The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-09-24
Rogers and the Board of Control.

The fusionists are claiming great
credit for themselves because. as they
say they have established state
board of audit and control. through the
work of which 1t has been possible to
manage the institutions of the state
better and more economically than was
the case when these institutions were
under the direction OF separate boards
Gov. Rogers has been pleased to take
some OF thisscredit TO himself, to insist
that 1t was one of his pet IDEAS and for
any good that has resulted from the
establishment of the board to demand
proper acknowledgements for himself
and the reform party with watch
he was connected at one time.
AS matter of fact. the matter OF
placing the management OF our state
Institutions under the control of a sim
e.e board was something taken up by
the state legislature before the So
called reform" party developed any
considerable strength. As Is set forth
in communication from J. OBJ. Sco-
hey. published In another column, a BILL
providing for single board OF control
was introduced in the legislature of
1895. Mr. Scohey and Gov. Rogers were
members of the house in the legislature
OF that year and the former shows In
his letter that Rogers and nearly all OF
the other reform members of the leg
islature opposed the measure. Although
many believed that the system Of a sim
gle board was at least worth a trial
when II came to the indefinite postpone
nent Of the bill. Rogers and nearly all
his reform friends voted for the post
ponemens II was believed at the time
that he objected TO the measure because
he thought It was giving too much au-
thority 10 ar administration TO which
he was politically opposed.
Two years later Rogers was inclined
20 look NJ the matter in a different
light HE was then governor. ana con.
ferriug upon him power to appoint
single board for managing all the In
stiiutious OF the state was something
eminently proper. II was all wrong TO
give that authority Co another man OF
different political party: IL was all
right to clnthe himself with the prerog-
alive AZ private citizen OF Puyallup
Rogers had no particular interest in
the establishment % single board Of
control. As governor 81 the state. with
authority 90 MAKE up that board. he
had a sood deaf ~ interest IN II.
The state board o. audit and control
was therefore created in 1891. and the
governor has seen 20 it that OILY trust
ed friends ana advisors composed ts
membership Undoubtedly II could
have worked soute measure o. economy
70 che management % the state insti
buttons, as was claimed Tor 81 IN 1895.
when R0gyrs opposed 81. but there arr
rumors that the fidelity - the board to
che publc Interests has not been What
lt should have heen. It's members
seem 70 have abored Pa behalf % Rog-
srs rather than tor The benefit q the
state For three years the board has
Travelled from one end OK the state 10
the othcT booking g the condition 81
the Rogers political fenees and inclden-
tally giving a uuic attention 70 the
state Institutions. Fos the past year
the chief business ~ the beard has been
'a draw Down pay from the state and
work for the reconciliation II Rogers.
Judging from the feelns shown in the
last fusion convention, the latter por-