kccdivis.html

The Enterprise, White Salmon, WA., August 22, 1912, page 1
Includes map of proposed county

COUNTY DIVISION

It seems to be generally taken for granted that the interests of the taxpayers of the East End and the West end are antagonistic upon this question. Let us consider whether or not there is any logical reason why this should be so.
What effect will County Division have upon the taxes? It is easy for the advocates of Division to say "It will lower taxes," or for the opponents to say "Taxes will be much higher," but neither statement is convincing except so far as it appears to be logically deductible from established facts. Let us take a look at the County Auditors report for the year ending Dec. 31, 1911; the last Federal census; the county map and the laws of Washington.
Klickitat County covers a territory of 1867 square miles. This is about one and one-half times as large as the state of Rhode Island.
Right here let us correct any false impressions which may have become current, regarding the proportion of the County proposed to be taken. A division upon the proposed new line, being approximately on the line between ranges of 13 and 14, will give the new county about 584 square miles and leave 1283 square miles in the old county.

TAKES LESS THAN ONE THIRD OF COUNTY

This proposed new county will take less than one-third of the territory and will still leave Klickitat County larger than the State of Rhode Island. The new county will take 25 miles out of the total of 91 miles of the main line of railroad. This is a little over one-fourth. It will take about one-third of the Goldendale branch.
The railroad is a factor simply in so far as its valuation for taxing purposes helps to produce a revenue. Based on division of territory, (one-third) the new county will have less than its proportionate share of the railroad and surely the East End can have no just complaint upon this score. It is true that the Goldendale Branch of the railroad will be the loser to the extent of the money saved by the tax-payers of the West End, which is now expended in travel to and from the County Seat.
This will be no injury to any tax-payer East or West unless he be a stockholder in, or employed by this railroad. The statement has issued from Goldendale that it is not fair for the West End to take "our railroad." To whom does "our" have reference? Is this a philanthropic institution or is it doing business for profit?
It may be detrimental to the railroad company, but is not "unfair," and the tax-payers of the East End should help the tax-payers of the West End to save for home development this money now forced into the treasury of the railroad corporation.
Klickitat is not only a large county, but its topography is such that the difficulties of administration are unduly great. The different parts are not easily accessible one to another. There are some officials; commissioners, surveyors and assessor's, whose salaries are based upon a "per diem." Every day consumed in travel by officials, to and from remote parts of the county, in roundabout ways, with the delays and expenses incident thereto, it is a needless waste of taxes.
Take the commissioners: "Their "mileage or expenses" account for the year of 1911 aggregated over 40 per cent of as much as their salaries or "per diem" compensation for the entire year. This is a waste for which we all pay.
The "traveling expense" account of the Sheriff's office was, for the same year, over 36 per cent as much as the salary of the Sheriff and got his deputies. More waste; and this could be said, as to jurors, witnesses, litigants, and other county officers. The county is too large and too inconvenient for any set of officers to economically manage. We believe that the West End is large enough, with sufficient valuation of property, to be more satisfactorily and economically managed by its own people, and we ask Division as a right.
It must be borne in mind that County Division can have no effect upon the state tax and that although there will be more commissioners and another surveyor and assessor, these officers are not paid a salary but simply a "per diem." We will pay for simply what we get. Surely such an officer, living in the immediate locality, can accomplish the same end at a much less expense, based upon a "per diem," than can an officer from a remote part of the county.

CAN ONE SET OF OFFICERS FOR BETTER THAN TWO?

