The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-07-06

A snsll-sizad sensation was exploded =
tire osfice 90 ire board OF county commits
s.oners yesterday, which caused no little
ccmrlert among the officials. The cir
cunlStance was 50 unusual that for some
tine after Il developed Il was the topic
OF animated conversation n the various
department.
Among tire first business TO come bsEore
the county commissioners was the exarnin-
alton and approval of the pay rolls for
the different Offices for June. When the
roll OF Auditor Evenson's office was taken
up Il was found that ne had docked HIM
self for eight days work and had turned
his t.HIe in Just that much short.
The discovery was made by Chairman
Ryan. OF the board. in the presence Of
Prosecuting Attorney McElroy Commits
sioner NIekerson. Commissioner Soyee and
Post-Intelligeneer representative. 1t
nearly took the county attorneys breath
away. and after he had fully realized the
significance OF the discovery. Chairman
Ryan himself short of wind
The auditor mad placed a little note OF
explanation opposite his name on his pay
roll. IL was 10 the effect that he had
charged the county for his months WORK,
less eight days absence from the office.
After the matter had been discussed ior
commended for being an honest man and
for hasins broken the record for this adj
rninist!atlon in refusing to take pay FOR
the tine he was absent from his Office and
attending TO his own private busin IS
The county attorney could NOT aGder-
stand I. however. and. gong into his Of
flee. asked Auditor Eyenson If ne was
aware that the law gave him s. 100 per
year. 10 be paid In twelve monthly INSTALL
ments OF SO each. Mr. Evenson bravely
repi-d that he did and with a show of con
scientiousness and fair dealing said that
ss he had spent the time on his farm at
tending 10 having he did not desira that
the county should pay him his salary dur
ing tht- time.
AT this the county attorney wondered
greatly. and returning to the commission
eTs Office. the matter was again taken
up and discussed among the officials. The
pay roll was wonderingly examined and
here another discovery. as interesting as
the flrst. was made.
Cos, Him s2I.52.
Il WAS found that the auditor had locked
himself for ei-ht days absence at the rate
OF $40 per month. His eight days cost him
just &l52 therefore as his salary at 500
per month is S769 per day for twentv-six
working days in the month. he Is ahead
just so by the transaction.
light days al s1.69 per day amounts TO
sel52. which is the amount Mr. Evenson
should have deducted from his pay roll,
instead OF s2l 60.
This second discovery again set tongues
wasgtng. While the subject was bling q s.
cussed the county auditor entered the room
and was Immediately made the butt for
considerable good-nature ID ''joshing" on
the part Of his fellow officials
Evenson took the matter with good
grace. and explained that the hay fields
at his farm near Kent had demanded his
attention near the last OF June and he had
quietly slipped away and worked at hay
ing for eight days. He said he did not ex-
pect the county 10 pay him mis- salary dur
ing his absence. Anyway. the neighbors
VINO saw him 81 work on his farm would
wonder Il the county was paying him
good salary. which they supplied by their
taxes, while he was working for himself.
Il think we ought 10 deduct your salary
FOR the full amount while you were cone
instead OF at thu rate Of so per month"
said Commissioner Ryan in a joking way.
Inc iaugh was on Evenson. but he main
tainei that he had done the right thing.
After the auditor had left the room some
one said tina. If he did not consider his
services were worth more To the county
than those or "A so clerk. he had better
resign and let another man take his lob
To Post-Inteiligencer reporter The aud
itor said that he had deducted the amount
named from his pay on the theory that his
absence would require that amount Of ex-
ira work His neighbors might object 10
his drawing his full salary during the time
he was working on his farm. so he con-
cludcd t. make the deduction
The AFFAIR caused a great deal OF amuse-
ment al the courthouse. one is struck by
the reflection that the auditor had over
reached himself IN hs desire to make
record FOR the next campaign. as IL he
had actually wished 70 charge himself for
his absence from his Official duties. he
would certainly have deducted his pay at
the rate Of $50 Per day. the amount he
receives from the taxpayers