Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-10-21
C0NsOLIDATATaON OF the race
MAS

A
MAS.
They have decided in Tacoma and New
Tacoma to consolidate the two towns,
the consolidated town to bear the name
Tacoma. To more thoroughly accom-
PlIsh this object several meetings have
been held in both towns. and the con-
ciusions arrived at were about
as stated in the article following, from
a late issue of the Tacoma Neirs
The meeting of committees and citi-
zens called 10 consider the provisions of
the proposed charter for the united
towns OF Tacoma assembled in the City
Clerks Office yesterday at p. IN, and
continued in session until ; O'Clock.
ahe meeting opened by the election of
mayor Abernethy as chairman. There
were present from Tacoma city Messrs
Hanna, job Carr, Howard Carr, Howes.
Harris and Kaufman. New Tacoma
| was represented by Messrs. Abernethy.
Anderson, Wingate, Sprague. Ouimette.
Burns, Evans and Richardson. The
meeting of Saturday night had instruct
cd the City Attorney, Elwood Evans. to
| draft new charter, embracing the en-
| tire city, and it was the business of the
day to consider the document by sec
| t1ons. The srst question decided was
the boundaries of the proposed CITY.
IL was finally agreed to include within
the limits sections -, 30, 81. 32, 33, 4, 3,
q, Z, 3, 8, 10, "a and %. These sections
are IN three different townships, but
glance at the map will show that they
are contiguous. They take in both of
the original town sites and all of the
| additions thereto
The next question disposed of was
| that OF a name for the new city, and
without discussion it was decided to
christen it Tacoma,
When the question of taxation for
city purposes came up, the two points
| OF difference between the cities received
an exhaustive discussion. Mr. Hanna,
from Tacoma city, stated to the meet
| Ing that he and the other members of
| the committee were under institutions
from their constituents in mass meeting
assembled, to stand out for two points.
First, that the people there should re-
tam the money now in their school
treasury to the amount of $1,000, and in
the future conduct their schools sepa-
rate and distinct from the other wards,
retaining the taxes and one third of the
saloon licenses for expenditure there,
and there alone. Secondly, that ali
road tax and labor accruing within the
ward should be expended there, and
| that the ward should retain separate ex-
istenoe as road district.
Mr.. Hanna frankly stated that while
he was instructed by his people to stand
out for these conditions, he personally
regarded them as unjust and unnecessa-
ry.. An interesting discussion followed.
and several gentlemen freely stated
their views.
Job Carr said that while he was in
strueted by his people to insist on the
above named conditions, he had talked
| with many of them since the meeting,
and was convinced that the demand for
their adoption was not so universal as
had been supposed. On the ether hand,
| Howard Carr assured the meeting that
II 1t wanted peace and quiet with Taco
ma city, and its consent to the union,
these conditions must be granted. Ell
! wood Evans stated that such conditions
could not successfully exist. We had
better have two separate towns as now
than a hydra a-headed municipality such
as the conditions called for. General
Sprague made q pointed speech in which
he maintained that the project of keep
ing the road funds apart and expending
| the money only in the ward where it
| was raised was totally impracticable,
| and would stand as an impossible bar
rier to any organized and united inn
provement of benefit to the whole CITY.
1t seemed to him as though Tacoma city
people had only for basis for this de-
mand the thought that ths new town
being the more powerful would treat
the old town unfairly and deprive it of
| its due share of street work. Ii he be-
lieved city council could be elected in
Tacoma 30 narrow and 80 selfish as to
favor any portion of the city IA against
another, he would move out as quickly
as possible. Several gentlemen spoke
| IN the same strain, and most of the dol
egates from the neighbOring city ex-
pressed their belief that there would be
fair division of the benefits without
the provision.
II was finally decided to keep the
school districts separate, AZ desired by
the public of Tacoma city, but the
road tax proviso was declined, on the
ground that it would be an injury to
the ward.
II was decided to divide the city into
| three wards-old town to be known as
the 1st ward, all east Of Eleventh street
as I'd, and all west of Eleventh as
the Sd.
Each ward is to have three council
men, elected as now. A number of SEQ
tions were agreed upon, as they appear
cd in the old charter.
| A section was adopted providing for
two or more committing magistrates,
one for each voting precinct, II 30 de-
sired.
The election provisions of the old
charter were adopted.
The council has the power to appoint
a street commissioner, clerk, health Of
ficer, surgeon, harbor master, assessor
and collector. The treasurer Of Pierce
county shall be OK otiico city treasurer.
The marshal shall be elected by the peo-
pie, but the council may declare his
office vacant and appoint person ~
I'LL out the term, upon proof Of inefii-
cheney, bad behavior or unlawful con-
duct on his part.
Incaso Of vacancy in the office of
Councilman a special election shall be
called on ten days notice, and the per-
con 90 elected shall serve until the next
general election, when an incumbent "a
fill the unexpired term shall be chosen.
In case Of a vacancy in the Mayors Of
fice the Council shall choose one OF
their own number TO fill the position
until the next general election, when q
Mayor to Gil the unexpired term, II such
there be, shall be chosen.
One Of the most important changes In
the old charter provides for reRistra-
ton Of voters. The section provides
that the City Clerk shall b registrar Of
voters; that all persons desirous Of vot
inc for municipal officers shall register
their names and the number Of th<
ward In which they reside at least thirty
.. days before the day Of election. Tht
! Registrar shall furnish the Judges oi
Election at the several voting places
with lists of those entitled to vote. u
Ia provided that, having once registered
! no person shall be required 70 do o
: again unless ie changes his residence Z
.. another ward.
Il Was decided that, upon the grant
| inc Of q charter uniting the towns, {
new set of officers should be elected lon
mediately.
81 We have briefly stated all Of the nsv
/ | features of the charter ~ agreed upon
: At the time Of the Adjournment th
: committee had reached chapter vi.
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