The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-08-30
Is THERE A COURTHOUSE Rim
A Second Letter Prom Mr.. Ames Re-
garding the Auditors and Commits
sioners' Offices.

A second Letter Prom Mr.. Amss Re-
garding the Auditors and Commits
sioncrs' Onices.
OF the board of county commissioners:
As has been already said, the board of
county commissioners had scarcely taken
their several oaths of Office before attempt
ing to diyest themselves of a considerable
portion of their labor by the appointment
Of the auditor as purchasing agent" and
agent OF the building fund" Ii will pos
sibly bear to be repeated here that the
warrants on which the several sums al
ready alluded TO were paid. were in each
instance audited and allowed by the board
of county commissioners.
shall always believe that they each OF
them knew that these payments were un-
lawful appropriations of the public
moneys.
About the 10Th of February, 1901, the
board allowed four bills, which are as fol-
lows;
| 10 Twtchen las slrsady stated .......... - 90
To John Wedding, two days time a. olym-
p.s, account OF revenue bill......-...-... 10 90
10 Fred Gasch (sAms service aud amounp 20 90
Total ........................ $50 90
The board of county commissioners are
entrusted by the Law with the general man
agement of the county business. Any
| one who is curious to know exactly what
| tneir powers are will.hnd them enumer-
| Rted in Sec. PSI, pages g6 and 81, OF the
! General Statutes OF Washington, as COM
| piled bv W. Lair Hill.
There is undoubtedly reposed In them a
| large discretion as TO the extent and pro-
| priety of public expenditures, but this dis
| cretion must always be exercised within
I the lines of authority confirmed upon
/ them by statute. independent OF any
/ statutory provision. common sense would
I teach Us that their authority should be
/ confined TO the administration of county
/ affairs, not OF business pertaining to the
state.
The people had elected members OF the
/ legislature who were presumed 20 be COM
l petent 10 attend TO the matters that should
be brought before them, and neither Mr..
/ GAsch or Mr.. John Moodlng have been
elected To any such Office; undoubtedly
they bad the right AS private citizens 10
/ attend session OF the state legs allure,
/ bus " bat right had they 70 charge the tax
/ p&ysss Of King county for sucn attend
ancef Does the administration OF the
county business embrace the shaping OF
state legisIatlonG Admit thar a reyenus
1 law was necessary. was not il then q necss-
+ slty 70 the whole estate, as distinguished
/ from small part Of the slater King
/ county Ter instance2
The saaFy act gives 20 the county COM
I Tnissioners s. per day, presumably when
/ engaged in looking after the county Dust
I ness. Can il &c eandidly said that this
/ junketsng TIP 10 Olympia Was in attend
4 ing TO o0anfg busIness7
] The commissioners were not only wrong
4 IN charging the county with their attend
/ ance as tae state capitol, bat they doubled
/ the fee and the wrong By charging 10 ceats
+ mile for loo miles Of travel ia each tn
/ stance. Tie following provision - found
in section S,ol7. page less, of the General
statutes.
Mileage going to the county seat, for
/ each mile travelled, 10 cents."
IL vii ee noticed that mileage Is only
al!oSed IA gasng 90 the eounty seat There
/ Is 30 allowances for Tesarrssgs neither
( oaghE there 80 &c. for mileage one way Is
I more than sufficient 10 reimburse any one
! OF tAe com uaissionsrs for any traye! found
/ necessary IN behalf 81 the county. More
/ over, a. examination OF tie Zee biz,
I from which the above quotation
IS made, viii show that TO the
+ shersfis. eonstables Jurors and
witnesses, mileage saeA gay Is Ell
+ pFessly authorised. Surely II the legisA-
tare taoaght proper 10 say in terms that
/ these ocieers should have mileage each
i wSv, tie same Ihsag coald have been as
7 easi. Y sad. Ii il had been intended, con-
+ corning tie eognty commissioners. The
grant Of right IN positive terms 20 one
set % ogacers ought 10 exclude the Imp.i-
eaton d tGAf grant 10 another set II ths
I statute is silent concerning IL
But IL the commissioners are entitled 20
mileage, even on sach = use ess chase as a
I lankes 20 tie state capita, upon shat
Z authority did they pay mlsags 10 James
uavtfs
lie wAs aos an OesssE Of tie county. aaa