Vashon Island news-record. [volume] (Vashon, Wash.) 1919-1954, 1923-01-12
new COMMISSIONERS
IN OFFICE MONDAY
Paul Presents Resolution Pro.
vidins Sweeping Re-
ductions.

On Monday of this week the var
ious newly elected county officials
took their respective places. NO
stir characterized these ceremon-
les excepting in the case OF the two
county commissioners, Frank H.
Paul and VIM. A. Gaines.
The morning meeting OF the
board was conducted by the old
members and was 'spooch fest"
in the broadest sense Of the word.
The retiring members were told
what good, economical fellows
they had been, and were the recip.
tents of a great many floral and
verbal boquets.
However, this all ceased when
the new members took possession
shortly before noon. for official
heads were neatly Topped off and
rolled into the discard basket.
VIM. A. Gaines was elected
chairman of the newly organized
board, and presented the following
program:
Reduction of county automo.
biles.
Opposition to construction of
any more paving under the Dona-
hue road law.
Paving Des Moines highway to
the Pierce county line.
Curtailment of expenditures for
county river improvement.
Consolidation of city and county
jails and the removal Of the coun-
ty stockade to a more central To-
cation.
Sale of county farm, The Will
lows, if satisfactory price can be
obtained.
Reduction of state, county, city
and school tax levy with the goal
limit of fifty mills to the gen
eral levy.
Commissioner Paul agreed to all
of this, but filed the following reso
luton, which the News-Record be-
ieves is worthy of printing in full !:
After very carefully studying
and making a thorough and
searching investigation of the af-
fairs of King county, for the past
sixty days, am convinced that
there should be many radical
changes and substantial retrench-
ments in practically every depart
ment of our county government.
I recommend, in my official ca
pacity, the following policies, con-
structive program and advantag-
eous changes in the management
of King county business:
I most heartily concur in and
approve of the joint program of
retrenchment and changes as sub
mitted by Mr.. Gaines and myself
showing an annual saving of $52,-
$4,000 to the taxpayers of this
county; and IN addition to re-
trenchment program as outlined
jointly, l offer the following as
my personal views, policy and
further suggestions in retrench-
ment:
!. One road supervisor on
Vashon and Maury islands, and
name c. Fl. Merry for the appoint
ment, the choice of the voters of
the two islands, as determined by
an advisory election held on No
vember 7, 1922.
2. One road supervisor for all
the balance of the Second com
misioner's district, except the two
islands, and name M. L. Hamilton
for the position, in the place of
three supervisors as under the
present system, at $4,000 each per
annum, thereby making a saving
of $4,000 per annum.
3. Adoption in south commits
sioner's district of what is known
as the patrol system in the main.
tenance of main Travelled gravel
and dirt roads. South commits.
sioner's district to be divided in.
to five patrol districts, with the
employment of twenty men and
the necessary equipment in the pa.
troll districts, in lieu of about 4C
road bosses as under the present
system, making saving of ap