The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1898-08-25
FUSION RECORD
IN KING COUNTY!
Its Triumphs on Behalf Of An Over-Taxed,
Debt Ridden, Republican Ring
Plundered Community.
FUSION IN KING COUNTY.
Peoples Party Government Decreases
County Debt by Over 100000
in Eighteen Months.

EuSlOn Administration IN klnB county
the debt left by the Republicans of $685.
g7.T has been reduced to S49S, 002.7s. in the
short space of eighteen months, or by the
sum of sl00.g74.99, which is about $40
day of debt reduction from the COM
mencement of Fusion King County Gov
eminent to June 80. 1895.
1t was the business of the Republicans
when in office to make debts; it has been
the chief work of the Fusionists to UNI
make them. Under Republican extrava-
gance King County warrants had been
financially degraded to 80 and 95 below
par. Today they are at a premium, and
the county Is doing business on cash
basis. This Is true, Notwithstanding the
county board has reduced the rate of In
terest from IA to per cent.
Not only extravaganza, but defalcations
prevailed in King County under Republic
an rule. The latter were daringly piled
up to many thousands OF dollars, about
$4,000 Of which have been recovered and
returned to the treasury through the good
work of the Fusion County Attorney.
Republican Extravaganza Exposed.
In regard to the character of Republic
an administration in King County We
quote from The Seattle Times OF May
81 1898. as follows:
In the County of King, the headquar-
ters of the Republican ring of the state.
during the fiscal year from July ], 1893, TO
july i, 1854 ttlt sum Ol SlfO,ottsOo was pdlu
to Republican officeholders in salaries to
run the county government alone. See
County Auditors report of that year. And
the Auditors report shows, upon exam
nation, that he was compelled to put,
or at least did put, 1927, 900 in the miscel-
laneous column in order to conceal the
excessive expenditures of the different
departments. When the items were prop
erly charged to the departments to which
they belonged, it showed that the eX-
penses of the different offices we're as fol-
lows: The cost of operating the County
Treasurers office was s26,70796, instead of
$l2 303. SO, as the Auditors report pretend
ed to make II appear; the Assessors Of
flee cost sN55.60, instead OF $2i90: the Sur
veyor's office cost s5646.20 instead of
S54s5; the Superintendent Of Schools Of
flee cost s36s9. SO, instead OF s1699.2s Con-
stables Seattle Precinct drew S337s45, in
stead Of s2A00: the Justices OF the Peace,
Seattle Precinct. drew s10,19925 instead of
s57l4s0; the County Commissioners office
cost $s07077, instead of $5s96.43; the Coun-
ty Auditors office cost s24. 500. instead
of S1S,030.90; the Sheriff's office, SIG, 432 II.
instead of sl5S29.60; the Prosecuting At
torney's office cost sl466O7S, instead of
ss0S5, as the report pretended to show.
County warrants were at a discount of
from 2 to per cent at that time and
the same conditions prevailed until the
election of 1896. when the Republicans.
horse, foot and dragoons,' were driven
from the courthouse hill"
Great Improvement.
The good work the present Fusion Ad-
ministration Is doing for the citizens and
taxpayers can be realized by the condi-
ton OF the finances of King County at
the present time. When the present Ad-
ministration went into office King County
warrants, which were then drawing ~
per cent. per annum interest, were being
n 49, hn ISN11u
Within few months these warrants soon
rose to par The credit of the county so
improved that the present Board of
County Commissioners found they could
reduce the interest on the warrants to z
per cent per annum and thus save this
interest for the taxpayers This they did
more than year ago. These warrants
during the past year have been selling
at more than par.
A few months ago the interest on the
county warrants was again reduced by
the County Commissioners to 6 per cent.
per annum. Again these warrants were
readily taken at par and have been sell
Ing at half per cent. above par value.
During the past month, however, the
County of King, for the first time in its
history. either in the territorial days or
since the territory became a state, has
gotten on a strictly cash basis. Thus il
will be seen that the Board OF County
Fusionists, have kept watchful eye open
for economy and good government.
A Deserved Compliment.
In this connection. and at this point.
the writer desires to acknowledge the
value to the work in hand of a publica-
ton edited by Representative A. D.
Warner of Seattle, entitled Fusion In
Washington" which brought valuable
statistics of the finances OF King County
and the State Government down to early
in the present year. These statistics have
been verified, found correct and largely
used in this publication. supplementary
10 those bringing the facts and figures
down to a later date. In connection with
the affairs of which we are now writing
he says:
A Good Outlook.
"F'rom the present outlook 1t seems the
County of King will hereafter keep on
strictly cash basis, and whenever war
rants are issued they will be Immediately
paid in cash and thereby the county will
be saved the payment of interest on any
warrants hereafter issued.
"In this connection ii may be noticed,
too, that the county rcid and bridge war
rants. which at the incoming OF the pres
ent Administration were drawing ~ per
cent. per annum interest and were at that
time discounted for about 80 cents on the
dollar, are also selling at a premium. BY
the action OIL the COuHty commissioners
recently taken these warrants are only
drawing per cent. per annum interest;
wet they are readily taken by the money
Iioaners and are selling at one-half per
cent above par. Thus the county Is be-
ing saved a large amount that Ii has
heretofore paid as interest on its county
Indebtedness. The taxpayers are COM
aencing TO realize that the present Ad-
- i5E n BUSINESS one. devoted
einterestsy,s the county. This opin-
will be coHirmed next month when
be taxpayers One to pay their taxes on
pal estate and I'D that the taxes will be
= the average LJper cent. less than they
ere last year.
1T was for this record of extravaganza,
aste reckless expenditure and absolute
sregard OF the interest of the taxpay-
Is of this state that the Republican Party
as hurled from power by the ava
nche of votes In November. 1885,
How Fusion Won.
The Republicans held power by virtue
divided opposition factions, and they
he beaten and driven from the County
easury, which they had ruthlessly loot
when these factions became united in
6. The same factions are still united
good government and the Republican
& leaders, anxious to get back at their
wor( of plumber. are seeking TO divide
IN, DE against the other so as TO Sc
victory this fall at the expense
the txpayers. They had held power
ause he Democrats, Populists and Sill
Republicans were divided. They as
ed over in 1882 with about 81 per
ofthe votes. while CO per cent.
divled into different factions and
es. In 1896 the people of this state
ne EARNED at the conditions. and
Hgh Use counsels the Democrats,
lists and Silver Republicans united
be CHAT party-the Peoples Party
e Site OF Westinghouse reclaim