Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1920-11-19
COUNTY CANVASSING
BOARDS ARE SLOW
Legion Posts Can Expedite Payments
BY Urging Canvassers to
Hurry Abstracts.

Up to Tuesday evening OF this week
only thirteen out of thirty nine coun-
ties of the state had transmitted their
canvass of votes in the last general
election to the Secretary of State, and
Charles A. Foster of the election
division of that office declares that
unless the county canvassing boards
expedite matters it is practical GER
tainty that the secretary of state will
be unable to complete his official can
vass of. the vote on the bonus bill
within the thirty days prescribed in
the initiative and referendum amend
ment to the constitution for the pre-.
Torrance Of that act.
The counties whose returns mad
reached Mr.. Foster Tuesday evening
were as follows: Asotin, Benton,
Clallam, Clarke, Franklin, Jefferson.
Kitsap, Lincoln, Mason, Pacific Skagit,
Skamania, and Wahkiakum.
1t will be noted that this list takes
in only the smaller counties, with the
exception of Skagit. The large coun-
ties of the st..te including King. Spo-
kane. Pierce, Whatcom. Yakima, and
Grays Harbor are still on the delin-
Quent list.
The general election laws and the
provision Of the initiative and referen-
dunn amendment to the state constitu-
ton present peculiar anomaly rela-
tive to the canvass of votes. The gen.
eral laws prescribe the county audi
tors shall within ten days after the
election assemble the members Of the
county canvassing board who besides
himself are the prosecuting attorney
and chairman at the county commits
stoners and then proceed to canvass
the votes. and transmit an abstract
of the ofiicial vote to the secretary Of
state as soon as possible. and there
Is no limitation on the secretary Of
state as to the time In which he must
canvass the state vote as q whole. The
militia tive and referendum amendment
says however the secretary Of state
shall have the vote canvassed on
Initiatives and referendums and pro-
mulgate the measures to the. COVER
nor within thirty days after the cleo
ton. the governor then being called
ON by law to proclaim the measures
to be the law OF the state.
The initiative and referendum pro-
vision must be given effect, according
to the opinion Of the attorneys versed
In the matter, but IL the secretary OF
state faces the physical impossibility
Of completing the state canvass with
in the thirty days because the state
canvassing boards have not yet fur
n.shed him with the county figures.
no blame can be placed ON the secre-
tary Of state. Hence the bonus adher-
ents are being urged throughout the
state to get busy with their county
canvassing boards. American Legion
posts are bringing pressure to bear
where the county posts are apt to be
laggard In the matter or where the
duty of canvassing the vote is being
put on from day to day by virtue Of
pressure Of other county business.
Secretary of State Hinkle assures
the Legion that he will do all he can
to expedite the canvass on his part
and thereby facilitate the proclama-
ton on the part of Governor Hart. in
order thst the supreme court action
to test the constitutionality Of the
$11,00O,00O bond issue might be
instituted without delay.
Everything is in readiness for the
litigation and no time will be lost on
that score, in fact, If the canvass is
speeded UP .. determination Of the
validity Of the bonds may be had be-
fore Christmas. The state board Of
finance will bid Oh the bonds with
the purpose in view of investing state
permanent funds. In doing this the
state board will be acting in dual
capacity for 1t is also the board which
will arrange for the bonus bond issue
and sale. State Auditor Clausen will
thereupon refuse to issue state
warrant in payment Of the bonds and
Ia mandamus action will be instituted.