Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1909-02-22

even the assessors Office. IL Al All
That there has been an accountant
member OF the firm OF LeMaster 4
Cannon, OF Spokane. at the assessors
ONCE collecting data by way OF show
ing that there Is a discrimination In
the making of the assessment does
not come as news to the people Of the
city, but II his examinations have
gone beyond this and have been 10
the extent that they will involve All
the county official. then 1t comes as 4
very startling piece Of news, not only
TO the people at large. but the officials
OF the county as Il is stated by them
that he has made no examination Of
the books that is beyond that above
stated with reference 10 the assessor
otice. As TO whether the objects of
the present case are to be attained or
not Is for the court to say, although
u Is controversy among the citizens
that can claim good following OF.
both sides. but the general opinion
seems to be that the records ana the
books of the county officials AZ a
whole are not in such a condition that
general auditing Is necessary. or
such as to demand grand Jury in
vestigstlon.
Two Theories Advanced.
Two theories have been advanced
by those Interested In the charges
contained In the Indictment OF the
county officials by the Spokane paper.
One theory is that the arm Of ac-
countants may be interested in secur-
Ing the employment of auditing the
books. and to that end sought to stir
the taxpayers up TO a state OF agita.
ton over the necessity OF having the
books audited. This theory seems 10
lack foundation. The eseond theory
advanced is that the Washington wa
ter Power company, a corporation
that has been engaged for the past
two years In flooding the lands OF set
tiers along the lake, and In institute
ing suits in the courts condemning
their lands, is responsible for the agi-
tation because II feels that the taxes
II pays into the treasury OF the coun-
~ are too high. According to the
statement of the present assessor this
corporation sought to defeat him al
the polls, and the assessors ONCE has
experienced much trouble with II ever
since II bobbed up It's head to do BUSH
ness In the county. and there may or
there may not be a foundation for
this theory But whatever may be
the motive. Of this newspaper pub
licity and agitation. certain II Il that
II can not claim the people as it's
source, and while operations are ear
ried on behind the screens now BY
those interested If the object in view
is TO be attained it will necessitate
fight In the open. and after the pre-
liminary skirmishes In the Spokane
paper are completed, the public can
then look for an introduction to those
back OF the movement, and for the
irst time ascertain with a certainty
heir motives.
Reflect on Oficials' Integrity.
The county officials consider the
'harges made against them by the
Spokane paper as a direct reflection
lpon their honesty and integrity, and
IS wholly unwarranted. All OF them
eel satisfied that the records and
looks Of their respective Offices are
n the best Of condition, and court
he fullest investigation and examina-
ion. When interviewed with rela-
ion to the matter they said
Unfair. Says Quarles.
Auditor Quarles-'I regard the
tatements appearing In the articles
4 the Spokane paper as unfair They
cave the impression that the county
usiness is being done in a slipshod
manner. The expert made no exam
nation of the books of the auditors
hiee. and be was at work in the as
essor's Office for some time before
ven realized he was In the city. The
uditors Office is pursuing a system
book keeping followed through
he state--a uniform system-one
greed upon after much elaboration
y the aditor's of the state gathered
! convention. The state examiner
sits the Offices at least once a year.
nd the experts of the bonding CON-
CONTINUED on page four.l