The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1913-07-18
PETITION FOR
Lower TAXES
Tax Payers and Citizens Leagues
h Ask Commissioners to
Reduce Expense

ing set OF fcCohi hinioiiA"oioiio "'oh
the Board of County Commission
ers:
To the Honorable Board of County
Commissioners, of Benton County,
Wash.
The undersigned committee of the
Taxpayers League of Benton, Coun-
ty, appointed to confer with you
with respect to the reduction OF ex-
penses in the county; that the taxes
upon the people may be reduced;
beg to submit to your consideration
the following: It is well known
and lamentable fact that the taxes
in Benten County are oppressively
high, that the people generally,
farmers, business and professional
men are in debt; that for the past
few years farm products have been
low; that business generally is dull;
that it is a great effort for most of
the people to pay interest and taxes;
that such condition will not i'm
prove until the people can catch up
with their debts. On account of
which it becomes the bounden duty
of every officer to exert effort to re-
duce expenses when and wherever
it may be done to the minimum.
A little saved here and there will
amount to considerable.
The school board of Prosser dis
trict has been requested by a petit
ton of about four hundred OF the
tax payers of the district to reduce
expenses and the same urgent re-
quest is now being made through
this committee to you as our county
commissioners to see to it that re-
trenchment is made when and
wherever it can be done consistent
with efficiency.
Therefore the committee on be-
half of the taxpayers of Benton
County recommend that you as a
beard see to it that no more deputies
or assistants be employed by the
several county officers than is nec-
essary to do the work therein; that
only efficient help, and only such
assistance as is necessary, for the
county as he would for his own bus
mess.
Furthermore we recommend the
following as to the several officers of
this county: That the county audi
tor be allowed the sum of $24OO per
year for deputies and assistants in
that Office; that the treasurer be
allowed the sum of $24OO per year
for deputy and assistants; that the
assessor be allowed $1,000 per year
for deputies; that the surveyor be
allowed $500 per year for assistants;
that the county clerk be allowed
$1,000 for deputy; that the county
clerk be allowed $500 per year for
assistants; that the above amounts
be allowed the different offices for
assistants salaries, permitting said
different officers to employ one or
more assistants as he wishes.
Under such a plan the officers
would be interested in securing the
most efficient help possible-result
economy and competency.
That the Commissioners furnish
an office in court house for prose
cutting attorney. -
aal -.
Later the following was filed with
the board by the newly organized
Citizens League:
TO the Honorable Board of County
Commissioners:
A PETITION
Whereas, there has heretofore
been presented to this board a peti-
ton signed by self constituted COM
mlttee pretending to represent the
tax payers of Benton county, call
ing for reduction of the expense
OF administration in and about
county offices and making certain