The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-11-19


REFORM ~ COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
The city government. under capable
Republican management, has been pGt
upon business basis and ig being run
On sound business principles. The new
charter has consolidated offices and re-
duced salaries and the hard times
through which We have passed have
compelled rigid economy until all ex-
travagance has been eliminated. No idle
or incompetent clerks are To be found
lounging around the city offices trying
10 kill time. The appropriations for the
conduct of the various offices have been
cut down until officers are compelled To
employ none but competent assistants
and not too many of them. II Is mat
ter for regret that the county govern
nlent has not kept pace with the city in
these desirable reforms. The legisla-
ture of 1895 laid the foundation for eco
Domicai management of county affairs
by applying the pruning knife 10 official
salaries which were cut down at least
Is per cent But the board of county
commissioners has not succeeded in eff
fecitng many reforms which should
have been made by them. Extravaganza
IL manifested. not so much In the
amount paid deputies and clerks as In
the number employed. Great pressure
has been brought on the fasion office
holders for place and each Of the three
parties embraced in the fusion move
ment has insisted on a fair representa-
ton for It's politica. workers The re-
suit has been that the fusion office
holders have kept their office tllled
with employees who, having nothing par
ticular to do. have idled their time away
In the corridors of the courthouse Many
Of these clerks are incompetent, and
could not retain clerical position in the
office of business house for n single
week
The fault IN with the board OF county
commissioners who should compel the
officers tn keep their expenses within
the estimates made by them. and on
which the tax levy each year Is based
-Four of the fusion county officers have
been reelected they have each fur
nished the board of commissioners an
estimate Of the cost OF conducting their
offices for the ensuing year These esti-
mates are based upon two years expert
ence and should be- accurate The pres
ent tax levy is based upon these estl-
mates and IT is the duty II the board Of
commissioners Ia ste that they are not
exceeded in single instance
The Post-rntelliRencer had occasion
10 investigate county affairs pretty
thoroughly during the campaign. and
has satisfied Itself thai their manage
ment has hoen needlvssly extravagaut
1t is time that thls condition II asrnirs
was ended. and 80 Gar As the influence
OF the ost-lniellisvn~er can eo. ii Will
assist in bringing them 10 an cnd. The
first Ster taken should BE- % get fid ~
inefficient and incompetent CLERKS THIS
Will reduce the number If employees i'm
the courthouse materially. as ore COM
petent man Will 10 the work ~ three
incompetent and ao IL much better.
Insist en- business methods in the saan-
agement of the oTiecs TIE conduct ~
the deputies and clerks roo often inil-
Gates their nru belief chat q public -
fice is a private snap. Thls clearly
proves that the head ~ the office lacks
executive ability ~ il endowed With
tho conscience NJ a ward het'sr. In
either case, be is net ~ 90 manage an
office
The Republicans VIII have cen,sol -
the beard ~ county commissioners after
the ist % January and Those offices
owe II to the taxpayers - 1hs ceunty
- "ufoyee economical business methods
tn county affair Tn snts work tn
hoard eao r,jy upon the gast-lnt.l,l.
eencee ~ AID an1 encouragement