The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-04-20
EXPERTS ARE CHOSEN
Books of County Treasurer to
Be Investigated.
TO REMOVE AL SUSPICION
Three Accountants Named TO Examine
the Accounts For Four Years
HASTE Enters Protesa.

OIL
Iagds- While these run1ors have been for
the nnost part considered 10 be without
FOUNDATION they have been repeated 40
often and 50 efnphaticaily that the county
commissioners have resolved 10 expert
the books. accounts and records q The
'reasurer's Office so thoroughly that here
after any accusation viii be absolutely
without foundation Accordingly. yester-
day the commissioners appointed r
Cnf7st~nan. -. W. Bowen and Addison
smith a committee 20 DO TIE work In
taxing this action they. again came into
conflict with Prosecuting Attorney HASTE
VINO claimed the right 10 name one Of the
committee but was ignored by the board.
When the commissioners met yesterday
Nfckerson moved that a number OF repre-
sentative citizens be consulted in regard
10 the work OF exporting the consGlia-
ton 10 be made with a view - defermin-
ing the question OF the necessity for doing
the work and also the period 20 BE- COW
erred by II. The motion was received with
dead silence. and not being seconded was
declared lost
Chairman Gasch then moved that the
hooks. accounts and records OF the office
for the period beginning January l.. Isl.
and ending February II. Iss5. be exported.
and that three competent expert account
ants be appointed for that purpose. The
motion was seconded by Heaton and was
carried unanimously.
II was ordered by the board that T.
ChrlsLman. u. W. Bowen and Addison
Smith be employed as expert accountants
for the purpose OF invest gazing and re-
porting upon the condition OF the treas
urer's office for the period above indicat-
81. The compensation OF the experts vas
fixed at s. a day for Craftsman and 81 a
day each for Bowen and Smith. In TAX
Ing the action the commissioners refused
to be guided by the prosecuting attorney.
who expressed a wish 10 name one mems
Der OF the committee.
The seIeSss Ion of Mr. Christman as ex-
planned by Commissioner Gasch, was dus
TO a desire TO secure the services Of a
competent outside man. who would be
wholly free OF Influence BY the so-called
courthouse gang" The applicant pre-
scented TO the board Endorsements from
many Of the leading citizens OF Seattle.
and came here with the record OF having
exported the books Of Whatcom In lSS
thoroughly and 10 the satisfaction or the
city council. He was also audHor or
Whatcom county IN 1894. Personally. Mr..
Christsnan IS unknown 20 the commits
sloners or any officers OF King county.
He has never been in any way connected
with this county. and the expectation Is
that he will conduct the investigation
without fear or favor.
or the two assistants. Mr.. Bowen mas
done considerable work heretofore In the
line OF exporting the accounts OF King
county officials. He was one OF two who
exported the books Of eX@'ounty Clerk
Spencer and the present County Clerk
Gordon He was r deputy under Mr.
Snencer. bat was relieved by M. Gordon
and has not since been a county employe
except as an expert
Mr. Smith. the other assistant, Is the
late Popuiist candidate for county a.
dltor His appointment will give salts
faction TO the people OF that party.
# al NfftrarS
holding during the last two terms and
covering four years ending January IL
1895. have been exported. excepting mat
the treasurer's office has not had what
might De called full and complete eN-
r,e-ting The collections as reported oy
County Treasurers Phelps and Mitten
have been verified by experts each year
,tr "a and including the tax roll Of 1883.
The tax roll OF 1894 would ordinary nave
been checked during the summer or ND
after the rush Of taxpaying was over
The extension of time for payment or
taxes until November 30. 1895. by the last
legislature would have delayed that work
In order to do It properly until March l.
1896
II is estimated that the cost viii DE
&. eo0 or 5000 and that the Work VIII take
az least a year
in reference 10 The action or the board
came, out squarely with his views OF the
matter. He Indignantly said;
at may not be polite 20 say anything
about the matter. but don't care VINO
Knows that | am opposed 10 the commit
-, .,,,ninta9 nv the county commission
orr TO EXPERT the books. ! believe II Is
,,,, rlrht and duty TO have a say IN this
matter hut as matter Of fact the com
r,issloners have appointed committee
irreSpective OF my wishes. and, as you
might say. / had no voice IN the matter
I desired that J. A. Paine, one or the
host experts In this state. should repre-
eant me or my part ia the work. | know
Who he - and what he is. and am salts
ee4 tint n there should prove 10 be any
rottcnness IN the Office ne would report
the tr,1a state Of affairs. strike whont and
where II might
have Mr. Paine They chose Mr. Christ
man on the ground. according 70 my am
Outstanding. that he was an outside man.
.r,ov also admitted that they knew moth
irs- about him Now I do not know any
ming about him hut I desire 10 see men
,r sfat committee who are known and
vho can he depended on 70 DO the work
"a a. oJrh. tn he done. Understand me,
have nothing against Mr.. Christman
personally.
"powen has been an emplOye at the
e,urrhofse AMI the last directory gives
Als n-euratlon as such. despite the fact
mat the commissioners told me he had
MOI had anything go d9 with The court
ha,,sa FOR three or four years Nr smith
may 30 a gaoA accountant. ! don't know
ANYTHING about him ln that line-
~ object % the cholee ~ the commits
efona~s because I think a work ~ such
vast importance % the county should Dee
oros0eiifef free from courthouse 'Rtu-
.r.-as We cannot AFFORD IN have tniS in-
ve4,fastion calle3 case ~ whifewa$h.
7, should he done sra such a manner tfat.
when completed 'he taxpayers wiA feel
that tha records have been proven up -
tha 3s,e set forth ga the report ThHH
arefn 10 not thtuk that thTee meD can
vvors - advantage. They viii be in each
others way. II Should have been rSh"r
rua FOUR mr. six The experts ousat go
work fin pairs
The law saws thai the prosecuting ar
.,~urv shall once n each year. examine
enc ruhii.- rrroriz arf books ot fhe au-
amor assessor. treasure s1perin'en tsnt
~ common schools ans shrrir "f h's
county aoa report - aha hoa1l ~ caaatr
commissioners any failure refusal ofo.s-
SION c~ neglect n such oft5ers ta Keep
ssrs records ana books. as reGairei ay
law.