The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1910-12-23
CLASSIFICATION OF
WHITMAN COUNTY
Shall 1t Be Reduced, or Shall
Ii Remain As II Is?
Farmers Are Insistent That Il Be
Reduced, Thus lessenine Salaries
OF County Officials--Januar Is
Set for Final Decision in Matter.

The question whether Whitman county
shall be reduced from the seventh to the
eighth class was discussed at considerable
sngth before the board OF county com
missiOners Monday afternoon, about 16
representatives OF the Farmers Union
being present. besides others from differ.
erent parts of the county. The county
was raised to the seventh class by the
commissioners four years ago, the num-
Der of school children in the county at
that time being taken as the basis of
calculation, showing that Whitman
county had population in excess of
30 5000, emitting it to be placed in the
seventh class, salaries of all officers and
employees being raised accordingly, the
raise in salaries amounting to about
$4,000 year. The recent census, how
ever, disclOses the fact that Whitman
county has only 33,2S0 people, falling
below the standard OF making it acces-
sible OF being placed in the seventh clase.
The discussion was informal, not the
ACraSO iCEhhB vi Deluk NlslDley
all concediag that the commissioners
four years ago acted in a spirit OF fair
Dess, believing the county had the re-
quired population to be raised to the
seventh class. 1t developed at the meet
ing Monday, however, that Whitman
county had more children of school age
four years ago than it has now or has
had since that time. AS showing that
basing of population on number of
school children is sometimes elusive
Yakima county was cited as an instance,
having a population by the census re-
turns of Al, ,709, but showing fewer school
children than Whitman county has at
this time.
j. S. Klemgard of Pullman spoke first,
asking the commissioners to reduce the
county to the class to which it belongs
as shown by the census returns, thus
complying with the plain provisions OF
the law. He pointed out that taxes
were high, government was frequently
burden and economy should be the
watehword all along the line. He did
not complain of high salaries, but the
law regulated that matter and the strict
letter of the law should be lived up to in
all matters.
F. j. Wilmer, business man Of Ro-
salia, spoke in favor OF letting the
county remain in the seventh class, say
ing salaries we're none too high to OBJ
tain efficient service. He punctured his
remarks by several illustrations from a
business mans point OF view.
j. M. Reid of Pullman, George ".
Perrine of Colfax, Charles l.. Mackenzie
OF Colfax aad Philip W. Cox OF Colfax
all expressed themselves in favor of re-
ducDg the county to the class in which
it belongs, hence reducing salaries of
county officers as prOvid by Law OF the
eighth class.
The commissioners listened attentively,
Commissioners Ruply and Mccoy asking
questions and expressing themselves in
various ways. Finally the matter was
referred for decision at next regular
meeting of the board, which will be
Tuesday, January g. 1t would not ap-
pear, judging from the way Commits
sioners Ruply and Mccoy expressed
themselves, that they will vote to reduce
the county from the seventh to the eighth
class, Commissioner Ellis not expressing
an opinion either way.
Alter the informal talk with the COM
missiOners the representatives OF the
Farmers Union repaired to the Jury
room up stairs to hold caucus and see
what course they would pursue in event
the commissioners should decide con-
trary to their contention, it being broadly
hinted in the corridors that legal pro-
would be instituted, letting the
courts decide the controversy. A few
points are involved, and il it
goes to the courts the final decision will
be awaited with interest.