The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-10-19

Since the beginning OF the present cam
paign the apoiogists for the Rogers re-
FORM regime have prated constantly
about an alleged saving OF expense 70
the state In the management through tne
board Of audit and control OF the various
state institutions. Here. as elsewhere. IN
claiming credit 10 which he Is not en-
titled Gov. Rogers has laid himself open
to the well-substantiated charge OF In
sincerity and has betrayed the weakness
and fnefnciency OF his administration
The promise that Rogers made to the
people of the state Of economy In the
management OF tho state institutions. as
compared with the last Republican, admin
istratIon, has not been fulfilled. il was
forgotten az soon as the governor under.
took the Job Of turning the state institu'
lions and patronage over TO his friends,
Turner, Sniveiy and Lister. for the pro-
motion of his own political ambitions and
the perfection Of a most corrupt and au-
tocratic political machine.
A. the official records at Olympia show.
the board OF audit and control has cost
more In actual money to the people Of
the state than the old boards OF trustees.
The money cost. however. has been small
In relation TO the loss In efficiency OF
service ~ compared with the last Repub-
iican administration. No saving of few
dollars. which, by the way. was never
made. could compensate for the absolute
Generalization In every branch OF the pub
lie service which has been ruthlessly
wrought by Gov. Rogers and his political
machine. the board Of audit and control.
During the last two years OF the Nc
Graw administration the old boards Of
trustees drew for mileage. per diem and
expenses from the state treasury. for the
i've institutions now under the charge
Of anively and Lister. the sum OF 1854 rs.
The appropriation for the hoard OF audit
and control. every cent OF which will he
exhausted long before the legislative APP
preparation OF 1901 win be made. was s. 500
Thus II appears that instead Of making
a great saving. Of which Gov. Rogers and
his defenders have boosted, the board of
control has cost the state sff5 more DUR
ing the years lssa-i90o than the old boards
OF trustees did during a like period under
Gov. MoGraw.
To secure Absolute Control.
The record Of the Rogers board Of con-
troll IL unsavory from its very beginning
II was designed for the sole purpose OF
placing the absolute control OF the state
patronage in the hands OF Turner and
Rogers. that they might rule with iron
domination sometimes varied by golden
rersuasion) the Democratic party. The
legislature of 1872; passed the act creating
the state board OF control, after the most
persistent lobbying by Lister. Snivsiy and
other political retainers OF Gov. Rogers
The bill provided for the lawful expen-
dlture OF 5000 and then failed to make
an appropriation therefor. However, the
present beard got around triing de-
feet like that and In iSa7-s charged up
all expenses 90 the maintenance funds OF
the different Institutions. and In so do
ms technically violated the law and lg-
nored the legislature.
Tho bill establishing the board passed
the senate March II. 1891, minus the
emergency clause which. according TO the
senate journal, failed TO pass. receiving
but eighteen votes. while twenty-five were
necessary
The governor was the person primarily
Interested In the quick handling OF the
state patronage. Yet he found a means
for defeating the expressed intention %
the legislature. In which his own party
had an overwhelming majority. % de-
laying the operation % the act for the
constitutional ninety days The governor
and his friends were deeply disappointed
and ehAgfined at The plain expression OF
want % confidence in the Administration
~ the populisi legislature. hut some.
thing had 20 be donn quickly 20 make
certain the plans % RaseFs and Turner.
and 50 u same 20 pass that when the sos.
sion laws we're prlntcd the law was
found "a contain tho emergency clause
NAlch had failed 20 pass the Legislature
The taxpayers 90 the state may we'll
AIS. she f. responsible for this crime
against the law % the stster
ssvtng tna.r Fermer System.
Tire total cost ~ the boards ~ trustees
ef tho two asyiuns. the peuitentsAry. re-
fern school and soldiers home during
the nFs, seventeen months 90 The last two
years 81 the Mclsrsw administration was
e&e Tbs expenses of khe board of con-
irol. ApsA !. issi. % October iA iss ,sae