The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1917-01-18
The Way Out of the
County Government MIDDLE
Rv A. c.. Mlspaugh in the Walla Walla Bulletin

Citizens of Washington are appar-
ontlv agreed that county government I
in this state needs reorganization, and
that reorganization should aim at
qualification in the number OF cleo.
tive offices, and a concentration OF
nower and responsibility in a small
commission.
Little can be accomplished, however,
in the reconstruction of county gov
eminent without a general revision
or an amendment of the state constl-
+ntion. The present constitution was
adopted in 1889 when Washington
was a frontier state, when condl-
+;ons in all counties were practically
the same, when everybody knew ev-
erybody else, and when the abilities OF
the ordinary man were equal to the
administering of county affairs. The
state. however, has now come OF age,
Il has become populous, the counties
have become widely differentiated in
area, in population, and in economic
conditions, the long ballot has become
on intolerable anarchronism and an
insult to an intelligent electorate de-
handing effective expression at the
nolls and the lack of responsibility
and duplication of functions in county
government have become causes OF
gross ineficiency and accommodating
waste.
Nevertheless, our state constitution
prescribes that the legislature shall
establish system of county govern
ment which shall be uniform thruout
the state, specifically names the prin-
cipal county officers and designates
that all shall be chosen by election.
Under the constitutional provisions
a few minor reforms may be brought
about, such as the elimination of cor
oner and the constable, but nothing
fundamental and nothing that will ap-
preciably tighten the taxpayers bur-
den.
All the counties Of Washington,
whether sane or insane, are in the
same governmental strait jacket;
and what they need is liberation, not
legislation. Before their antiquated
system of government can give place
to a modern and efficient form they
must be freed from their constitu.
tional shackles.
Il Constitutional provision should bt
general, not detailed. They should
prescribe, not system of county gov
eminent, but rather method of Sc
curing system of county govern
ment. It's provisions should be gen
eral, not substantive. 1t should no
even prescribe the much lauded com
mission plan, nor even choice of tw
or more plans; because county gov
eminent is at present in a process o
evolution. We know that the presen
system of county government is tn
worst possible system; but we are no
vet sure what is the best possibl
system. The constitution should nc
!, attempt to prescribe perpetuity.
should provide an etremely elasti
method, method which will permit
evolution and experimentation with
minimum of danger, delay and expens
and a method above all which wi
permit the adaptation and adjustmel
of county government to the varyin
conditions of the different counties.
The progressive state of Californi
acting on the recommendation of Go
Johnson, adopted as long ago as 191
a sensible method for the solution
the county government problem.
amended it's constitution so as to pr
vide for county home rule. On its ov
without consulting the le
islature - California county m;
elect board of Is freeholders. III
board may frame charter of COVER
ment for the county and this chart
may be submitted to the electors
the county for their approval or I
lection. If approved the charter GO
to the legislature and the legislatu
: may approve it as whole or reject
} as whole. Submission to the leg
lature is regarded in California as
matter of form; for the legislature
not expected to reject charter viii
the people of county have approv
This system has been in operation
California five years; and already t
counties-Los Angeles and San B
nardino-have adopted charters; t
others - Tehama and Butte h
framed charters which have not
been submitted to the electors and {
county, Alameda, is taking steps p
liminary to charter-making. The s