Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1895-08-22
Official Paper Of the City Of Aberdeen
THAT OPINION.

Ii the opinion rendered by the prosecu-
ting attorney on the bonding question is
a correct Interpretation Of the law, then
We have another specimen of the result Of
that brilliant assemblage Of Republicans,
the last legislature. Ifitis correct it may
be good law, but it certainly is not good
sense. That an individual, or a county
which is a collection OF individuals, cam
not pay out money on hand without
thereby mourning debt is absurd, but
that is exactly tho position taken by the
prosecuting attorney. We think his mind
is beclouded in this instance with legal
bubbles. The opinion contradicts itself
also. He says the money cannot be paid
out for current expenses because the
bonds would be in excess Of the present
constitutional limit, and the commission
ers could not incur additional debt unless
the voters would authorize the bonds.
On this basis, il the bonds were 80 author.
lied, the debt would still be above the
limit, and il the commissioners could not
in the first place incur additional debt be-
cause Of the limit, how could they get
around the limit in the second place and
incur one dollar OF debt, even for current
expenses?
The trouble with the prosecuting attor-
ney is he is arguing from a wrong basis.
A warrant is no more an evidence Of debt
until stamped mot paid for want Of
funds" than check on the bank is when
there is funds to meet it. A check is not
of itself an evidence Of debt, but on the
contrary is evidence that the thing pur-
chased is paid for, and would be so held
unless the payee could show that he had
been unable to get the money the check
called for. Just 60 with a warrant. II
the cash is in the treasury it is SIMPLY an
evidence OF that fact, and guide to the
treasurer as to the amount to pay out.
The law does not contemplate that the
warrant shall not be issued, but that the
commissioners shall not 60 into debt fol-
anything they have not the money to pay
for.
The whole Lilema is mere legal bun.
comb, or else the legislature was pack
Of fools and didn't mean what they said
when they provided way for counties to
get upon cash basis. What is needed
is as we said before, little sand on the
part Of the men who have been elected to
manage the affairs Of the county.
We cannot see that the ratification by
the people would help the matter in the
least, unless they also ratified" suffi'
Gent amount in addition to provide sort
Of revolving fund, with which to meet ex-
penses. but If it is necessary to rat;fy we
zee no better way to bring the obstreper.
GUS kickers against funding to time than
by the commissioners issuing the bonds
and allowing the funds to pile up for q
few months. The kickers could moi
stand that; it would be too good thing
for the banks.
Again, the opinion, as expressed in ite
beginning, is az to the issuance Of bonds
and placing the county on cash basis
and in respect to the latter part it is
deficient. What we would like to know
is, suppose the supplemental opinion,
which the prosecuting attorney intimates
he may file as more light dawns upon
him, should say that the cash could be
used foi expenses, what about the debt
now in existence for which no warrants
have been issued? Will the commission.
ers just swoop it aside and start the cash
basis then, or will they go back to the
time when it was first created and begin
there. Let us have an opinion on all the
points, If it takes two or three supplemental
ones, but don't let too long period elapse
between times, for every day Of delay
costs the taxpayers Of Chehalis county at
least sixteen good round dollars.