the gratusfous censure made By that body
in its repors, there are some persona. pre-
sumsbly those directly interested In the
aimshouse scandal, who are not yet salts
fed that the Investigation was - thorough
ss il should have been. and they propose
to defrsy the expense of making private
investigation through an expert Of the en-
tire doings Of the board during the LAST
four years.
On Monday morning Douglas Young.
the expert accountant. called ut the head
quarters Of the board during Secretary
Whitney's absence and left the following
note for him:
"Friend Harry. have been employed
to make . thorough examination OF the
books, records and accounts Of your office.
and Of the boards.
IF convenient to you I would like to
commence work at O'Clock today. Please
arrange in your absence that may have
full access to all books. papers. etc
Yours. DoUGLAs You're"
Within ey shortly after met Young on The
street and Young spoke to him about the
matter. Whitney says he understood that
Young wanted to check up the books, and
he told him that he could not allow him
20 do 30 without an order from the board.
At the same time he asked Young who
had hired him. but Young said that II wAs
an attorney for some taxpayers, but who
they were he did not know.
Later in the day Young, in company
with Attorney William H. Moore, called
on A. p. Burwell, president of the board.
and told him that they wanted to examine
the books and papers of the board, and
that Whitney had refused to allow Young
20 do so without an order. Young says
that President Burweil peremptorily re-
fused to allow the examination to be made.
stating that if there was any necessity
for having the books exported they
would hire an expert Of their own to
do it, but that he Afterwards qualified his
refusal by saying that the board would
meet on Friday and the request would
then be acted upon. Mr.. Burwell says he
told Moore and Young that it would be
necessary for them to make . formal de-
mand according to the statute, when tho
board would grant the request according
to the opinion Of she boards attorneys on
the Law governing the matter.
Yesterday afternoon the following writ
ten notice was served upon each member
Of the board of education:
ITO Messrs. A. p. Burwell. W. ]. Col
kett, ]. b. MacDouEall. ID. A. Spencer and
George II. King. constituting the Board
of Education Of Seattle School District.
No. i, in King County. State Of Washing
ton, and Mr.. III. n. Whitney. Secretary of
aid Board--Gcatlemen: You and each of
you will please take notice that the under
signed, Douglas Young, q citizen of the
United States and Of the state of
Washington, and resident tax
payer In the said Seattle school
district. No !. in King county,
the forenoon of Wednesday, November %,
1893, be present at the Office of said board
Of education In said city of Seattle, state
of Washington, for the purpose of inspect
ing the records, vouchers and other papers
belonging to the said board; and he, the
said Douglas Young, resident taxpaysr.as
aforesaid, hereby demands that ut said
time and place. and ct all times, you and
each of You have said records, vouchers
and other papers belonging to the said
board ready for inspection by him, the said
Douglas Young, resident taxpayer a. afore-
said. DoUGLAs You've.
Dated Seattle, WASH, Nov. q. 1898.
Then follows Mr.. Young's affidavit that
he is a citizen and a resident taxpayer of
the district acknowledged before William
II. Moore. nstary public.
The matter was referred to White d
Munday, who rendered the following
opinion:
SEATTLE, WASH. Nov. %, 1893.
ITO the Board of Education of the City
of Seattle, School District No. /, in King
County. State of Washington-Sirs: In
reference to the demand made upon the
inf t.nnratinu ~
for an inspection of the records, vouchers
and other papers belonging to the board,
we would say that 1t Is provided by sec.
ton IA of the act in reference to schools in
cities OF more than 10, 900 inhabitants that
the board of education shall maintain an
office where all regular meetings shall be
held, and all records. vouchers and other
important papers belonging to the board
may be preserved and at all times ready
for inspection of resident Taxpayers
1T is our opinion that any resident tax
payer of the school district would have q
right to inspect the records, vouchers and
other papers belonging to the board; such
inspection, however, to be made in the
immediate presence and under the observa-
ton OF the secretary of the board, and
made In such manner so ~ not to inter-
iere with the use of such records, vouchers
and other papers by the board. or by
the secretary of the board, and so as
of the Office The secretary of the board
being charged with the custody and safe
keeping of the records, vouchers
and other papers belonging to tho
board. such inspection when made
should be under his immediate SUPER
vision to the end that no changes
or alterations may be made in any of such
records. vouchers and other papers If
the official duties of theSsecretary should
at any time during such inspection pre-
vent HIM from giving such personal super
vision and observation. then he should
have right, in our opinion. TO suspend
such inspection until such time as he
would again be able 10 give his personal
supervision thereto. For il is not con-
templated by the statute that any tar.
payer could command or require the ser
vices OF public officer for his own
immediate benefit to the detriment OF the
public service. Yours truly,
WHITE & MuspAY."
Acting on this opinion President Bur.
we'll issued the following order 10 Secre-
tary Whitney:
IN. r. Hhitneg, Secretary Of Board Of