Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1906-11-15

the court house was sufficient as il stood
according to this authority-and after
election competent committee" of the
chamber of commerce found that some
repairs and improvements should be
made upon it, and four days later it is
discovered that the building is "unsafe,
insecure and inadequate" The question
with the taxpayer is, how much is the
rake of, and who gets it? 1t was al
legged in the campaign that if a 100000
building was provided for at Hoquiam,
it would cost $3.50, 900 before it was com.
pleted owing to the grafters at this end
OF the line. If that be true, it is safe to
assume that it will cost 81 ,OOO, 900 to
erect 100000 structure at Montesano,
If the bunch that worked this bunco
have the management.
Even if no such statements had been
made, and the need for new building
was generally admitted, the uneeemly
haste in this matter is ample ground for
suspicion. Why this rush, and what
does it mean? 1t ia deliberate attempt
to forestall the will Of the people as ex-
pressed at the polls just a week before
this hasty action was taken, and, as the
! responsibility for the scheme rests upon
| Commissioner Davis, it IS natural to look
F., for his reasons. This we shall endeavor
to do.
Commissioner Davis has been honored
| politically beyond any other man in the
history OF Chehalis county, and especially
by his home city. Hoquiam. He is the
only citizen of the county, and very
probably of the state, who has has ever
been honored with the offices OF state
representative and county commissioner
at the same time, and it swelled his head
until he became fully convinced that he
was "It," and that when he took snuff it
was the bounden duty of everybody, es-
pecially republicans, to sneeze.
Last spring Representatives Commits
sioner Davis was an ardent advocate OF
the removal of the county seat. He was
also a candidate for state senator, and
when-to his exceeding surprise at the
audacity-this honor was denied him, he
began to sulk. From the sulks, to a
man OF his disposition, to secret treach-
cry is but a step, hence it was but a
short time until he was quietly opposing
the removal, thereby betrayng his home
town. His official position made him a
valuable ally to the bunco steerers, as he
! had his pockets full of roads and bridges
to distribute, and if ever the secret history
OF the late campaign is written, it is
highly probable that promises OF such
things carried a considerable vote. I'm
Montesano were on the quiet, but
whatever were the terms-he delivered
the goods on that occasion. AS he is not
altogether foolish, it is presumed he
knew that when he signed that contract
he was signing his political death war.
rant so far as Grays Harbor is concerned,
so, vale, Davis
The action OF the commissioners, in
making Il contract for plans for such an
expensive building without asking for
competition, may be resisted in the
courts, and so the contamination OF the
nefarous scheme be defeated, but even
in that event, the county stands good to
pay Architect Gaunett 81 500 as called
for by his contract.
, 1t is suggested in some quarters, and
with some reason. that the natter be lie,
90, and allow the eastern end OF the
county TO pay the bill, as most of the
| gulled live in that section. This could
be accomplished by dividing the county
, which II the harbor delegates in the
|, Legislature were to begin al once cam.
} paign for it with the members through.
out the state, could be accomplished be
. fore February /, and Grays Harbor coun.
ty could build such court house as i
wishes to pay for, and Chehalis would
} have its 100000 (sl 900 ,OO0) structure
, as we'll as the inestimable privilege o
paying for it.