The Colville examiner. [volume] (Colville, Wash.) 1907-1948, 1909-05-22


ing of tens of thousands of dollars of the funds of
the state entrusted to his keeping, while it snuffed
out bright and shining official light, has been
fortunate circumstance for the people Of the state
of Washington.
To show how wantonly and criminally careless
have been the guardians of the veal of the state,
it may be pointed out that through these years of
peculation in the cash of the commonwealth the
governor, state auditor, and adjutant general of
the state constituted the board of military auditors
Hamilton was young man, full with hope, and in
the enjoyment of the confidence of the people.
He was native son, trained in his profession.
leader of men, had never met reverse; and with it
all, the hand of help had lifted him from the level
of his fellows to such dizzy heights that we'll di-
rected shaft of criticism meant his fall to destruc-
ton. And he fell.
Governor Mead, it is said, allowed the vouchers
for expense paid out of the military fund of the
state to pass idly through his hands; and of such
light importance to him were these that they were
vised with rubber stamp, and without examina-
ton were passed on to State Auditor Clausen
Clausen it is said did not put his official seal
on them as required by law, but issued the war;
rants for the amount stated. Hamilton was
tempted by the chance for easy money, and
padded his bills. This led to forged vouchers,
riotous life a pace set that soon brought him to
the end of his race wrecked lfe heartbroken
wife. family of proud relatives bent to earth
with shame Whose fault is it?
Again. it is said that legislature of 100 picked
men from all over the land met at Olympia and
blindly appropriated a sum of money necessary to
cover a deficit of upwards of $61, 900 in the mill
tary fund for which $780, 600 was appropriated in
1897. These picked watchdogs of the state treas
uary, with eyes closed, accepted as matter of
course the request of the adjutant general that
this much money was needed in his business, and
with chuckle in the spirit that they were making
good fellows of themselves, handed out the swag
without asking about the necessity for a expendi-
ture of nearly $4,000 per annum for military
trappngs for the governor This certainly was
| inexcusable extravaganza.
At the capitol all of the state officers are main
tained not only on salary but their expenses are
paid. They have chosen TO give up their time to
the care of the state trust for their respective
salaries. They live in the best of STYLE are sup
posed to know their business and the people trust
them. If the fault should lie simply and alone in
their neglect of duty, we might not stop to notice
the result; but, by their negligence, by their abso-
lutte abandon of industry and energy, they have
set bad example to young man over whom they
have been set to watch. Had they been diligent
in their duty and set proper check upon his
affairs, he would never have reached out for the
funds of the state recklessy thrown in his path
and to be had for the picking up
If there are prosecutions to be instituted against
men in high places, let the proceedings not rest
alone against Hamilton. The people who blndly
handed the reigns Of government over to these
political brigands are now demanding that the
rascals be routed from the gomernment strong
hold.
And, too the people ought to bear a little of
this criticism these people who shut out the light
and answer only to the party CALL 1t is time to
know that political parties do not make men right.
They do not insure efficient service nor honesty.
Each and every individual citizen should exercise
his political duty with as much care, and safeguard
his action with as much jealousy Of his personal
rights as he shall demand of the public servant he
seeks to chose.
If the state military board has flched from the
state treasury $1,000 because of the alleged care
lessness of the governor and other members of the
auditing board, what may we expect has happened
in the many other official commissions of the state
that have the power and authority to incur ex-
pense and pay the same at will? There is the
state tax commission, the state railway commits
sion, the state board of education, the state COL
leges, the state board of audit and CONTROL and
number of other minor boards, such as the state
dental board, the state board of health the state
board of pharmacy, and other high commissions of
lesser Importance. 1t would not require long for
small errors and indscreet expenditures in each
one of these boards to foot up total of half
million of money surreptitiousy removed from the
strongbox of the state: