The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-10-22

Auditor EverEou, which was .Irst dis
csverad BY the P0si-Intei!igeEcer evil
esntly grows more sensitive as the day
% eise;4cn approaches It 10 perahDs
for shat reason that the pleasing duty ~
making q sworn statement ot the cost
ot conducting the office az which ne is
ihs honored head deroIves uron Chief
Deputy Auditor Wood From the array
81 figures presented b Mr. WOOD W.
are enabled - CLEAN the alleged fact
that the amour: paid for salaries III the
agditoT's office for q period Of some
iwenty-one months - g stag lozs than
that paid by his Republican predeces-
sor for like period. This looks well
for our Ponulist friend and IN 4 foot
note 10 the sworn statement AIR. Wood
informs the public tina. bv employing
extra help when required he (Evensonl
has been abIa 10 save TO the county
the salaries CT TWO men at $40 yer
month. Let US put this statement un-
der the cold light OF fact and SEE If il
will bear Investigation. The Repub-
.ican legislature of 1895. being of an
economical turn OF mind. concluded 10
apply the pruning knife to official sal
aries. and among others reduced the
salary Of the auditor OF King county
from 1920 per annum 10 g.. 400. This
was not done at Populist Auditor Even
sons instance and request. ON Tn.
contrary. had he been gifted with fore
sight he would undoA otedly have LETT
his conscience at home and hcd him
sci. TO the legislative halls with a grim
determination TO slip a stick in the
cog wheels of Republican reform long
enough 10 eliminate the auditors sal
ary from the list marked for reduc-
ton, or lose n finger or two In the at
tempt The wheels of the reform move
ment not being interfered with. ground
the auditors salary down. as above
stated. to the tune Of $500 per anuum.
Now. T. Is easy 10 prove by very simple
calculation that in twenty-0ne months
this saving would amount 10 1ust ST. 400.
which Is the exact amount the iegis-
lature saved out OF Mr. Evenson's sal
airy for the benefit OF the taxpayers Of
the county. Mr. Evenson did not save
this amount. nor will he for one mo-
nlent claim that he did after reading
this plain statement of facts. The
amount MIR Evenson did save is 81, Al o.
"a trine less than $40 a month for the
period named.
A saving OF SIC month Is 4 good
showing, but when we dig little fur
Their into the facts We may find prob
able cause for this economy. without
any reference whatever to that elusive
agency which no one has yet demon
strassd, called fusion reform" ~
reference TO page IS Of the auditors ex-
hibit for the year ending June 80, 1886,
II will be seen that the fees earned by
the auditors office for the year were
si35slS0 On page q Of Auditor Even
sons report for the year ending June
50. 1897. the fact appears in bold type
that the fees earned for the year were
but $40. 500 10 With rare presence OF
mind Mr.. Evenson omitted from his re
port for the year ending June 81, 1888.
any reference whatever 10 the earnings
of any OF the county officers, As this
comparative table Of earnings and sal
aries has always been one OF the most
valuable ard interesting tables con-
taiued TN the auditors annual exhibit.
w are n n loss 70 conjecture why It
WAS omitted on this occasion when the
reform forces are claiming great saw
iugs In th, matter OF official salaries.
and II would have been 81 great value
10 them in proving their claim, provided.
~ course. there is airy truth In It. The
omission - thia statement leaves US in
doubt as - the exact earnings IF the
auditors office for the past year The
fact that the general earnings are $a.-
"a - less than fer the year ending
Juu, r. 1895. would indicate that IA.
l.ssens>i amount Of work required IA
~ done In the auditors office would
easily enable him 70 dispense with thc
SER ices % at leaa: one cirrk. The
sworn statement under review should
be amended 20 r,aA az follows: