The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-04-07
TAKE TINE TO CONSIDER.
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS NAY NOT
PURCHASE NEW iNDExEs.
Numerical SYSTEM trEesa-AdStre
of Prosecuting Attorney Has Brra
Axked-CpnsrSct Not Yet >iGned-

TIE county commissioners have nraeti-
caliy decides 10 take 10 further steps 10
w@Ea installing "A tract Or numerical
- stem II aas2sN4ng the records ~ real es-
tate TRANSACTED IN the esanST ssssitoy
office for ss- pressa.. The lesa iSs 81 ss'ea
a. slcp his been seriously questioned and
sosGe do4o. has arisen as 10 whether tie
practical utility 81 the new Indexes wii De
sufficient 10 justify heir heavy eest,
AZ any rate Iae contract which the
beard On Wednesday decided 10 enter tnto
with H. A. Knapp and u. II. oias- viii
probably not he signed until the board mas
made a mare thorough investigator into
The subjeSi of record indexes. To me ex~
tent this condition Of affairs Is due 70 TIE
protest lodged with the board yesterday
morning ny delegation CT professional
ahsTfactors. who called 10 express iaeaf
disapqraNai CT any letting al tsr contract
TO Knapp ana 0ias without open COMPETE
1ioi Ii WAS explained 80 them ;aas the
contract had not yet been LEI, and would
not be without due consideration.
In the meantime. Prosecuting Attorney
McElray Is looking up the law. as the legal
adviser Of the county commissioners lie
said yesterday that he had nor yet come
10 any conclusion regarding the matter,
but that he was certainly Of the opinion
that the installing OF suca an index sys-
solved upon without mature consideration.
The powers OF the commissioners. Mr.. Nc
Elroy said. are very great in matters u
county administration, but he was not pre-
pared to say that they would not be ex-
ceeded were system OF numerical III
dexes 10 the county records Ia be adopted.
The legislature. Mr.. McEiroy said. had
expressly legasizea the system OF indexes
now in use, and while 1t could undoubtedly
I'D 4pt..s
SO II became therefore. something %
question whether the commissioners could
go beyond the legislature. The expense OF
the new system. MIR. McElroy stated.
would undoubtedly De heavy. and one not
10 ho incurred without full investigation
of the utility OF the proposed index.
County Commissioners Smith and Boyce
talked in the same strain yesterday 1t
was not their intention, they said, 10 in
any way exceed their authority. and II the
prosecuting attorney thought they would
do so by adopting The new system OF in
dexes they would abandon the idea with
out demurrer. They also declared their
intention Of finding oat something about
the working Of the SUSTAIN IN Spokane
county before going further.
e L. Blaine, OF the ahstracting corpora
tion of Osborne, Trenrcr & Co, who Is
thoroughly posted In regard to the county
ANNItDf fssDfIS. Saiu yesterday lfidt ht
was satisfied a numerical or tract sys-
tenn OF indexes Would not serve the needs
OF the general public any better than the
system now in use. and that While he had
no objection 10 the new index II the pub
lie wanted IL. he was opposed 10 the ex-
penditure as a taxpayer.
The new indexes will cost. placed on
the table said he. mot less than si5.e1.
provided they are properly made. / have
calculated
instruments OF record i'm the auditors Of
flee. which affect the title TO real estate.
and each one of these Instruments Will
necessitate FIVE descriptions under the
contract with Knapp ard Odds. as l con-
strae IL This makes i.so1.11 descriptions.
for which tae county is TO pay pa cents
each. or $4,000
And then the index fs only partially
complete There are the records Of thu
probate court. Ct ~. Superior cour. and of
the United States district and eircui,
courts 10 be considered IL the index ~ TO
be- made complete. and | cannot see the
use OF 1t If IL is not complete
1t has been complained that our present
system of indexes Is good enough but nst
accurate This however Is the fault OF
political system which changes index
clerks after every election. and not OF the
more complicated. and I venture to say
that where one clerk competent to keey, II
can be found. ten who can keep the pres
emf indexes perfectly Will he discovered
And II ths, county Is to have the new
system, we believe that II should let tn.
contract after an open competition as |
Told the commissioners this morning