The Ellensburg dawn. [volume] (Ellensburg, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1909-06-03
WHY TAXES
ARE HIGH
RECKLESS WASTE OF FUNDS
State Officers Liable for Criminal
Prosecution Failed to do Their
Duty and the People Must Foot
The BilI-Thc Same Old Tune

1t is growing worse and worse
the farther the probe goes. 1t is
time to tear up the whole lot. root
and branch. The late press dis.
patches show that twenty-five
officers of the state and trustees of
the state institutions are liable for
criminal and civil action if Attor-
ney-General w c. Bell enforces
the claims of the statute of the
State OF Washington.
These men are responsible for
the deficiency appropriation of the
last legislature amounting to the
unprecedent figure of Sis, 756.6l,
OF which sum the statute legalizes
only $50, 500. The law is plain
that it is misdemeanor to expend
a greater sum than is appropriated
by the legislature and it provides
also for civil procedure to REIN
burse the state.
Attorney General Bell said, and
other lawyers fully agree with him,
that the fact of the legislature pass
ing a deficiency bill doesn't con-
done the crime or remove the re-
sponsblity of liability, but that
it is merely an act protecting the
credit and honor of the state
The only exception to the gen
eral rule the law makes is where
the general appropriations are not
sufficient to meet the expenses of
the Insane Asylum, Reform school,
Soldiers Home, School for Defec
tive Youth, and the State Peniten
tiary, and the statute then provides
how these deficiencies shall be
created
The above list does not include
the sol 900 appropriated for the
Military fund, as that bill could
not 60 through the legislature as
deficiency measure, although the
military authorities admit now that
$33, 900 of tn. sum was to cover
the deficiency in the AdJutant-
General Hamilton account with
the Olympic National bank OF
Olympia.
With the S33, 900 added, the total
deficiency during the last two years
reached the sum of Sl4o, 10. oil.
Every one had to have the approval
Of Governor Albert T.. Mead and
here is the law:
Deficiencies prohibited That
It shall be unlawful for any OF the
state officers or trustees, managers
directors, superintendents or board
Of commissioners of any OF the
public institutions of the State OF
Washington, to create dehciency'
incur liability, or to eXpehd d
greater sum of money than IS APP
propriated by the Legislature tor
the use of said public institution
or department,
Civil and Criminal Liability
Any officer, trustee, manager
director, superintendent or com
missioner, enumerated, who shaii
violate the provisions of this act by
Creating a deficiency, mourning d
liability, or expending greater
sum than is appropriated by inc
legislature for any public institu-
ton or department of this state
in any one wear, shall be indi-
vldually liable for the same, anu
shall be deemed guilty OF misoe
meanor, and upon conviction ''e' (
OF shall be fined in any sum ''o'
exceeding one thousand dollars
Liability on Bond -Any pei
son, partnership or corpol a'i'',
with whom a liability IS ATTEMPTED
to be incurred or debt contfacle'
by such officers, trustees 'iia'''s
ers, directors, superintendent OF
commissioners in violation OF the
provisions of this act shall nave