The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1939-1949, 1948-10-14
Political
ReDiQzO /.
By Ole H. Olson

BY Ole H. Olson
When voters go to the polls
Nov. 2, they will have a chance
to exercise one of the most pow
erful prerogatives they have,
namely to approve or reject
amendments to the state consti-
tuition.
For such measures will appear
on the ballot, three of which will
be of statewide import, while one
applies only to single county at
this time.
Presenting them in the order
in which they appear in the voters
information pamphlet. they are:
Senate Joint Resolution No. 4.
This amendment will permit the
legislature to fix the salaries of
elected state officials. There has
been no change in the salaries
permitted since 1889, when the
state was formed. Salaries Of six
ty years ago are still in effect.
This applies to the governor,
secretary Of state, auditor. treas
urer, lieutenant governor, attorney
general, and superintendent of
schools, and also to the members
Of the legislature. The insurance
commissioner and commissioner
Of public lands are not covered
by the constitutional limitations,
and their salaries have been adj
justed.
Protection against any unreas-
enable action by the legislative
body is provided in that the sal
aries can not be changed during
the term for which an officer has
been elected, except that the ses-
sion in 1949 can fix the salaries
for the officers then in office.
Furthermore, since the legislature
is selected every two years, ample
safeguard is inherent in the law.
Home Rule" amendment for
counties. This appears as Senate
Joint Resolution No. S. This
amendment will extend to coun-
ties the same privilege now en-
joyed by cities of more than
10000 population, namely to
adopt a form Of government, COM
mission or otherwise, which the
voters may wish to have. It is
not compulsory. If the amend
ment is adopted, the county COM
missioners may, either on their
own initiative, or upon petition
Of 1919 of the voters, call for an
election Of freeholders commit
tee Of not less than Is nor more
than Is, which committee will
frame a charter, which in turn
must be approved by the voters of
the county.
A charter may combine offices,
abolish offices, or provide for
operation of county business in
a manner deemed best for the par
ticular county, except that 1t shall
not affect the election Of prose-
cuing attorney, superintendent OF
schools, or judges of the superior
court and justices of the peace.
Any other departments may be
recognized, provided for by cleo
ton or by appointment. Expert
ence in states which have this
system, and that includes Oregon,
California and Montana in the
West, has been that the COM
missioners or legislative body has
remained elective.
s. Again, this amendment is per-
missive, not mandatory. In the
fourteen states that have such a
system, some 40 counties have
written new charters. Any coun-
ty may adopt a charter if the
people decide they want one.
The charter must be written by
citizens elected for the job, and
approved by the voters.
House Joint Resolution No. 4.
IS Simple short paragraph. It
would repeal the sixty-year-old
provision which limits county Of
ticers to two terms. 1t will, If
passed, make it possible for per-
son, who serves well enough to
deserve reelection, to continue
70 be elected to the position he or
she fills.
House Joint Resolution No. Is.
This is the one that, at the time,
AFFECTS only King county and the
city Of Seattle. It will, if adopted
make it possible for any county,
with more than 100000 popula-
tion, to adopt a city-county form
OF government. This, likewise,
IS not a compulsory provision, but
makes it permissible for such
areas as desire it and qualify on