The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1908-10-28

matter of handling his shortages
while serving the city as police
judge and the county as justice of
the peace.
The county shortage was not
made public at the time, and the
report had been removed from the
files of the county commissioners.
1t was in the hands of the prose-
cutting attorneys office until a few
days ago.
In the city shortage Judge Him.
kle was certainly given an oppor-
tunity of knowing what the expert
report would show and Of writing
letter to accompany that report.
II this deduction Is not correct
then the judge knew of the short
age existing before the experts
found 1t and had said nothing about
1t until the report was ready for
publicity.
1t is indisputable that Judge
Hinkle, republican. enjoyed an
explanation privilege in connection
with a shortage that was not ac-
corded City Treasurer Eggleston, a
democrat.
The investigation was conducted
under republican administration.
Eggleston's affairs have been ac-
counted for and that matter appar-
emily Strengthened cut The Judge
has still to explain and to make
good.
Chairman Dalke of the city
finance committee, today stated
owing to press of judicial business,
Judge Hinkle was unable to appear
before the finance committee and
discuss the shortage of S614 found
In the police court during his term,
and that the matter will be taken
up by the finance committee at its
next meeting when the report of
the expert accountants and the
shortages will be considered. There
the matter stands.
Ehe Press submits that this Is a
state of affairs that never ought to
be connected with a Judge or a
candidate for judge. giving the
matter the best possible aspect.
Public confidence In superior
courts cannot be too strictly guard
ed, for that is the only court in
which the people really participate
and to which the must principally
look for redress.
A Judge ought to sit on that
bench entirely unhampered by the
necessity of making accounting for
his official record.
Judge Hinkle ought to be de-
feated for this Office because of Il
necessity for explanation alone.
The nonpartisan movement to
elect Judge William Il. Richardson
to n place on the superior bench
of Spokane county In place of
Judge Hinkle is growing daily.
Judge Richardson is the only other
nominee for the office.
The support of the candidacy or
Judge Richardson by the members
of the Spokane bar Is growing, but
the lawyers are little chary
about expressing their preference
In print, for the reason that If the
movement to elect Judge Richard
son should fail IL might place them
In very embarrassing position.
This attitude is an injustice to
Judge Hinkle, however.
A conference OF number of the
members of the bar was held yes
terday. at which lawyers of every
shade of opinion politically were
present, and the unanimous opinion
was that the candidacy of Judge
Richardson should be supported. A
number Of young attorneys who
differ from Richardson politically
have agreed to circulate his stick.
ers at the polls on election day.
Judge Richardson has served
I eight years on the superior bench
In this county, during which he
made a record for efficiency and
ability never since surpassed. He
was elected first in 1896 on the
fusion ticket and reelected in 1900
on the democratic ticket He has
since espoused the cause of social
ism, but this does not interfere
with his ability to administer the
law as It is printed. The judiciary
election Is supposed to be non.
partisan.
In his career on the bench Judge
Richardson rendered some deci-
sions on labor questions which
were taken as precedent and up
held by the supreme court, 1t was
he who passed on the case OF the
City of Spokane vs.. Broad. in
which the eight hour ordinance on
public work OF the city was upheld
and afterward sustained by the
state supreme court after u sin.i