The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1896-11-21
INFRINGEMENT AND REFORM.

HeIHENCHMeNT AND RetOHM.
The Silver Plated Blade says that the
election in this county vas not victory
for the Republicans. We have never
heard OF any person claiming it as such 4;
but it was q great victory for the reform
element in Kootenai county and a
scorching defeat for the court honse
ring that has dominated county politics
for several yeaFs-a defeat for the men
who bolted the CHur d AleHe convention
and put up ticket Of their own. This
movement must not stop with success
at the polls, but must be carried into
every county Office where there ia need
OF retrenchment and reform. 1t should
begin with an exporting OF the books
and records in the auditors office and
this examination ought to be thorough.
The people want to know why it is that
the fees OF the office seldom reach above
the maximum OF 5000 year when it
takes an outlay OF 5000 to in clerk hire
accomplish the work necessary to earn
only the $1,000 in fees. The people want
TO know il the fees for making out tran
scripts OF court proceedings, abstracts
OF title, etc, are counted in this s., 900.
II not, they want to know Why the
county pays for clerks who are employed
in making out such papers. They want
TO know Why it is that the auditor pre-
sents bill to the county for notarlal
fees when he can do the same work as
clerk Of the court. They want to know
why this Office should be conducted at a
cost to the county for fees and salaries
OF six or seven thousand dollars i year
when the assessors tffice pays only
5000 and the officer mnst pay all n his
own help out of that. These rsgsome
OF the things the people want to know
II is the most expensive Office in the
county and the people want to know
why these things are so.
Another chance for reform may be
found in the sheriff's office where clerk
Is employed at a salary OF 81 900 a year
What ok-keeping or clerical work is
there in this Office that the people should
be called upon TO contribute such a sum OF
money to the support OF any individual
Combine the duties of clerk and iailor
into one Office and pay man a reason.
able salary for il; say sixty to seventy
five dollars per month.
See that the boarding of prisoners i:
let to the lowest bidder.
Examine into the cost of keeping thc
county poor and see why it is that thi:
item OF expense figures up to over 81
aweek for each pauper.
These are some OF the matters thai
need looking after and it will be the
duty OF the new board OF county com
missioRers to attend to them. The peo
pie expect it and we have no doubt
from the character OF the men com posi- ne
the new board, that they will inaugur.
ate them, Reform is what is needed
and had Mr.. PalmeteF. the present com.
mission from this district, received the
support and assistance Of one Of the
other members many OF these reforms
would already have been accomplished
At least two members OF the new
board will go into Office unhampered
and under no obligations to the ring
and it is npon them the people will lie.
pend for relief and reform. We look for
general shaking up in that old temple
OF Justice known as the Kootenai county
court house.
II iost is the model young man he
would have people believe himself to be,
why does he not quit growing over dead
issues and stir the people up on live sub
jects,