The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-01-24
NEW BILL INTRODUCED IN THE
LEGISLATURE BY ). D.
BASSETT.
The Official Must Scrutinize Every In
strumsnt Filed for Record in
His Office.

Representative j. D. Bassett of
Adams county has introduced in the
lower house Of the legislature an act
to require the county auditor in all
counties of the state to examine all
written instruments when offered for
filing or recording, and require the
same to be in regular form and in ac-
cordance with the laws of the state of
Washington, and to withhold the re-
cording thereof until the same are
duly and regularly executed as he
may require.
While this occasions considerable
additional labor for the auditors in
the state it will be of great benefit to
the people in general. 1t will also
have the effect of compelling those
persons who draw up deeds, mortgages
and other papers to take more pains
with the same, and will obviate the
necessity of filing numerous deeds and
other instruments to correct errors
and defects that are made almost
every day.
The provision of the act are as fol-
lows: Z,
Section /. From and after the pas
sage and approval of this act it shall
be the duty of the auditor of various
counties of the state Of Washington,
when any written instrument is Of
fered to him for filing or recording, to
ascertain and satisfy himself Of the
following facts:
First-That the names of the grant
or or grantors as the same appear
in the body of such instrument or in
struments and as subscribed thereto
are identical in all particulars;
Second.-That said instrument or
struments bear date prior to the
time Of filing thereof;
Third-That if said instrument or
instruments purports to be an instru-
ment under seal, that the seal Of the
officer taking the acknowledgement is
thereto affixed: that his official char
acter is given under his signature;
that said acknowledgement is dated
on the same day or subsequent to it's
persons acknowledging the same be-
fore him are Identical with the names
instrument, and if the officer taking
such acknowledgement does not have
a seal, to require a certificate from
the proper officer certifying under
seal that such officer is duly autho-
rized to take said acknowledgement
to be appended to said instrument so
offered for filing or record.
Sec. 2. When any such instrument
or instruments are offered for record
ing, it shall be the duty of the au-
ditor to see that the foregoing re-
uuirements as set forth in section /,
Of this act, have been complied with,
and if it appears that they have not
been complied with, said auditor shall
withhold the said instruments from
record, mark them filed but not re-
corded because of apparent defects
and Immediately notify the person or
corporation offering the same for fill
ing or record of the alleged defect
and require the said person to recti-
: y such apparent error or errors or
defects at once and until the same
is corrected to correspond with this
act. to refuse to file, other than as
before provided, record or certify to
the filing or. recording thereof.
Sec. 8. Upon being notified by said
auditor of any apparent defect as
hereinbefore set forth. it shall be the
duty 81 any person or persons oftering
such instruments to Immediately cause