Yelle v. Bishop

(dissenting)—I dissent. The constitution of the state of Washington says “The auditor shall be the auditor of public accounts.” Art. Ill, § 20.

The majority see in the additional words “and shall have such powers and perform such duties in connection therewith as may be prescribed by law,” the authority of the legislature to strip the office of its authority over public accounts.

In my view, those words are not intended to authorize the subtraction by the legislature of anything from the primary duty indicated, i.e., “The auditor shall be the auditor of public accounts,” but rather to enable…