The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-01-11

SEATTLE. MONDAY. JAN. IL.
THE OUTGOING OFFICIALS.

Today the various county officials
elected in November take their seats. and
those who have filed the Offices for the
past two years step down and out. II Is
but common justice 10 the outgoing Of
nciaIs TO say that without exception the
affairs OF their various offices through
out their entire term have been con-
Quoted well and economically. and that
m addition thereto the public who have
had occasion 10 transact business with
any OF these officials have been treated
with a marked courtesy In singular con-
tsasf 70 the usual rule in public Offices
elsewhere. In the selection or their sub
ordinates. competence. rather than rec
ord for partisan services, has been the
uniform rule. and those subordinates
have rendered as efficient services as
would be required by the most exacting
private employer and have received no
higher pay than is customary for Ike
work in private employment.
1t Is considered as an essential part OF
partisan politics TO abuse and criticlse
the men who are holding public office.
There are too many instances when both
The abuse and the criticism are well de-
served. The vague and indefinite attacks
upon the outgoing public officials. made
during the last campaign, were but the
exhibition Of customary campaign fire.
works. They were without the Himsiest
foundation. and even the men who made
use OF this discreditable campaign ma
terial are now perfectly willing to adj
nit this. The public during the two years
last past has never had a legitimate
ground OF complaint against a single
public official in the court house. They
have rendered good and faithful service
They stand higher in public estimation
today than they did when they took Of
fee, notwithstanding some OF them were
candidates for reelection and failed to
receive a popular majority. IL was moth
Ing personal against the men themselves;
1t was not disspproval Of the manner In
which they performed their duties, which
led TO defeat. They went down by reason
OF national issue. on which the voters OF
the community divided This is one OF
the ahsurditles of politics. but 1t has oc-
Cured before.
There are few communities of this size
in the United States wherein the person
mel OF the various public officers has been
higher than has been the case in King
county during ths past two years There
Is not a private corporation In this state
which can show a better appearing or
more efficient set of employees than this
county has had during that time, or
which has received better service in re-
turn for the salaries paid. Not "a man |
goes out OF office, among the subordi- |
mates who cannot command as good a SAL |
airy In private employment as has been |
given him by the public. for the same |
class of services as he has been called |
upon 10 perform.
This Is not intended as a eulogy upon |
the gentlemen who retire from public SER |
vice today; nor has IL a partisan object. |
There are several OF the county employees |
who SO ont OF office who are Democrats
or Populists. The facts stated are mat
ters well known &c every one whose bus /
mess has brought him into relations with |
thu eourty officials. All such VIII bear
witness TO the trath OF these remarks.
The Incoming officials take Office under /
n pledge to the people to perform equally |
efficient services at less expense to the /
taxpayers. 1t is a very hard contract |
which they have assumed. II they VIII /
do rs well as the men whose places they |
take have done. no fault can be found |
with them. In al sincerity. the post-In- !,
teliigencer hopes that two years hence II
may be able 20 speak about their public |
records In precisely the same tone as It |
is now enabled TO speak OF their prsde-
cssssrs.