The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-02-23
Commissioners Discuss Them
With Citizens Committee.
FACTS ON WORTHLESS suRETlEs
Advocates OF Maple Present Their Case
and the Commissioners Make
Their Reiofnder.

me2f OF joan EEp4tzger 70 he county
treasurer be revoked. and mat Joisss W.
Naples bond be reduced from $4,000 to
SEQ GO. TIE meeting was held IN the
library room al the courthouse. ard
lasted from $50 D. m. until $50 TX ended
IN she commissioners agreeing to meet
the committee again next Tuesday after
noon. at which time t51efr decision IN the
matter OF the petition wriu be announced
There were eighteen or twenty spectators
present al the meeting, and a good repre-
sen1atinn o. the committee. among them
being j. J. McGnvra, chairman: joan @.
Barnes. Robert Abrams. c. N. Monohon,
@. A. Hsll. II. II. Anes. Alonzo HUI. w.
+. Wilson ami Grifiiaa Davies. OF the
absent committeeman William Cochrsne
and j. Eugene Jordan were in attendance
upon Popuiist gathering al Olympia
Chairman Mc1itlyra at once placed the
question before the commissioners by
reading a set of resolutions and the fol-
lowing address, which he said was not
couoaed in language exactly as he would
have written it. the word demand De-
ing particularly objectionable.
1--WE are aware the language OF these
resolutions is strong. but IL is the Ian
guage OF the American sovereigns VINO
placed you In power. and who have the
right 10 command your services in COM
plsance with law.
''Mr. Maple has been duly elected and
has taken The oath of office, and the only
ching now necessary TO enable him 10 en-
ter upon the discharge OF the duties OF
the Office OF treasurer of this county Is
rhe acceptance of his bond by you.
rsa
OF your discriminating against Mr.. Maple
by raising his county bond, and as con-
sequence his city bond. in the sum of
100000 over and above what had ever
been required OF any county treasurer be-
fore, We submit that you err In the con-
struetion of the law even in requiring
bond of the county treasurer in so large
sum as 100000.
THE law requires the treasurer-elect
to give bond TO the county In penal
sum OF not less than double the amount
of funds liable 10 come into the hands OF
the said treasurer during his term OF Of
fee. the amount TO be fixed. ETC.. BY the
county commissioners.
NOW, IL you are TO give literal ana
latitudinarian construction TO this Ian
guage, the county treasurer should De
required TO give bond 10 the county IN
at least che sum OF s3,l44.2S2. and to the
city In a Ike amount.
..ro illustrate In the year 1898 the as
sessed valuation Of the property In this
county was S5i, 2l1,759, ana the rate or tax
alton for state, county and school, pur-
poses was seoli5 on the dollar. making
the total tax s7S6, so. all of which goes
into the hands of the county treasurer
when collected, and 1t is all liable to be
collected.
This Is for one year. For two years 1t
would be twice that sum, or si-ai1'i4i'
liable TO come into the hands OF the
countv treasurer Then the bond should
Ia In twice that sum, or the sum Oh
s3Iai. o..
For the county and city. then. the
.ra,s,,rar INNS, give bonds in the sum or
81. 2sS. 5si. with sureties, etc.
.Now apply this literal construction
n The statute in question. Hold. as you
are now practically holding, that 'le
snret,es must have a record utie 10 IN
incumbered real estate worth. IN your es-
timatton. uwtce abe amount on thsh
liability on the bond. set your AUDITOR al
work making abstracts or ate AT ti'e
exneuse of the taxpayers ana see "hat
nroyress you will make in securing ana
approving official bonds
eve submit that the evident meaning
~ the words amount OF funds Liable to
come into the hands of the said treasurer
during his term OF office Is the amount
he Is likely TO have In his hands at any
one time in the ordinary course OF MS
official business. or that he Is liable
10 have on hand fer any considerable
length of time. or both.
''The latitude given to the commits
| sioners hy use of the words not less
| enables them TO fix such reasonable sum
| as viii secure the public without I'm
| nosing any unnecessary or unreasonable
| burden upon the treasurer-elect.
| .sU. submit that the sum OF s2f0,coo Is
| sufficient and ss50ooo ample. But Mr.,
Manle Is willing 10 FURNISH bond and
| :, rood one In the sum of $4,000.
1--WE shall not argue the question Of
| MIR. Naples right TO file his bond afiet
| the 18th Of January last. We are salts
| ma with the opinion OF your legal al
| wiser. MIR. HASTE. on that point. en-.
do no; propose TO notice any other op'nio:
which may have been procured Tor the &C
| caslon.
| Then. as n matter OF fact. Mr.. Mapl'
| did eie his bond before the date las
| ryan.ed, ami is now only seeking 20 per
| fec, 1t, or rather TO make X meet HI,
| requirements Of this honorable board.
IF an error has been committed there
| should be no hesltancy about correct
| Ing IL.
FOR the foregoing and other reasons
, We respectfully request your honorable
| hoard to rescina your order raising ~
! NAMES bonds from s3ao.issa 10 500 oeo. a.
veil as the order declaring the Office c
| county treasurer vacant. and the ordc
| appointing John Rlplinscr to fll such va
carey. ard that you aeceps without IN
necessary delay good and sufieien
bond from Mr.. MARI"
Mr.. McGuvra. after finishing the aacu
| rseni. spoke TO the points contained Fl
| f.. saying tha, 70 his mind IRE urss,ia
and unreliable tests sppiied 20 Nj Maple
| suretIes amounted 2raetically TO further
| aaee Of = Conspiracy against she pOpu
itss nominee HIS bowA had beer raise
unnecessarily. the banks @ad snteve3 In
- a combination agasnS; him. anA n
commissioners had rejected The hnra f.
rcn-sutf3clent reason. II seeree! 10 MI
NcGsllvra tAas the people had = right {
feel aroused a. the tarn affairs Rad taken
Referring 70 the apToiH tzneut Of II. Rlr
iirxor. ~ SAID:
/ If there sgas a fArSHs, wfsr don't 70
| APPOINT Mr.. Maple who received the vote
os the peeples Is it because ne Is rot
banker