The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-09-10
Mr. GASCH EXPLAINS.
General Retrenchment Confer.
ence on County Affairs.
A BURNING UP AL AROUND
Interesting Meeting az the CITY Hall
Last Night - school Board 10
Meet Tonight.

The meeting os he special conference
COMMITTEES on r@1r1neffneaz was ned Al
ne coa1c-. chamber ia ire c.ty hall n -
r4s3t Tor DE purpose O. taking up connsy
affairs. OF the regularly e.eet.1 members
OF ne commission there were present: For
sh@ cham Der 81 Conlslerce. Ms<sFs. =. -.
Graves and Joseph S1&ppea. for the ex-
ecGi1Ve branch OF tha c4ty government.
MAYOR X. l.. Wood. for the schco. beard,
Mrs Thomas. *or The county commits
: oflers. Hon Fred Cash. sid for the csEy
couDcll J. A. James. Nj. Crane. 81 the
Chamber % Cceln1eTce. sni Dr. Church
IL. Or The school board. were unavcI3ah4y
aesent
Upon motion OF Mayor Wood. Who ex-
PANIED sae objects OF the conference. Mr..
Graves was elected Chairman 81 the meet
Ing In MIR. Wood Statement. the facts OF
previous meetings and tho general ln,ea-
lions were set forth as rosSs by leading up
10 legislation that would relieve the cry
an1 county Organizations n Their severa.
branches.
on taking the chair Mr. Graves spoke
erledy upon The question OF general Re-
ireFachmeEt as - ha4 presented Itself 10
him. RE said tsias in this county there
ara three legislative ccises ~ practically
the same territory. each having az almost
tnanNe debt creating power. only limited
hs the legally established limit OF warrant
issues he reviewed AS Washing ton Ci1y
experience IL the departments an5 SHOWED
by the !ae detail necessary 10 bring 4 bout
appropriations even tor supplies. but per-
fec Organization Of government =. econo-
ny. The same methods would not DC pfas-
tica5.e for the affairs OF small communi-
ties. put modification OF such methods
might A84 expression in independent
auditing body. He said that he did not
doubt thai all branches OF city and coun-
~ government ware dong their best, but
cha systems as carried or are inherently
vicious.
Three features OF county affairs he be
Heted. demanded reform III the way of
economy, the schools, courts and roads
demanded a closer scanning in matters Of
expenditure The jury system he consia-
cred extravagant. and said that in the
country districts the s. per day allowed
eS law was considered a fat salary or "a
great political prize. Taxing Jury costs
10 the county he believed entirely Wrong
According TO MIR. Graves idea the fees
for JUries should be taxed - tho losing
side of the case as q part OF the costs Such
a .emodelins OF the Jury system would
be a great cuESailgnent OF public expendi-
cure. and he advocated legislation 10 cor
rect such a state OF affairs. lie Character
tzed both county and city administrations
is loose, which statement he qualified by
saying that under existing circumstances
they were as good "a could be without
remodeling of the laws. which the con-
ference might lead up TO.
Mayor Wood suggested that Mr.. Graves
formulate suggestions to legislation to
Dc submitted at the next meeting. Mr
Graves asked that the county auditor pre-
pare a classified and segregated report
that would exhibit the expenditures OF the
county. lie advised that this report be
carefully considered. not IN It's little de-
tails. but IN the larger items that would
make a percepuble difference In the eX-
psrses without decreasing departmental
efficiency. He then asked Mr.. G2sch for
suggestions.
Mr. Gasch was fully prepared 10 answer
any questions asked. and furnished
great deal OF very valuable gformation
upon the subject OF county affairs lie
apoloEized for being the only representa-
tive OF the county commissioners present
when the membership allowed In the con-
ference was two lie then took up the
fury system and the expense OF maintain
ing such a system under present laws.
He stated that the United states govern
nent secured jurymen al s. per day and
5 cents mileage. while tine county pays
s. per day and 10 cents per mile Tor hrst
days travel. The system Of keeping rho
books ana records Of the county clerk :
office is 50 Mr. Gasch aiiiTm@. the most
expensive in rae country. He claims
that the Judges OF the various county
courts have SO Informed hn. There ais
too many clerks III The clerks office. az
cordiag 20 Mr.. Gasch's idea. aud TIE NUM-
Der would bear curtailment.
County prisoners cost from 500 70 $50
per month According 10 Mr.. Cash tt,eFe
convicted should be sent 10 WaAa Naua
pending an appeal TO the supreme court
The reason for not doing so Is due - TIC
efforts OF certain class or attorneys wLp
ara opposed 10 legislation that would
take their clients away.
Mr. Gasch than took up the matter OF ffe
county commissioners Office and handled
the subject without gloves. cnaracteriz-
inr ne read and bridge fund ana rs nam
ding "a an outrageous abuse OF power.
The expenditures are. he said. enormous.
and there should be better roads for the
money God help the people said Mr..
Cash from the abuse Of the road fund
and from the road supervisors. lie spoke
o. the fwo members OF the commission
from the country and the districts they
represent If A supervisor comes IN ana
saws y want this or that done the mrui-
her from whose district ne comes says go
ahead" M tiasch would recommend
the election az a general road snperinten-
dent who should be a ciEH service man
ana not subject 10 change wstA every
political wind that blows. lie should -
competent road builder. Is tniH@s aTe
NOW nobody knoRs where the money goes
Daring the past year tas assessment Vas
IN me refghhorho0d % s4o ea for he road
nnH hrf1ce sara onc-hsf. hv agreement,
was 10 be devoted TO redeemlng ou;stand-
Ing warrants and ;he payment q interest.
When me bills came in the second c}s-
.rtot reo-e=entef hv Mr. Nsckersop came
IA fer s.. - q. and the Third district Pep
resented Nv Nr. usaton. drew down
80 e4r a. What SIN I 20 do" asked Nj
ssech. "'hs~e are fwo % them against
me. They simply divide The money and