The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-12-16

A BIN has beer drafted for presentation
to the legislature ~ Senator r. w. Taylor,
OF Pierce county. which eonsempiates very
radical changes Ia the method OF county
government. There are some excellent
features about ne BIN, whose advantages
would bs particularly apDarent In counties
f,eGox those OF the third ciAss. and some
Of them VIII relieve those of greater pops-
latson and volume u business from q part
Of the present expense.
These reforms are quite possible. how
ever. without mourning the great danger
threatened by his first step. Senator Tay-
Ior says be proposes 70 make the board
Of county commissioners "a legislative and
judicial body exclusively. taking away all
administrative or executive powers" and
~ make fhs county auditor the ''respons-
shla head OF the county government"
Taking the power for mischief cut OF tbs
hands OF three men. whose proceedings
must be OF public record. and putting It
into the hands OF one. Il only TO increase
ths chances OF Acknowledgement teufoid.
TO make matters wore. II IL proposed 20
have the auditor the sole purchasing
agent" and to make all contEacts- he
viii practically have enormous power of
expenditure. and will audit his own ac-
counts. The proposition fs preposterous.
Apart from this the scheme In good, and
The best feature about the blu Is that
which requires that the county clerk shall
keep ali the records.
There f. room for q readjustment Of
county officials duties II there were any
statutory way by which higher class OF
county commissioners could be nominated.
severai counties would be better served,
but this Is a matter which - In tina hands
Of the people themselves. There Il no
more guarantee that an auditor Of exeep-
sionai qualifications viii be selected than
three commissioners. but there Is undolht-
edly greater safety in the larger number.
The county commissioners should trans
act no business except at their public ses-
sions. They should have no mileage ex-
cept actual expenses for travelling be-
tween their homes and the county seat.
They should do the purchasing OF ali sup
plies at their open sessions on requisltion
from the several departments. and the
prices and qualities made part OF the
minutes
All records should be kept by tho county
clerk. who should be in fact county re-
eorder. This includes deeds. mortgages.
Judgments. liens. marriage licenses. etc.
Tho present Official Is not county clerk.
but clerk OF tbs superior court. which is
only part OF the business OF recording.
Tie should also be the clerk of the county
commissioners.
The county auditor should be an ac-
eountant 10 keep books OF revenue and ex-
penditure as a check upon all depart
snents, and BE- liable on his bond equally
With sseh OF the other officers for any de-
fault II their cash. r.. II may be incl
dentaily remarked. !, should be enc OF he
qualifications for Offices such as this and
Of treasurer that a bond should first Be
filed ia the Fun amount that In case OF
nomination ard election the bonasmen
would hold themselves bound. as they
new DO after election. there would be a
better guaranty Of fitness, but this in
wolves other considerations and is 9roba-
bly, impraeHeabis
The county treasurer should receive all
moneys. court fees. license fees. and al
other revenues. either directly or from all
Of the ether officers at ths close OF each
days business. Senator Taylor's suxges-
tion that all taxes should De extended in
one sum snd not split up on every receipt
ard book for each fuud. - most excellent.
The office Of county servey0r rs one
which needs roraedsling. What Is needed
IS net surveyor. but an engineer with
anecial knowiedRe OF hrl5xa-anildlng and
rnad-maSing Any iittle surveying need
"a could be done by tho engineer or Il
temporary deputy.
Another very important change which
should 10 made g that the county o6lces
should Be open 20 the pubic from ? 1911 S
e'eioek. bot clerks saeuld be required %
work I'll o'elOck. 80 that records may
BE- written up. documents ans books filod
away or replaced. cash balanced. ana
handed 60 the treasurer; ana the dairy
work ciosed up "a business rnsa usually
require As it ia nov. ghers ls Often a
rush Of sbe puhlia up % o'elook snd a
vsssh Of tho elcsks TO sea away % the min
ate. From ta e, vita an hours interval
fer iueeh. makes onsy eight working
aours. No clerk can an8 employment any
where Tor less usnN AZ an eQaA sslsry.
ons oghsr provision 81 Senator Taylor's
hla T. % make yhs eovansr also -uperin-
tenteat Ok che raor farm ana cosnty hos
pgtal. sna tht. - a. excellent Plaza lie
shoula - paid sa,ary. snd shonia - A.
ioNs1 sxrersex travelling 20 ard from
places % vhlcb - Is called ia ease OF ass-
claens o. atath wltseat rneasrsa esrtln-
cats. Thsse. sslag itaalssa ard sworn 70.
sAca.d a. a3Ee 20 TIE auditor
n TIE smaller counties thsrs might y.
even e3essr consolidation. II 81 c-~saia
tAss tass cost - counFy ssvernusent is
greater t6aa ts Necessary. ani there l. a
aae nesa eeg intelligent ae8ioo-
STIFFNESS ~ Tue SENATE