Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-12-07
raE CITY COJNClL AND ITS AD-
DENDA.
Enron Posr ISrELLrGESCER /:

II the somewhat indignant reasoning
of Judpe Cooley, given In our nrst artl'
cle. as applied to the facts OF the Mlchl-
,an case. was correct enumeration OF
Iaw and constitutional principles, now
.nuch greater the force of his logic
vhen applied to the facts OF our case
The Michigan Legislature only at
tampted an invasion of the adnlnistra-
two department Of the Detroit city gov
srnment. Our Legislature attempts an
invasion of the legislative department.
M our CITY government. 10 administer
nrdinances made by our own representa-
tiyes il Cne thing to appoint iesiHi"tofs
foy ma not subject 20 oar cohtIoi, nor
resnonsibie 10 us ~ their constituents,
is auite another thing. III the hl'"inP'
ta do the former gave warmth 10 'no
dsnunciations of the cool considet"ts
and diopifiod Judge Cooley bow ~ouid
ths latter have influenced his Just III
dignation waah
The Territorial government Oh wash
inoton ia. in one sense At least o0,
nnnicipailty. 1t has its executive reg
islatiys and judicial departments. 90
ha. the CITY Of Seattle. The lerrit".iai
.,ovsynnent snstains the same relation
to the general Government ~ the city
oovernneut does to the Territorial.
Roth are creations of a superior power.
While the general Government has
claimed the right to appoint the officers
ia the executive and judicial depart
mopts OF the former, 1t has never Qoae
further. Ii Congress- should see INT To
increase the number of members OF the
LeQislataas from KING and Walln Walla
couHtIes. and should appoint persons
from said counties to fill said positions,
il would shock the sense uf justice OF
every person IN the Territory IL would
b0 looked upon as fragrant outrage
an assumption Of power In direct con
hict with all our conceptions of consti-
tutiOnnl freedom and local self-govsrn
ment. II that would be wrong because
opposed to all of oar history, all OF our
traditions and all of our conceptions Of
freedom, how COMES 1t that our Legi1la
ture attempts to set the general Govern
ment an example of tyranny! III there
be an authority or power 10 app ,int III
the one case, there certainly Ii, by
purity OF reasoning, In the other. VINO
asserts ths existence OF such authority
in tho general Government VINO IL
willing to defend Its counterpart In the
Territorial government!
II this power exists, it exists with
out limitation OF place or person.
Il il true these appOintees reside in
the wards they are to represent. But
there il no such Limitation IN the assert
Cd power. They might ~ we'll have
been appointed from Tacoma and Port
Townsend. The usurpation 10 sugar
coated with the qualities Of ut persons
aud tit residence, but 1t ~ an usnrpatIon
after all. The next Legislature may
amend the charter and appoint all of
the members of the Council from Taco
ma Or possibly the Council nigh. not
yield TO the demands of corporate pow
Or when Legislature. under the con
troll Of such power, could amend our
charter and appoint controlling mum
bor Of its friends. who would obey it's
behests with alacrIty: Now We do not
fear any such thing, but there IL always
danger in departing from the ancient
landmarks.
While municipality is in one SENSE
an a ency in government 1t Is III larger
and fuller sense a corporation with the
right to sue and be sued aud the right
toacquire, hold and transfer property.
As a corporation tn > city of Seattle has
aud owns large amount of property.
That property was acquired by contrl-
button in the form of taxation from the
cOrpOrators or the residents of the city.
The ordinances under which taxes were
levied were enacted 10y ie lresentatives
nominated and elected by the members
0f the corporation. The officers elected
by the corporation are but it's agents to
guard its welfare, enforce its bylaws or
ordinances and to protect and preserve
its property. Now il needs no argument
10 show that the appointment of agents
and officers in the corporation 10y an
outside power is not only viol,tion of
the plainest principles of Justice but IL
in direct conflict with all of the settled
principles of corporation law.
The Council is the judge, an the sole
judge, of the election and d.qualitication
Of its members. Let it with that firm
ness and dignity becoming its situation
a. the guardian of the rights and inter
ests Of this oity, deny the right to seats
Of these Legislative appointees.
lnconclusion permit us Co SAY that
With malice toward none aud charity
for all, We are for local government.
free from interruption from without.
dfm and simple nursery of liberty
IN the past, the bulwa X of institution
vi freedom in the present. y. }.