The Colville examiner. [volume] (Colville, Wash.) 1907-1948, 1914-02-28

certain extent the finances of the
district, dictate a report and put
in a bill of $50 or $96 apiece for
their time. This is held out by
the county auditor from the taxes
collected by the county for the
city or school district. The city
or district gets nothing by reason
of the checking. The reports are
nothing but conglomerate messes
of bunk and other than to make
friends for the head of the bureau
by lavish praise accomplish no
good.
No big deficiency or shortage
that has occurred since the bureau
was created has come to light
through it's efforts. The books
of the city of Everett were gone
over and a clean bill was given
the city by the bureau inspectors.
A few weeks later when a city
official left hurriedly for parts un-
known it was discovered that he
was short several thousand dol
lars. The books of the controller
of the city of Tacoma were gone
over and approved by the bureau.
Later it was discovered by the
city officials that a clerk was
spending too much money and
systematic check by the city
showed that he had stolen several
thousand dollars from under the
very eyes of the high-priced state
accountant. The books of the
city treasurer of the city of Tao
oma were given an o. K. by the
inspectors from the state bureau.
A short time later when Harry
Bringhoff, clerk, was arrested
it was discovered that he had
stolen more than $40, 900. None
of these thefts were discovered.
by the bureau.
Right now in one of the small
er counties of the state there is
big shortage in one Of the county
|. Offices. This. shortage was dis
covered after the bureau of in
spection had given the officers a
clean bill of health. 1t was so
large as to be evident to anyone
checking the books of the office.
Zach Stewart, former treasurer
of Spokane county, was good
fellow. -" The inspector that
checked his office so believed and
"hated like thunder" to use his
own words, to have to criticise
Zach for certain methods that
while not criminal and which
would not under ordinary circum-
stances result in any loss were ir-
regular, therefore Zach was given
high praise for the work of his
office. You see, Zach was rum
ming for the legislature and the
Lord knows that the bureau of
inspection, needed all its friends
at the last session to keep its
feeble hold on life. When Zach
faced a criminal charge the bu-
reau of inspection, created for
/ the purpose of discovering irreg-
ularities of office-holders and
keeping them in check, rushed to
his protection.
l. have no quarrel with the
present members of the bureau
of inspection, although | am in
clined to believe that they are SO
deeply indebted to politics for
their positions that they cannot
overlook an opportunity to play
politics. Any one in their posi-
ton and vested with the same
power would probably do the
same unless he had a higher
sense of duty than most of our
state officials possess. But the
whole law is wrong. The work
can be done just as well by one,
two or three expert and high-sal-
aried accountants attached to the
state auditors Office. The high
falutin' bunk that makes up the
greater portion of the bureau re-
ports could then be forgotten.
The law as proposed by the
grange is an excellent one and
covers the situation thoroughly.