Vashon Island news-record. [volume] (Vashon, Wash.) 1919-1954, 1925-10-23
A CITY PAPER SPEAKS

This paper is not under obliga-
ton to any political party or indi-
dual and has no axe to grind cx-
cepting in so far as the welfare of
the large community which it rep
reSents is concerned. Any criti-
cism which we have to make On
the county administrative is here
fore absolutely unprejudiced and
unbiased, and we have refrained
from entering into any discussion
on the various questions which
have arisen in county politics.
The time has now come, howev-
er, when right thinking people
cannot sit idly by and watch the
antics of some of our county Off
cials and remain silent.
At the recent budget hearing,
Commissioner Brown refused to
vote a secret fund of $4,000 for
the county prosecutor. He stated
as his reason that he had owned a
saloon at one time and was not a
shamed of it and did not believe
the prohibition law could be en-
forced. 1t is not hard to see
where his sympathies lie. Com
missioner Paul also voted against
the appropriation, but our great
and glorious free press omitted to
state that he had consistently vot-
ed against secret funds and would
continue to do so. If Commission
er Paul's vote was influenced by
doubt as to the sincerity of the
party who would have the admin
|istering of this secret fund his ac-
ton is to be highly commended
and he is entitled to the gratitude
of the taxpayers, who are mind
full of the fact that campaign
funds will be required by some of
those running for office during the
coming year Shades of the ear
wig bait fund. Mr.. Gaines, the
leader of the old gang, refused to
vote. AT least we respect The man
who has the courage of his con-
victions and is not a moral cow
ard.
Mr.. Colvin, in the course of
grandstand peroration, informed
the board that he had on his desk
the names and addresses Of resorts
operating in flagrant violation of
The law. Evidently all he has to
nave to do his duty is $4,000 more
of the taxpayers money. Mr., Col
vim also has on his desk number
of sworn affidavits charging GER
tain county employees with the
misuse Of county funds and mater
ial. What does he have to have
to enforce the law in these cases?
He has the sworn evidence, no Sc
cret investigation fund is neces-
sary here. We are loath to be-
Iieve he refrains from. action for
fear he might tread on the toes of
the old gang to whom he is indebt-
ed for his job.
We are reliably informed that
there are about sixty deputy sher-
ifs whose sworn duty it is to en-
force the law and who are always
at the disposal of Mr., Colvin's Of
flee. In addition to these Mr.. Col
win already has two secret inveS-
tigators working out of his office
at combined salary of So, 5,040 per
annum.
The time has come for plain
talking. Allegations have been
made for years past Of wrong
doing by county officials. Now
we have the evidence and no ac-
ton is taken. If the prosecuting
attorney is derelect in his duty
and false to his oath of office, then
the taxpayers vii be compelled to
take other steps to see that their
money is not dissipated. Mr.. Col.
WINS glaring inefficicncy is ad-
mitted by him in his "Opcn Let
ter" which is a masterpiece of lit
erary buffonery without parallel.
The whitewash is barely dry Oh
Dupen when, 10, we have another
county employee undergoing a
similar process of purification.-
North End Review. Seattle.