The Fight Over Who Gets to Count King County's Money
County commissioners hire outside experts to comb the treasurer's books, brushing aside the prosecuting attorney's claim to the job.
The county commissioners took another step yesterday toward examining the books and accounts of the county treasurer. F. Giles and E. B. Nason were named to assist F. Christman, the chief expert appointed Friday. The action was taken at the suggestion of Mr. Giles, who said a force of five men could work to better advantage than a smaller one. The clerks, it is understood, will be employed only when needed and will be paid at the rate of 40 cents an hour.
Mr. Giles was formerly justice of the peace for Birch precinct, and Mr. Nason is a well-known resident of the First Ward at Ross. Mr. Christman spent considerable time at the courthouse yesterday arranging the work laid out before him. He will be given Room 1, on the south side of the hall, where there is a vault in which the records can be locked up.
Tomorrow he will commence the task assigned to him, and will make the beginning on the books during Dr. Mitten's term. When these have been closed, he will take up the books of the ex-treasurer. In a week or ten days he will be able to estimate with tolerable accuracy the expense of the expert examination.
The county commissioners feel that in proceeding independently of Prosecuting Attorney Hastie in the matter they have the right; that he has nothing whatever to do with the appointment of the experts or the work of examining. As stated yesterday morning, the prosecuting attorney is directed once a year to examine the books and public records of the various county officers and to report on them to the commissioners. The commissioners, however, are vested with power to audit the accounts of all officers having the care, management, collection or disbursement of any money belonging to the county or appropriated to its benefit. The commissioners contend that Mr. Hastie can examine the books if he chooses, but the question of experts and of appointing competent men for that purpose is an entirely different matter. Mr. Gasch said yesterday that he would willingly turn the investigation over to the prosecuting attorney's office if he thought the office had any authority to act. Yet the commissioners, with the power vested in them by statute, feel that they have authority to investigate the prosecuting attorney, if such action should be deemed advisable.
“The commissioners contend that Mr. Hastie can examine the books if he chooses, but the question of experts and of appointing competent men for that purpose is an entirely different matter.”
The fight over who audits the county's books—and whether outside examiners can be hired without the prosecutor—rhymes with modern disputes over independent audits and oversight of public money. Then and now, the question is less whether the books should be examined than who controls the examination.
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