The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1900-08-10
WHAT SHERIFFS COST
COmmOner Conveniently For,
gets Several Dollar Marks.
An Honest Comparison of Sherifrs
Expense Is DecisiveIy In
Canutt's Favor.

The COmmOner during the past year
and hall has been engaged in drawing
what it is pleased to think is a deadly
parallel in the matter of expenses be-
tween the county officers under p0pulist
and republican rule-nOt democratic.
Things have not gone entirely to the
satisfaction of the democratic booster,
however. Some way or other the
general average has been against the
pOpuist officials, and the CommOner an
parently tries to make even by a false
system OF investigation and publication
In regard to the expenses under Sheriff
Sims and Sheriff Canutt. Here the Com.
mOner can at least make the figurer lie.
even if the figures don't. The Com
mOner's showing has been Uniform.
The monthly expenses under Sims was
less than under the present incumbent,
in some months q considerable amount
less. The Gazette has not ALWAYS felt
satisfied of the correctness of the Com
mOner's figures, but has not hitherto
taken the trouble to prove up on them.
But persistent lying is irritating to the
bearer, and few minutes spent looking
over the warrant register for the first
six months Of 1898, and during a like
period in 1900, brought out the follow
ing facts:
In January, 1898, Sims reported on
the pay roll seven men, whose salaries
were $518 SO; personal expenses were
S312.O3, a total of $S30.61.
The warrant register for January,
1900, shows Sheriff Canutt reporting
six on pay roll; salaries $4645 53; per
sonal expenses $124 80, a total Of
$589.43.
February, 1898 = Salaries, $42O3S;
expenses, STAG 90; a total OF $5663S.
February, 19OO-Salaries, $5O6.33;
expenses, $2OO.25; a total of S7O6 SO.
March, 1898-Salaries, $626.43; ex-
penses, $171 25; a total Of $7976S.
March, 1900-Salaries, $45S.33; ex-
penses, $126 90: a total of $5S523.
April, 189S-Salaries, $643 38; ex-
penses, $129.4O; a total of $772.7S.
April, 190O-Salaries, $45S 33; ex.
penses, $79,O5; a total of $53738
May, 189S-Salaries, $3.50 A; ex-
penses, $126 so; a total OF $65724.
May, 1900-Salaries, $458.33; ex-
penses, $1G4 rs; a total OF $623.O8.
June, 1898-Salaries, $3O8.33; ex-
penses, $GS 60; q total of $3769S.
June, 19OO-Salaries, $468O8 ex-
penses, $1O2 40; total of $571.4S.
What the Figures Show.
The total expenses OF the sheriff's office
during the first elk months OF 1898 QGF
salaries and personal expenses) were
$4O71 67-an average monthly expen-
diture of $67861. OF this total expense
$3017, "a was paid to the sheriff and his
deputies, special deputies, constables
doing sherffs work, etc.
The total expenses OF the sheriff's office
during the first six months OF 1900 (fOr
salaries and personal expenses) was
$3613 1S-an average monthly expen-
diture of $6O2 20. OF this total expense
$2814 93 was paid to the sheriff and his
deputies, special deputies and cOnstabes
doing work for the sheriff.
The Gazette does not think the record
a discredit to either Sheriff Sims or
Sheriff Canutt. 1t certainly does not
show any extravaganza on the part of
the latter.
In it's pOpulistic zeal the COmmOner
conveniently fOrgets to add the populist
column of expense. 1t seems entirely in
capable of recognizing a pOpulist bill OF
expense. The COmmOner has not only
been caught at this with its alleged com
parisons as to sheriff's costs, but The
Gazette convicted the great reform"
sheet several months ago of the same
fragrant Offense against the auditor. 1t
would pay ''refOrmers" to be occasion
ally honest.