The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-10-14

Ing a member of the commission, took
no part In its deliberations but was
present at part OF both the morning
and the afternoon sessions. Mr.. Lee ac-
cepted this statement as correct and
entered into the infamous agreement
which the Post-rnteligencer today re-
produces from a photograph.
Here, In plain violation Of the law. act
Ing under the advice OF Gov. Rogers
closes. political friend and chief dis
tributer OF state patronage, II was de-
liberafely arranged 70 plumber the state
fair fund Of the liberal appropriation
made by the Republican Legislature How
II was intended to account for the short
age when the legislature should meet
again Is no, known. but II must have
ard Secretary Gum should prepare an
other general and sweeping statement
such az that submitted in reporting the
fair OF 1895.
BAXTER was TO receive $500 year and
all the proceeds of the grounds This in
addition to tire board Ellis and other
sources OF revenue previously establish
Gum was TO have s6o0 year and 80
a dew snc EXPENSES when out OF town.
in addition to office rent and such other
pcrouisites a. might be picked up in
hardlrs I'll the money.
The schemers put the compensation Of
Ire at low figure. Being an honesr
man and not party to their various
plans. 800 was all he was worth TO
them.
According to the terms of the agree
ment II appears that all the commits
sioners were z have = a day When In
frequent meetings this would run to a
considers bic amount
,,ut tho cansheaf to this monument of
dishonest purpose Is the determination
shown In the last clause OF the agree
ment that not a cent of money coming
10 the commission frcm any source
should he apriied to an; object for which
thAAA
greedy raiders tf the fund. After all
these illegal salaries and allowances
were naid all moncy--aii--was % be dis
tribntad among the parties. 70 the agree
ment at the rate Df 81 a DAY.
LEES INVESTIGATION.
After the signing OF this agreement
President Baxter admonishsd the nom
bers 10 keen silence on the matter This
admonltion. however. served TO excite Lee 3
suspicion Of further misconduct by the
men whom he then held In none too high
esteem shortly after the meeting he
told OF the agreement TO n friend and
asked that the law OF the matter be
looked UP for him. On learning OF the
truth he at once wrote Gov. Rogers de-
nouncins the conspirators and demanding
an Investigation.
After waiting few days Mr.. Lee de-
~ided that he could no longer risk his
reputation In such company. He wrote
Gov Rogers again. exposing the whole
corruption OF the state fair commission.
so far as he knew OF 7. and especially
denouncine s,1e deceptive tactics by
which he had been induced TO align the
agreement and MFR Snively's connection
Herewith. with this letter Mr.. Lee pre-
scented his resignation "a state fair COM
missioner. and Insisted that II be immedi-
ately accepted This letter was acknowi-
edged by Gov Rogers as follows;
state OF Washington.
Executive Department
Olympia. MAY q. 1899
william Lee. Sr-, North Yakima.
Wash. My Dear Sir: Your letter OF
the State Fair Association. was duly re-
c~ived
II regre, that you are called upon 70
take this action, and feel that you have
tn the past given your best services TO
the success ~ what may be called n
mir. Suiveiy has been of q good
deal of assistance "a. "A member
of the state hoard OF audit md
control. for which n. hn. received
no pay whatever. On account of
this fact. aud largely. too, he
cause of sh~ further fact that
Yakima - Mr.. snivcly's town,
have deferred much to him I'm
matters connected with the state
fair.
Il hope thai the people ~ Yakima may
D. ErafiHrt nr an fncrsa sed attendance
and tnterrsi in the state fair 20 be held
there the coming summer. With respect,
1 remain. Yours very truly.
y z ROGERS, Governor"
The llne Of reasoning followed by the
governor 81 this latter q somewhat oh
SECURE TIE roua&ct{on Between Mr.
Snivriva serYtcs without pav on the
baari q agdt and control and the neces-