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

the University of California, has
kindly prepared for me a report on
the county home rule situation, IN
which he says:
Theoretically, and from the point
of view of efficient state administra-
ton, county home rule is wrong In
principle. However, this applies only
to the theory of the matter
AS a matter of fact, the control, I'M
der the ordinary state administration
of the state over the counties is regu-
lated in haphazard way by the state
legislature. The ordinary state ad-
ministration of counties consists OF
apportioning among the legislators
the various political plums that are
afforded by the fixing of county sal
aries and the control of appointment.
Furthermore a strict state admins
tration imposes upon county gov
eminent which may be entirely un-
suited to the needs of a particular
county.
practically, county home rule re-
moves the above difficulties; and in so
doing offers sufficient advantages to
offset it's theoretical lack of soundness.
County home rule makes it possible for
the individual counties to fix the sal
aries, and condition of election and ap
pcintment themselves. 1t makes it
possible for those counties that desire
to make changes in their government
10 do so without the necessity Of wait
ing upon the pleasure of other coun.
ties in the matter of desired change
The greatest advantage of
county home rule is that by giving the
county power to change its form and
manner of government it places that
power in the hands of those that will
be most familiar with the needs of the
county and most likely to effect the
remedies and changes needed in coun-
ty government. It is not usual that
the state concerns itself with the need
for changes in county government, fol
it has other things to do"
| It scarcely requires argument that
board of Is men, representing the best
ability of county and intimately &C.
quainted with it's peculiar conditions
needs and ideals, will be able to frame
a more acceptable system of govern
ment that a state legislature, consist
ing of two chambers, each large ant
unweildy, each busy with a Thousand
other legislative projects, and each in
terested in all counties in general ant
in no one county in particular.
To purge the constitution of its an
tiquated provisions and to leave tn
; counties in the complete power of tn
} legislature, would be to leave the jo
half finished. Personally, favor tn
California plan but do not think tina
the legislature veto is essential. Gu
; Washington legislature might be give
t authority to provide by general law
3 for the powers and duties of count
t officers, in so far as they concern stat
t administration; and this is PRACTICAL
e all the authority the state legislator
needs for the safeguarding of til
q states administrative interests. Their
e need be no fear of county commit
i ting governmental suicide. Men al
t always most careful of that whic
g comes closest to themselves. To tt
Legislature, county government is
|, thing apart; to the citizens of Il
?. county it is a thing which vitality az
|, constantly concerns them. Moreove
# with all due respect to the members
It the legislature, the average, in respe
} of ability, is not so high as would
n the average of a charter-making boa,
: of Is leading citizens of a county; al
y while the legislature works for
is days on thousand things the chart
l. board works six months on one thin
er 1t is we'll to remember what Gov. Ii
IF ter told the legislature in 1915: "T,
E. years ago a bill was passed abolis
es ing the office of county coroner in
re except counties of the first cla
it Those Of you who were members
s. the legislature at that time will ]
a member the difficulties encounter
is and the objections made before it
ch ally came to vote. The exporter
ID. in connection with that bill gives
in ==
70
t.