Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1902-11-13
THE COUNTY DADS
PLAY POLITICS WITH ABERDEEN
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
And Queer Politics Too. A "Iieads | Win,
Tails You Lose" Game. The Endorsement
Of City Census is Delayed Until RepubII.
can Candidate Is Safe.

can Candidate Is Safe.
The board of county commissioners
passed an order Tuesday declaring AbeI-
deem to be city of over 5000 inhabi-
tants. This is something none familiar
with the city will be disposed to question,
and of itself. would call for no more
than passing notice. But, the inside
history of this order. that undertakes to
legislate two duly elected democrats out
of office, and at the same time saddle an
additional burden of about 81 500 year
on the taxpayers of the county, makes
interesting post-election reading.
As stated in the last issue Of the
HERALD, the wise heads comprising the
county board rejected an application for
this order last May, but, in August, as
the necessity for votes for the reelection
Of two Of them became seemingly appar-
ent, they decided to pass it if the council
Of this city would certify to the popula-
ton. This the council did, and the order
should have been passed at the next
meeting OF the board--but was not.
Here is where the politics came in.
Between the August meeting and the
succeeding one the county conventions
were held, and, as two independent re.
publicans had entered the race for justice,
it was feared the democratic candidate
for that Office might be elected, SO the
order that would give the justice a
salary of 500 month, and the constable
$50 was allowed to emulate Mahomed's
coffin, and hang in the air until after
the election. In the meantime, and
until the passage of this order, eight
days after the election, this city was en-
titled to two justices of the peace and
two constables, who would receive what
fees they earned and have been OF no
cost to the county, and they were elected
on Nov. 4. Now the board endeavors to
set aside the result of the election. and
issue certificates of election to but one
justice and one constable, who will re-
ceive the salaries mentioned. No one at
all acquainted with the partisan spirit
that has animated this board in tie past
believes for a moment that had the
democratic justice and constable received
the largest vote of Aberdeen this belated
order would have been passed.
Oh no. We can readily imagine the
line of argument in that event that
Chairman Davis would have adopted.
Posing in his favorite attitude as the
watchdog OF the county treasury, he, in
all probability, would have reasoned
glibly, that there was no sense in adding
to the burden of the taxpayer anyhow,
just to help couple of chaps to receive
more money as salary than the places
would cost as they we're; that Aberdeen
would be injured instead OF benefited
by the change, and that so far as the
would.be salaried officials were con-
cerned they could wait until the state
census was taken, in 1905.
This action Of the present board is not
surprising, in view of some of its previ-
Gus efforts at using public Office as
place to play politics. Notably its award
of the county printing contract to the
highest bidder with the smallest circula.
ton, in which it was upheld by the
superior court by the unique decision,
that in partisan matters, it did not mat
ter if republican board did wrong to a
democrat at the cost of the public funds,
if the wrong did not cost too much. The
present plain partisan error is the natural
sequence of such decision, which, as
might be expected, encourages a board
only too willing to be sustained in &C.
tons that, as individuals, the members
would be ashamed Of AS the matter
may yet be determined in the courts
the democratic justice and constable
claiming election certificates-it will be
interesting. as we'll as instructive to OBJ
serve the extent of latitude allowed the
county autocrats, alias commissioners.
It will be we'll for the people to know
whether the board can nullify the votes
of the people in the election of precinct
officers. Ii the statutes sustain them.
it is a good time to have those laws
changed.
Advertised Letters.
Eollowinp letters remain uncalled for