The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-12-30
SEATTLE, FRIDAY. DEC. 10.
COUNTY Ann SCHOOL SYSTEMS.


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COUNTY AND SCHOOL SYSTEMS.
There has never been 30 much inter
est in general legislation immediately
prior to the assembling of the iegssia-
ture as there Ia this year. Indeed.
during the past two years. there has
been q more earnest interest In matters
OF legislation OF all kinds. state anG inu-
nicipai, than at any other Time. Ii In IN
excellent sign: and although tie cleo
ton Of q senator has It's measure OF inE
portAnce. II In OF infinitely less conse-
Quence than the character Of the laws
which are soon 70 be imposed upon the
people OF the state.
In every one of the larger eenteTa
Of population there have been meet
ings for the purpose of suggest
Ing new bills. or amendments 20 ex-
ixting laws. Upon almost every lire
Of legislation there has been a more or
less decided expression Of opinion on the
cart Of electors. and really better I'M
oerstanding by the people generally
and the members-eIect of the diverse In
tsrests and conflicting views which must
be taken into account and met in shap-
! ing statutes. The mortgage laws. the
tax laws, railroad rates. city govern
ment county government. improved
roads. justices' courts and many other
measures have been discussed in pfn~
ctple. Lawyers have suggested many
reforms In laws which viii not only ben
eft the people. but win deprive the pro-
1ession of some OF the causes which az
ford II business. II is one OF the merits
Of the legal profession. that although II
may take advantage Of existing laws 10
promote business. II most unselfishly
recommends legislation which will
lessen the need OF litigation.
Two subjects have recently attracted
local attention. One Is the system Of
county government, and the other the
retention OF backwoods' sehooihouse
methods In the finances of a complex
oemi-municipai system calling for the
use OF between 100000 and $500 900 a
year.
President Graves. acting as chairman
Of the committee on retrenchment. a
body which did excellent service To- the
taxpayers. rertinently points cut The al
most unlimited power OF county conn
missioners. Their freedom from control
exceeds tina, Of the president Of The
United States. The only check upon ex-
penditure Is the constitutional limit en-
the amount OF debt which may be IN
Cured They are at once the power
which determines the extern, ~ the levy.
the body which directs What expenses
shall he Incurred. which authorizes the
amounts u he paid. buys lis own mate
rails. checks its own accounts ana signs
the warrants authorizing the payment.
Our county officials are an homes,
body ot men. With enc or two estfaov-
binary exceptions there has never been
suspicion ~ mlsapproprta,lon or want
Of integrity on the part - esay man who
has held the osrlce 80 coanlv commits
sionsr or the Office If county auditor
the two branches ef general govern
ns"nt. II they may he 50 divided
The iasity 90 the system ia due r. the
loeseness ~ the law. Il offered ternp.a.
items 20 Suberdinates 70 eccast anaisy
venture "a petty REGULATION. ara. there q
reason to fear - "a 'itt1e Less strictneaS
tn economy than f. issirahie: bat In che
hands ~ dishonest man. IT, saxpayer
would have been So easily pluekesl va.
tim
In the school district the same reaN
t'on exists over sesa. So RAISES through
TIE hands ~ she So ratsrv tstth 80 n,a~e
sarers istcn than can ~ given ~ s.>sg
ef citizens " ho ayr asked e. 81 vs4thsa'
Compensation phet ~8ts}a ssx sAs "a
rsctiv or one competent man evevy
working 4sy ~ the &ear The s-ls.~,,
directors ass ~; even Allowed ear sare
tA~ law ye~ss'res them - rs,ee; orly >~cv
week yet t'sey a9e sssnrs>sssl - ss,,s,
shoa=anss - warrants sna Keep e ehacs
sDars ever ravws'~s>t = Es nj e,,1x ,,..
~ ne asession 20 - peet thera 90 81 =.
EXCEPT N Tserfenessyv ~av. t.st 8. s= !
rnEs'ca' ssnsNessihIstY for as. se-rw.a~x
u 90 II sheseursly. IN axsssgan - -.
ssneras dnties isssresss nuae aira g., ~