The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1896-02-07
Correspondence And County Notes.


EDITOR JoURNAL.-In reply to an ar
ticle written by Mr.. Voter to the
Tribune with regards to the Conmis-
sioners proceedings in Jan. session, I
desire to state with bat one exception,
it is incorrect.
First, he or it, states that petition
was presented signed by voters Whom
1 have reason to belieye did not attend
the polls during supervisors election)
and said petition was denied and did
not appear on the records-that, aC-
knowledge, was an omission for which.
in behalf of the board, apologize, but
had it not been for the warm and
lengthy discussion arising between the
board and Mr.. Bonne1l concerning said
petition venture to say the omission
would not have been made. Again he,
or it, states that satisfaction was prom
ised by the board, which was not so.
The petition being denied Mr.. Bonnell
referred it to the County Attorney,
where he found the denial sustained;
then he asked the board that all ia x
payers residing on the North side of
Big Skookum bay and in road district
No. be allowed to work their road and
poll tax in that vicinity. Mr.. Nance
and Mr.. Specie referred him to me, it
being in my district. I considered the
demand just one and instructed the
supervisor accordingly, but this was
not by any action of the board.
Again Mr.. Bonnen asked that all
taxes paid into the treasury from that
part of road district No. lying North
of Big Skookum bay and appertioned
to the road fund, that same be expend-
ed in roads in that vicinity, which l
refused to do for the reason that taxes
are apportioned to each respective dis
trict and not to any part or sub-divis-
ion. I also stated that unless they
were id hard to satisfy they would
have no reason to complain. This was
by no action of the board and was not
considered as part of the records.
Now will see what Voter states:
He. or it. states that large per cent.
of the votes cast at supervisors election
in road district No. were illegal votes,
being residents of another district.
We will assume that to be so, then
those charges should be brought
against officers of election and not
against the commissioners. When
election returns are brought before the
board, the same being regular and
certified to by the proper officers, it is
the duty of the board to ratify the
same. That the board did not state
that ratifyiug the election returns
made the election legal. If each and
every person who claims to be voter
would attend elections instead of re-
naming at home to kick and find fault
with the results because it does not
suit them, they would be considered as
more worthy citizens. I might state
further that if the commissioners
should be present at supervisors cleo
tons to challenge every voter, better
send Mr.. Voter or some other smarty
to the legislature next winter to make
laws to that effect. If he, or it, could
have influenced the board to please
him, or it, said board would have been
good fellows.
Speaking in behalf of the board of
County Commissioners, we have in the
past and will in the future carry out
the duties of the Office regardless and
fearless of any and all political parties,
corporations or individuals, cranks,
backbiters, bulldozers, critics and sore
heads not excepted. 1 also state that
any person or persons stating that the
records of the commissioners of Mason
County are untrue and refrains from
signing his, or its, name the same, is
a coward and does not state the truth
JOHN CAMERON.
| County Commissioner Dist. No )