The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-01-29
THEY CLING TO OFFICE
Beaver Men, Defeated at Polls,
Trying to Hold Over by
Subterfuge.
fspeeial to The HeraldN


Beaver. Jan. 2S.-All of Beaver is today
watching the case of Epson VS. WOOlfen-
den before Judge MariOneaux. The evil
dence was heard today and arguments
will be made tomorrow.
Prior to the last election the county
commissioners consolidated the offices of
assessor and treasurer. Consequently each
political party put up but one candidate
for these offices. The Republican candi-
date was Charles WOOlfenden. who was
at that time county treasurer.
When the votes were counted il was
found, to the dismay of the Republican
ring, who thought they owned this coun-
ty, that the Democrats had elected the
clerk. recorder, attorney, surveyor ana
the assessor and treasurer. But with that
tenacfty which Republicans usually mold
on to political pap, Sir Charles Wool
fenden still holds on to the office of
treasurer, notwithstanding the fact that
Epson. the Democratic candidate. had ~
majority of the votes Ipson's bond mas
oeen approved, he holds the certlilcate
of election and the state board recognizes
him as the legal officer.
John f. Jones, the assessor of last year,
1Ocks with WOOlfenden in his reprehen-
sible attempt to defeat the will of the
people. and keep Epson out of the offices
to which he has been elected
Their excuse for not surrendering these
offices is that the statute preScribes that
the commissioners can only consolidate
offices by passing an ordinance, and that
in this instance they did it by resolution
WOolfenden, it is said. claims to have
had vision or dream that he was to Stlll
hold the office, but this didn't fully
satisfy Jones, who is not so visionary as
Sir Charles. so they placed their own
construction on the acts Of the commits
sioners, wrote the same to the attorney
general. He being absent. his assistant
Mr.. White, gave them an opinion that
the offices were not properly consolidated,
and that both offices were vacant, and
that they would have to be filled by the
commissioners making appointments.
The little ring was in high Jlnks
over the good news. for the commission
ers are all Republicans, and, of course,
would only appoint Republicans, but some
school boy who read Mr.. Whites opinion
in the Beaver News, told them that Of
ficeS only became vacant through reSlgna-
ton. removal or death, and that neither
condition applied to this case. So sir
Charles wrote White about the little
boys opinion, and this obliging state
officer furnished another opinion. ac-
lSnowledging the logic of the boys stand
In the meantime the commissioners met
to fix things up. They first offered Epson
the office of treasurer if he would re-
linquish all claim to the office OF assessor.
and later offered him the assessor
office if he would stop fighting for the
other, but Epson told them that he was
entitled to both offices or neither, and
would have both or fight it out in the
courts. After wrestling with the case
for some time to no purpose, the COM
missioners retired to the inner chamber
of the treasurers office, where it is said
no one is ever permitted to GO unless
clothed in their best Sunday suit, and
commissioners
must give the pass word, known only TO
the ring" There, away from the search
ing gaze of the Democratic clerk and the
inquiring eve of the Democratic attor-
ney. these commissioners no DOUBT
listened to the recital of many visions ana
dreams, also gave due consideration TO
the stock of legal opinions on hand. NOW
these commissioners, although the chair
man is the newly selected bishop Of the
Beaver ward. evidently had no faith in
the dreams and vision, and put n1tle IN
the various opinions from the office OF
the states legal light. for they passed
a resolution that WOolfenden and one
of the commissioners should. at the cOun-
a conference with Mr.. Breeder, and try to
get another opinion if possible
In accordance with the resolution,
which the clerk, acting on the advice of
minutes, Commissioner Martin and Wool
fenden performed their mission, held the
conference. secured the opinion. returned
and put in their bills for expense, which
of the county attorney. This official be-
ing no spring chicken. at once filed
suit In the district court against the COM
missiOners and their bOndsmen to recover
this expense money. winch ne claims was
illegally paid out
This county attorney, DIR. }. W. Chris
tian. has caused these commissioners no
end of annoyance. He insists on attend
ing all of their open sessions and some
times speaks right out in meetin, Dut
the latest opinion from Mr.. Breeder. Sc
cured at the solicitation of the commits
siOners. suggests that the attorney may
attend the sessions Of the county court,
but that he must be right good. and not
speak until he is spoken tos
People here, regardless Of political al
filiation bitterly denounce Woolfenden
and Jones and the commissioners come
in for a great deal of condemnation.