The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1917-01-11
M'NEILL SITS
TIGHT ON JOB
AT PROSSER
&C. Houston Qualities but Fails
to Show up When New
Board Organizes
RASH IS THE NEW CHAIRMAN
Commissioners Bash and Pratt Go to
Seattle to Engage Special
Counsel

/
Counsel
Most counties of the state appar-
emily get along nicely with three COM
missioners, but it requires the SER
vices of four to look after the affairs
of Benton county. In fact this county
is the only county in the state that
can boast the fourth member OF the
board. There is one de jure commits
sioner. one de facto commissioner and
two Just common ordinary commits
sioners, and Jim Clements has now
acquired the title Of de functo COM
missioner. 1t appears that a de Jure
commissioner is one who should be a
commissioner but isn't and de facto
commissioner is one who shouldn't
be but is.
When the new board met for or
ganization last Monday morning E. c.
Houston, who was elected from the
Prosser district, didn't show up and
A. G.. McNeill continued to exercise
the duties of the office. County Audi
tor J. C. Syfford advised the board
that Mr.. Houston had qualified by fill
ing a surety bond which had been ap-
proved by the county clerk. MIR. Nc
Neill's right to sit on the board, how
ever, was not protested as it appears
that according to Judge Grady's de-
cision Benton county is entitled flour
commissioners, he having held that
Mr.. McNeill can continue to act even
tho his successor has qualified in the
manner provided by statute.
Just how long this condition OF af-
fairs will continue nobody seems to
know. It is thought Houston and Nc
Neill have agreed that McNeill is to
hold hown the job until the court house
scrap is cleared up and then, when the
water is fine, Houston will come in
Of course the wishes of the people OF
the county or the manner in which
they voted at the November election
aren't to be taken into consideration
The voters are merely the public and
as such are expected to pay the bills
and look pleasant.
The complexion and arrangement
of the board is changed now and it is
evident that McNeill now occupies thu
ttno" chair, while F. L. Bash, of thu
first district is welding the gavel al
the head of the table instead of play
ing the role of bump under the steam
roller.
| Undoubtedly Prosser was primet
for some lively scenes at the opening
session as all Of the tax league non
combatants, camp-tenders and hang
ers-on were on hand to cheer from tn
side lines. They came expecting, evi
IDENTIFY, that "Old Man" Pratt woul
handle himself like a bull in a chin
shop but they were sadly disappointe
for he maneuvered like a dove at
cooling bee. AS soon as the spectator
had packed themselves into the com
missioners' room and as soon as MI
Bash had been elected chairman an
= the bonds of the new officials had bee
approved, Commissioner Pratt calml
Moved to recess until the afternoo
and the fun was over.
The first move in the court hous
= controversy came at the opening {
the afternoon session when Mr.. Pra'
introduced a resolution authorizin
= Chairman Bash and himself to go
Seattle to engage special counsel
direct the efforts of the new boar
In supporting the resolution he sa
that no matter which way the ne
board faced they were confronted wit
h a lawsuit, in fact they were in as bs
a predicament as were the Six Hum
red before they rode into the jaws
death. He insisted that the ne
board should have the advice of alb
and disinterested attorneys who h;
not been in any way connected wi
the litigation already started.
Commissioner de Facto McNeill al
Prosecuting Attorney Fristoe sa
they had no objections to speci
counsel being engaged but both pr
tested against Commissioner Pratt
having any voice in engaging su
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(Contir ued on page eight)