The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1921-04-14
PRATT ANSWERS
JURY. CHARGES

llAll AlVOWEllO
! JURY. CHARGES
missioners that any effort even had
been made in that direction. If the
grand jury had any real evidence of
such thing being done and did not
lndict the guilty party, want to go
on record as saying they were more
dlrelect in their sworn duty than any
breach OF duty they have charged the
county officers with. If there was
no such real evidence, such loose talk
is III becoming to any body of men.
Much space in the report is taken
up about supervisors of roads. AS /
see it, each commissioner is respon-
sible for the official acts of his ap-
pointees under him in the perform
| ing of their duties, and is under heavy
| bond to the county for its protection.
1t seems to me a supervisors bond is
more for the protection Of the COM
missioners than the county. However,
let me say that District No. 8 now
has supervisor under bond as rec
commended.
Far be it from me to say anything
derrogative regarding the efforts of
the grand jury to get at the facts, but
/ must say that in the manner of their
presentation to the public, it is patent
to everyone who reads the report care
fully, that it is manifestly unfair-it
goes a-fishing mostly and drags up
alleged Irregularities in district
and then comes back and tries to lay it
on to the Board Of County Commits
sioners and complain because they did
not know of it and stop it. Stop and
| consider for a moment that each dis
| trict has it's own commissioner who is
supposed to have full charge of same.
That each commissioner is under bond
of $75OO.OO to protect the county and
district from any illegal acts and as
| a protection for the other commission
| ers who must sign the vouchers for
each district, and then consider that
under the law the auditor does not
send out warrants for navment of
any bills for ten days after they are
| allowed and published so that any
taxpayer may stop money being paid
out wrongfully. And you will ask your
self why some of the alleged warrants
were not held up by those who claim
to have had guilty knowledge of these
things. just to speak plainly, is it
reasonable to expect county COM
missioner to be mind reader and a
Sherlock Holmes and the auditor a
detective to sleuth out alleged acts
which after one hundred witnesses
had been brought in to testify about
and all the county records raked and
scraped by state expert checkers, could
not be established to certainty
enough to bring in an Indictment at
ter three weeks arduous effort and
steady work by seventeen men.
It is an open secret that the grand
Jury was somewhat short on harmony
when it came to making report, and
several minds failed to track. The
result it is said was compromise
Quite a contingent of this number
seem to think that board of county
commissioners can be made up whose
| minds will meet on all important sub.
| iects before it. In this conclusion,
am afraid they are too optimistic sc
| long as the board is composed of three
members representing three different
districts with divergent ideas and in
terest-iust so long the conclusions
reached and methods employed will be
the result move it less of compromise
human beings will be in the board
same as they made up the grand jury
| Concerning the recommendations
! contained in the grand jury's report
| it seems to me very little fault can DC
j found with them by any reasonable
person. To my mind they are the best
part of it. certainly am in sympathy
| with the suggestions made and shall
do every thing in my power to see thai
the sentiments expressed are put int
effect so far and as fast as practical
| Before closing / want to refer 6
the board question again and to cal
the attention of the grand jury TO tn'
fact that these boards are in effect on
and all and if they have in their hand'
any real proof of any money that na'
illegally, it is their duty to turn owe
been diverted from the county purs'
such evidence to the county attorney
that it may be restored to the count.
treasurer.
It may not be amiss to draw atten
) ton to the fact that the calling O
this grand jupry represents "A Stat
of Mind" that exists everywhere to
day. People are confronted with tn
largest tax bill they ever got ant
find themselves in the worst possible
shape to meet it. This is true not on
ly of counties, but state, nation ant
municipalities are alike in this regard
To Law violent hands on any who ar
in authority is the first impulse OF
large number of people whether it re
suits in more waste of funds or not.
believe that a little reflection and calm
deliberation coupled with some ear
nest and honest effort to correct tn
evils that will solve the problem ant
leave the community in better shap
for cooperation and future harmony
than any other course that can b.
pursued. Personally hope to see tn
advent in the very near future OF tn
time when politics will be eliminate
from county affairs and a business
manager substituted. 1t may no
prove all we would expect of it. Tn
HUMAN question will always be
factor. In the meantime let us max
the best we can of the antiquated ma