Let us now take up the county officers for which salaries are paid. Can "one set of officers do better than two?" Yes, providing "one set of officers" do the work; but no, if the work is such that it had seemed necessary to employee numerous deputies, special deputies and assistants. It is common knowledge that the more "officials jobs" there are to be held down by deputies and employees, the greater the leakage as to results attained. We wish it distinctly understood that we are offering no criticism of any county officer but of actual conditions. We draw our conclusion as to deputies from the salaries paid for the year 1911. The aggregate of the salaries during the year, for the Auditor, Treasurer, Clerk, Sheriff, County Attorney and County Superintendent of Schools, was $15,156.25. If the county is divided as proposed, the new county will be in the 23rd class and the combined salaries of the officers above named will be $5100. The old county, Klickitat, will then be in the 20th class and the combined salaries of its officers above named will be $6700. The aggregate salaries of the officers named, for the two counties, after division, will be $11,800, or $3356.25 less than we paid in Klickitat County for the year 1911. We believe that "two sets of officers" will do the work for their neighbors and friends better than does "one set of officers" under present conditions. Smaller territory, with a personal responsibility to a known constituency and a neighborly acquaintance with those persons we elect to office, will be conducive to a better and more economical administration of county affairs. Cut off the deputies and let us have our own officers to do the work. Whether our taxes be more or less, we will get more from money. Let us stop this waste due to territorial conditions. The tax-payer in the East End and in the West End will be benefited, but the tax eater will not, and he will proclaim most loudly against County Division. It is true that those most interested in the welfare of the railroad, and in the county offices, and certain hotel and business interests at the county seat, will lose financially by County Division. It is but human for them to oppose this move, for personal reasons. A large patronage from the West End will be cut off from the county seat, but this is no reason why the people of the West End should not be given a "square deal." Let us consider facts and conditions here and be fair, man to man, and not accept "bald assertion" as "established fact." Do not be frightened by the cry "Your taxes will be higher."
Consider the road question. The county is so large that there are many east of the Klickitat who know nothing about the mountainous and timbered conditions of the western portion. The first cost of the clearing, grubbing and grading is large and a great financial burden. The western road districts are, with few exceptions, taxed to the full limit of the law, and yet when an improvement, almost imperative, is asked for, we are told that nothing can be done unless at least one-half of the money is raised by private subscription. After paying into the road and bridge fund, and to the full limit of the law into the road district fund, this becomes an outrageous burden. This is especially true in a community where orchards are being developed and the land, though taxed heavily, not only produces little or nothing as yet but is a heavy yearly expenses for maintenance and care.

THE ROAD QUESTION

It is not right that the great cost of the original road making should be borne entirely by the people of today, and especially in a community where the returns or income are simply prospective. Nor is it right that such communities should be precluded from development from the lack of roads. Under such conditions it is eminently proper that instead of taxing the life out of such a locality, the payment of the original cost should, by bond issue or otherwise, be postponed until returns are coming in. This is a burden which does not apply to the East End and we simply ask that by division we be permitted to solve our own problems. The proposed new county will have a population of about 4391 people as against a population in the balance of the county of about 5789. The population of the West End is increasing rapidly and either division or some other solution is inevitable. Why should the people of the East End wish to impede progress? We are capable of handling of our own affairs, and the balance of Klickitat county is big enough and rich enough without us, and is capable of handling its own affairs. Let as part and part friends.

"JUDICIAL JUSTICE" demands a separation. The topography of the county is such that the present location of the county seat works an absolute deprivation of justice to a substantial part of the West End. A trip from Trout Lake to Goldendale involving from three to four days' time, besides car fare and hotel bills, upon a matter of business, is burdensome. The prosecution of small claims under such circumstances becomes, from a practical financial standpoint, prohibitive. This is equally true to a lesser degree of other sections.
If reports be true, certain candidates from Goldendale have announced themselves as opposed to County Division and ask support at the county primary election September 10th upon that issue. Even though every voter west of the proposed line might favor County Division, those candidates, if elected, are not willing to accord the West End any consideration. We can see no reason why the people of the East End, except those who personally profit at the expense of the people from the West End, should oppose county division. We do not wish to impose any hardship upon the East End, nor do we believe the East End wishes to impose any longer a hardship upon us. All we ask is that on September 10th you cast your vote in this spirit.