When Populists Ran the Courthouse, County Warrants Fell to 74 Cents

Whatcom, March 31.—Special.—The recent order of the Populist commissioners dismissing all clerks in the various county offices and reducing the salaries of all deputies goes into effect tomorrow, but it will not be complied with except, possibly, by the county clerk, who is also a Populist and the brother-in-law and chief clerk of one of the Populist commissioners. The auditor, treasurer and sheriff will continue to employ whatever clerical assistance they deem necessary for the efficient transaction of public business, and if the bills for the services of their deputies are not allowed by the commissioners suit will be instituted against the county to compel payment.

The former board of commissioners, all Populist in one of its occasional spasms of economy, by a vote of two to one ordered a reduction of the clerical force in the auditor's office at a time when the work was considerably behind. The auditor refused to comply with the order on the ground that it would greatly retard the work of the office and be a serious inconvenience to the people, and with the understanding that the board would abide by the decision the matter was taken to the superior court, where the position of the auditor was sustained. The two commissioners, however, who passed the order were candidates for re-election and wanted the support of editors who were mildly clamoring for 'economy,' so they ignored their agreement to abide by the decision of the superior court and appealed the case to the supreme court.

The two gentlemen seem both defeated by the two Populists who are in office now, and whose record for two terms in ruining the county's credit and reducing the price of warrants is without parallel in the county's history. In September last, for instance, school fund warrants sold at a discount and warrants on the general county fund found a ready market at from 96 to 98 cents. As a result of Populist economy in the commissioners' office, general fund warrants are down to 74 cents, and in fact it is difficult to market them at any price, and the petit jury was dismissed about two weeks ago because the jurors could not sell their warrants or even get them taken for board and lodging.