The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1917-01-18

ment which was submitted to the leg
islature of 1915:
"The legislature by general and UNI
form laws shall provide for the man
ner and form Of county, township, pre-
cinct end district form Of government
and for that purpose may classify the
counties by population"
Such proposal gives the legislature
power to cimplify county government
and would probably be some improve
ment over the present system since
the initiative could be invoked to Sc
cure the desired simplification; but it is
open to the following objections:
% No one is competent, at the
present stage of political thinking, to
frame system of county government
which would be generally acceptable |
or permanently successful;
(2) At a time when county gov
eminent is evolving no county could
adopt an advanced type of government
unless a majority of the whole state
were first converted to it;
(3) It would prevent the adapta-
ton and adjustment of county govern
ment to the peculiar conditions, needs
and ideals of the different counties;
and saving the doubtful protection at
forded by the initiative and referen-
dunn;
az It would put the counties at
the mercy of the legislature in regard
to many matters which concern the
county and not the state;
90 It would make county govern
ment subject for legislative log-roll-
ing and partisan bargaining; and,
(6) The legislature is generally un
co. The legislature is generally
untitled to deal with the subject.
Another method which aims to give
the counties limited choice in regard
to their form of government is the op-
tional plan which is embodied in pro-
posal submitted to the New York con-
stitutional convention in 1915;
"The legislature shall enact laws
providing for optional plans for the
government of counties for submission
to the electors thereof, but no such
plan shall take effect in any county
until adopted by majority of the
votes cast by the electors thereof at
1 l.. lo1l %1,o cl
ture may direct" .:.
The optional plan, while it does not
impose uniformity on the counties, is
open to the following objections:
| (1) It still leaves the counties un-
der the tutelage of the legislature:
~ It still prevents a full recog.
milton of local conditions, needs and
ideals; Ire .-e.. 50 .-o-.. FOX.
/ (3) Keeping the initiative in the
hands of the legislature, it prevents
one county more progressive than thu
others, from experimenting with al
advanced type of government; and,
!, (4) It entrusts the legislature, no
only with the drafting of one plan o
: county government work which j
, is untitled to perform-but entrusts j
5 with the drafting Of several plans
? and experience, as well as common
e sense, shows that the more plans Their
' are the least acceptable each particu
e lar plan will be. ... .....-.. X.
e The conclusion seems inevitable tina
e the California plan of complete HON
: rule should constitute the basis of an
e amendment to the Washington consti
h tuition. The present system is strai
e jacket; the optional plan is ready
a made "hand-me-down," made for e1
e erybody and fitting nobody; but tn
d California plan is a true "made-tt
r, measure" method, fitting all becaus
# made for each. Besides the adva1
It tages already mentioned, the Califol
Re MIA plan has to recommend it:
d (1) It is the only new method {
d effecting changes in county govern
20 ment which has made successf
r trial; indeed, it is the only one while
9. has had any trial at all;
s. (2) 1t is the method most likely
70 win when submitted to popular vot
h. because it has behind it the examp
IL of progressive state and not OF
IS. boss-ridden, Observation-Disclosures, +
of dictionary state like New York.
e. (3) It originated in the West al
ed seems to be adapted to Western conc
n lions and to the genius Of the Yves
ce ern people.
ut During its long history the count