The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-01-11


the field a dozen or more tickets 20
satisfy the disgruuffed office seekers
Another change should be made In the
salaries paid TO election officers l un-
de-stana that The expenses al tue last
election amounted to 81 fer every vote
cast In the county The country pre-
cirsrts cost SO . vote. The number of
election officers could be reduced ac-
corsing 10 the size of shs vote in a pre-
cincs. A double set OF election officers
would be a great saving. as the wurk OF
counting the votes could be done mere
quickly and not spread out until the men
are worn cut. There should be some
good railroad legislation; nothing too
radical
"A rate Of half cent ton per mile
on grain from Eastern Washington TO the
Sound ports with passenger rate OF not
more than cents mile will be more ae-
cepsahle to the people az large and stu
be satisfactory 10 the railroads. The
present rates the people are paying in the
Eastern Washington local tariff are SIM
ply outrageous. as Spokane city alone
paid last year . $4,000 freight bill to
the railroads running into that city.
II would abolish the municipal court,
making asasing eff $500 a year, placing
the duties of that office on the justices
OF the peace.
There should be a strong Eli or set
Of bills on the question OF the sale ard
manufacture Of food products. stopping
the sale of adulterated food without be-
ing properly labelled and advertised as
such. There should be milk inspector
and a state chemist.
In the county expenses the coroner
should be saiaried officer. / am ctedi-
bly, informed that at the present time
that office is worth $500 a year. One OF
the expensive offices is the superintend-
ent OF schools worth S. 400 TO s., SO while
some of the leading professors in the
United States are under salaries of s. i00
The county should BE- classified and a
certain amount set aside for each officer
IN the county for the clerical expenses,
based on the amount OF business done
By 50 doing there can be a saving to
this county of at least sl2.00 in salaries.
THE whole probate department of the
superior court should be simplilied: the
same forms are being used as when under
the fee system: a great deal OF the Journal
work In the clerks Office could be dis
pensed with without any material hurt
TO the court records. The great trouble
has been that We have been looking
through the wrong end OF the telescope.
and the time has come when the coun-
ty business should be run on a business
basis.
There should be a grain inspector,
which l believe to be one of the most
important things to be done in the next
session. Grain would be classified and
valued. the farmer would get full value
for his product. The Minnesota law
could be copied and would probably lit
this state exactly.
In some way the charters of the larger
cities should be simplified. Tacoma and
spokane are both working on bills to
remedy their present cumbersome char
tiers. Seattle could be run under a new
charter for two-thirds its present
expenses. There are too many commits
sioners: too much red tape: too many
trouble as the result. all OF which could
be sinplified by new charter.
THE Interest o1rielinauent taxes should
be placed at the legal rate of interest:
the penalty could be put on sliding
scale. for instance. per cent. penalty for
delinquent taxes for the, first thirty days:
per cent. for each succeeding thirty days
until six months had expired. The inter-
est on the delinquent taxes of the past
year should be set aside but the penalty
remain.
Senators Sargent and Washburn are
constructing new state bank law which
will stop irresponsible people from OPEN
ing banks; and also looking to having an
examiner appointed to investigate state
banks.
in regard to deficiency Judgment every
county in tbs state is preparing a bill to
remedy the present prevailing custom on
the subject and there is no doubt there
Will be some active measure passed by
the next legislature.
81 am heartily in favor OF the Raaley
irrigation law.
II am also in favor of a good strong
bill making IL a misdemeanor for news
papers 10 publish articles about people,
giving alleged facts which cannot be sub
stantiated by proof. such as we ex-
perience in every campaign where the
character of individuals is nlaliciousiy at
tackled.
Il am heartily in favor OF the state ap-
propriating at least s5.oco to be used with
the government appropriation under the
supervision of the officer In charge of the
typographical. meteorological and geo,ogi-
cal surveys for surveys IN this state.
This viii be a great help not only TO the
prospector, miner and investor, but to the
general public as Well. At the present
rate the work is going on 1t will not be
finished for fifty years