The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1913-06-18

results In expensive waate 20 the
county In that the men employed
are not always the most efficient
and do no. give their best services
20 the county. Political oonsidera-
lions too frequently take the place
Of proficiency.
The method OF conducting the
county'H business by the county
commissioners was thoroughly in
Ycntigntcd IL WAS found that the
commissioners are IN the habit Of
holding meetings ON Tuesdays and
Wednesdays OF each week. the bal.
ancs OF tho time the South district
commissioner devoted principally TO
looking after road and bridge con.
atrucilon IN His district. and the
North district commissioner dora
likewise.
The powers and discretion ~ the
board OF county commissioners. not
only In road work but IN all other
departments OF county affairs. are
very large The statutes OF the
state confer upon the board Of
county commissioners the power
and authority and they are required
not only 90 provide for the erection
and repair Of the courthouse and
ialls and other necessary buildings
for the use OF the county. 20 lay
out or discontinue or alter any
county roads ard highways. but Il
IL the duty of the board Of county
commissioners 20 audit carefully
and allow all accounts legally
chArgeable against tho county no,
otherwlse provided for. 10 audi; all
tho accounts OF all public officers.
which include the heads OF the do
parimen,H. such as the prosecuting
attorney. the county treasurer. tho
county auditor, IN. county assessor.
the county engineer. and other Off.
GERS. and II ~ also the duty 81 the
board OF county commissioners 60
car" for the county property. and
10 manage tho county funds and
look after the collection Of the
county moneys II is tho duty Of
tho board OF county commissioners
TO examine into the working force
OF every department Of the county
and TO refuse 10 permit tho heads
more help than In absolutely 70
CURED for the proper conduct OF
the public business In that re-
gard the jury finds that there has
been a willful disregard Of the
duties OF the board OF county com
missioncrA relative 10 tho care and
inspection OF the work OF the sey.
erAl departments OF the county. and
that there has been very great
lack Of harmony In the conduct OF
county affairs among the heads ~
the different departments. extend
INK even 10 members OF the board
itself. and there 10 an entire lack
OF teamwork.
II appears that Commissioner
Hamilton and knudsen have effect
ed a working agreement whereby
their votes control all actions by
the board. minimizing az much az
possible any efforts OF the other
member OF the board. Mr.. Meken-
xle. 20 perform his official duties;
and both OF the first.named com.
missloncrs have been working. APP
parently. independently OF the com
missioner from the city, or central
district.
The jury does not believe In crit.
leising Mr.. Mckenzie for hls ae-
tons. taking into consideration the
surrounding circumstances, but by
reason OF the situation existing at
the present time, the Jury believes
that Mr.. Mckenzie 10 not now In
any position whereby he can rem.
der satisfactory service In the ~.
ture in the duties OF his office, and,
under the circumstances, we be-
leve Mr.. Mckenzie would be lusti.
fled In resisning his office.
As has been stated elsewhere In
this report. II has been the custom
OF the commissioner for the North
district and the commissioner for
the South district to work together
on matters which came up I'm their
respective districts. leaving the city
commissioner practically nothing
Ia say. and the district represented
by that commissioner practically
neglected. This system of han
ding affairs is not producing the
best results for King county. and
especially for the city district. and
we strongly recommend that the
statute be 30 changed that the
three commissioners be selected at
largo from the county rather than
commissioner from each district,
and that the boundaries OF the ex.
listing districts be abolished en-
tirely. 80 that all three of the coun-
" commissioners OF King county
will be elected nj large. and held
equally responsible for the business
OF the whole county,
COUNTY OFFICERS
The jury interviewed ut consider.
able length tho other county Off
GERS, and found tnat each officer
runs his own department entirely
independent OF other departments,
II is tho recommendation OF the
Jury that tho county officials adopt
the practice OF holding monthly
meetings of the heads OF depart.
ments 40 that more thorough
knowledge Of the various depart
ments of the county may be oh.
tanned by all Of the county officials,
It was found by the jury that at
certain seasons OF the year the
treasury department requires a