Vashon Island news-record. [volume] (Vashon, Wash.) 1919-1954, 1923-02-16
PAUL BRINGS ABOUT
SURVEY OF OFFICES
Commission Believes $500,
900 can be Saved on
County Payroll

Frank H. Paul, county commits
sioner for the South district,
threw a bombshell among office
holders and county employees a
few days ago when he declared
that the King county payrol.s are
overloaded with unnecessary en-
ployes; that extravaganza is ram-
pant, and that numerous irregu-
larities and general inefficiency
is costing the taxpayers thousands
Of dollars every month. The up
shot of the matter was that he has
introduced resolution calling for
a survey of conditions. This was
passed by the board and the Seat
tie Chamber of Commerce, the
Rotary club and the Tax Reduc-
ton league has each been request
ed to appoint representative to
make the survey and report to the
board.
Mr.. Paul's action is taken after
careful investigation Of exist
ing conditions. lie says that the
payroll in .he court house alone
is nearly 100000 year and he
believes it can be reduced at least
100000 without impairing the eff
ficiency Of any Office.
In an interview at Seattle Mr.,
Paul said: II became candidate
for county commissioner because
a large number of persons in my
district asked me to do so. They
said they wanted somebody who
would vigorously oppose what
We're generally believed to be ex-
travagant practices in county af-
fairs. | was elected on that plat
form and | am going to try to find
out if that program cannot be put
into effect. | want to see if we
can't reduce some of the expenses
which are making taxes so burd-
ensome, Maybe it can't be done,
but l am going to try.
1.-The county commissioners al
ready have pruned the expenses
about $4,000 but that is only a
beginning. | believe the public
expects and has right to demand
that we go still further and put
an end to every unnecessary ex-
pense.
Zone item of expense that be
lcieve is entirely unnecessary is
the maintenance of so many coun-
ty automobiles. Last year the cost
Of operation and maintenance OF
county machines was about $780,,
600. That sum can be greatly re-
duced without in the least i'm
pairing the efficiency of any de
partment. For instance, | do moi
believe it is right for officers to
ride to and from their homes and
the county-city building. Neither
do | believe it is right for a coun.
ty officer to drive his official ma.
chine into the county garage Sat
urday night and put ten gallons Of
gas into tne tank 50 that he car
spend Sunday on a pleasure trip
One Monday morning | countec
seventeen county machines com
ing in from where | don't know
but the only conclusion | coulC
come to is that they had been ou
over Sunday, That is not right
''The payroll in the county
building alone is not far from ont
million dollars a year. The tax
payers ought to be getting pretty
coed service for that but lot o.
employees dent seem to think 0.
that. The fact of the matter ther,
is a genera! looseness and lack o,
efficiency all along the line and til,
eight-hour rule is a joke. Th'
only reason | am leaving my bust
ness to serve on this board is tt
see if | cannot help change thi
condition.
II do not want to give the i'm
preston that every county officia
and employe is loaling on the Job