Benton County's Courthouse Fight Turns Into a Four-Commissioner Circus
A newly elected commissioner is kept waiting, a courthouse contract is let in defiance of a court order, and $125,000 in bonds leave just $1,362 for furnishings.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Most counties in Washington get along with three commissioners, but Benton County has four—or at least a de jure commissioner, a de facto commissioner, and two ordinary commissioners. When the new board met at Prosser last Monday morning, E. C. Houston, elected from the Prosser district, did not appear. County Auditor J. C. Syfford advised the board that Houston had qualified by filing a surety bond approved by the county clerk. A. G. McNeill nevertheless continued to exercise the duties of the office. No protest was made against McNeill, because Judge Grady had held that Benton County was entitled to four commissioners and that McNeill could continue even after his successor had qualified under statute. F. L. Bash was elected chairman, and McNeill now occupied the “no” chair. Commissioner Pratt moved to recess until afternoon, disappointing spectators who had expected fireworks. At the afternoon session Pratt introduced a resolution authorizing Chairman Bash and himself to go to Seattle to engage special counsel for the new board, saying that no matter which way the board turned it faced a lawsuit. McNeill and Prosecuting Attorney Fristoe objected to Pratt having any voice in engaging counsel. Meanwhile, Judge John Truax issued a restraining order citing the new board to appear January 17 and show cause why they should not disavow the old board’s courthouse contract. The Supreme Court had held up further bond negotiations until January 15; Judge Linn’s January 3 order forbade completing the site purchase or letting the contract. Commissioners Clements and McNeill violated that order last Friday by letting the contract to the Ferro Concrete Company of Seattle, and were cited to appear January 31 on contempt. A representative of the Spokane Brick & Tile Company called the letting a frame-up and said the plans and specifications were incomplete, making an accurate bid impossible. With $9,500 for a site and $6,460 for the architect, the contract totaled $123,638 of $125,000 in bonds, leaving $1,362 to furnish the building—and plumbing, heating and lighting were not yet provided for.
“Of course the wishes of the people of the county or the manner in which they voted at the November election aren’t to be taken into consideration. The voters are merely the public and as such are expected to pay the bills and look pleasant.”
The fight over Benton County’s courthouse was really a fight over who controlled public money and public buildings—and whether a court order could stop a contract already in motion. Modern readers will recognize the shape of it: expensive public works, disputed bids, and officials dug in while the bill comes due.
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