The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-08-29

So IAa1ss Dis lawful sA6ary. n hseh the
| s~-~.s - fuI compensation for ..ali
ss g eFerv KIND and aescrsptlos. -
Fenaeref b. tie ofacer.
| he people, having elected Hr.
s1easss - the Office OF auditor. ard tie
s having hxed a nrv a. esrur~nxa-
.son soF DIS services in that osfiee. wsre e.
s.s+e4 20 isis entire time to the exclusion
IL osAeE service, either private Or pnb-
seithsE Mr.. TwicheIl nor IA. eo.nmg.-
sss eonln haEe read the salary act land
sasy would read that II none oaherl with
oas haying seen this proposition.
.-sor could they hare read the r,rovf.o
aoese quoted without having first seen
.aas lnAsoation against the taxing two
he granting Of salary .. agent of IN.
Deliaing fund vas even more obnoxious Z,
We We statute and 10 good conscicnce than
NAe granting Of = salary as ssrst1reh a~fuv
asshts because Il was his euty a. auditor
- Keep account Of All funds xhich the
county Nas reeeivang or dlsours!ng
~ ~ De sad that the law does not. in
terms. require the auditor 10 keen = ..6rtld-
s iaha account, u may be answered
soat y - his duty 10 audit al Claims. de-
Uranus or accounts against the eountv.s
" Nhacn are ~ iaw chArgeable to said
county. excepting court b1iI.."-sec. Is2,
y ~, 0eneral Statutes.
- - - * sFnins aud settle the accounts of
p p -
lie must also @perform all other duties re-
49, 49, !. - AZ. of @ny rue 90 order OF tie
oS4sas SUI :, sc. Isl, General statutes
II the commissioners had no authority
TO demand Of him that he should act a.
agent OF the building account, T" whatever
that may mean. then the situation wouId
Dc precisely the same as that Of the spur-
CHASING agent. and their action would be
open 10 the same criticism.
Notwithstanding all Of these things. Mr..
l"leheI seems 10 have entered upon the
0lscnarge OF the duties Of his - " offices.
Tor from that time until 0ctober 81 Of the
same year he drew from the county treas
uFy, IA addition To his salary as auditor.
30 per month as purchasing aud building
fund agent. Ii is 10 be noticed in this
connection that although Mr.. Twichell
Vas not appointed until January II he
nevertheless drsw full months salary.
viz 81, for bis valuable services in thas
behalf. The flrst warrant was drawn from
the salary fund, and thereafter upon the
general fund. and in each instance there
after Was for $50
On October 81, 1891. the commissioners
made the following orders:
.Ofiered. that the King county building fnnd
hayiag been exhausted and gsaiI cut the satsfv
OF agest Of saeh fund ls discontinued after Oc-
t9csf 81, Is9f."-1ournai OF County Commits
"a
'N hsreas tAe purchasing agent has had added
% HE duties the Purchasing OF material AMI
supplies for King county POOR farm, IL Is OF.
desed By the board that bis salary lie increased
70 so per month, taxing effect November i
1891. 1-Jeurnal Of County Commissioners, VOL
ums :, page 81
Mr.. Twichell therenpon continued in
the discharge OF his arduons duties as
purchasing agent" until October. 1888.
and succeeded In drawing from the
county treasury for such services alto
gether $3.50. and for bis services as agent OF
the building fund" 500, making alto
gether 500 OF the peoples money over and
above his rightful salary; that he put in
his pocket. with the knowledge and sane
ton oil the board of county commissioners.
That these several sums of money. az
creating so large an amount were unla~-
fully appropriated, and that the commits
sioners and Twichell all knew at the time
that the appropriation was unlawful. is. |
think. established from the above facts be-
yond successful dispute.
~ the legislative session of 1s9I it was
thought by some that the judicial business
of this county had so far outgrown its
former dimensions as that there ought TO
tie fourth Judge for the superior court,
and IN order 10 carry this belief into execu-
ton there Was introduced q DILL providing
for such iudgeshlp. The county commits
sioners were opposed to this new measure
and were, IL will be remembered, quite
active in defeating il. Whether or not it
was in the line Of their duties 10 use their
power as a public board 70 accomplish the
end they then had in view is a matter which
| will not discuss at this time. and have
only mentioned II in this connection
in order that the actions Of the very
efficient county auditor might be the better
understood. for II seems strange that out
OF a population of 5000 people no one
could be found so worthy and competent
10 second the opposition of the board as
the versatile county auditor, and hts
onerous duties as agent of the building
acct" aud his burdens as purchasing
agent" did not pre cent the commissioners
from rendering. nor Mr.. Iwichell from
accepting, al invitation 10 80 60 the state
capital and attend the legislature as
LOBBYIST.
In this distinguished service 20 King
couaty which hy their conduct, they
sumo that the senators and representatives
elected by the people of the county we're
unable 90 render. Mr.. FNicneA claims 20
have spent two DAYS and % have Travelled
loo niles a. his bill shows account Of
revenue bili, and the board OF commits
sIoners seem TO have been possessed Of
such h4gh appreciation Tor these exalted
services Ghat fhev allowed him. cut Of the
county treasury s. per day and 10 cents pes
mile going and returning. making alto
sswther the neat l1ttle sum % SO. whieh
smount vas paid IN general fund warrant
No. G4t5. over and above his salary a.
auditor. as purchasing aEent." and agent
~ the building fund. Truly, Mr..
Twicheil j. not only versatile. competent
and accomplished gent.emAn-hei Il thrifty
In eAnaor who Of HI. friends can find
any authority under the laW for county
auditor 10 wait upon the Legislature as
lohbyistg
can the statute which deanes has duties be
- extended a. 90 make BIN the represent
alive Of the reopie ~ thls county Ia the
state legislature What right had the
county commissioners u attempt with the
aid % T~ieheA % usurp the Offices Of
senator and representative, 70 which
other gentlemen had been rightiGiiv
eleetedf Add most of al, what right had
he. While drANtng ais salary As auditor, -
.pend the time which rigstially belonged
a. the peoula in an employment which
every candid man must admit. Was en-
ttrelv foreign 10 has 0fhcef And vet
again. What right bad ne 30 take paw for
such foreign services. without any sbaie-
rpent from his salary as aaditorg
When we consider the pany OF depa-
Tia. with "a hlch the commissioners have 50
generously supplied his office, the liberal
salary OF S. 50 per year taAs he has r..
resved and Is sflil receiving as the head o.
that Office, hi~ salary as "plrehastng
axent" and his other salary as ascent Of the
''huiidtng fund, his extra compensation
Tor mileage" and per diem whenever ne
dads IL eonvemient 10 80 out st the city.
does il not seem as II this othcer as Aa9
ia ustue his Office tor sgt there " As 81 II Z
Gao aav oae daubt that he KNOWS and AaS
Alwavs known. as ans one - hls iateAii-
peerr Nnascapacitv mast knoS, thai al 81
these AUTHORIZATIONS ~ tAe public fnnGs
A. tbs a - i