Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1885-07-11

PfoFiosa - Aw, t0sif-: Mayor, Jokz
lseArys Co1ncilmen fog the frxs ward
Harrington, M&thias aud Canev. 70.
tue seccad ward, Tesler. sander and
sox; for the third yard, Day, Northac
and Try. This vee the u1anlznoas de-
cts.oa Of slg5s members 81 the Csunsil,
and . signed By Hea- q G. Ssruss,
Il vii be seen thas ths eHsssrs v.r.
declared duly elected far the terms pro-
yiosd BY las. What lag7 Necessarily
we laws OF the city. These laws con
slA OF the chArtst and ordinances.
he Coune'l had ample power 70 pass
spon tie eisstion Of is ozn members.
and u did The charter fxsd tue term
Of TIE Mayor, and alss provided fog the
eieetsoa OF Co1nsiImsn for dfflereas
terms and the ordinance provided TIE
manner Of determining the terms Of the
CoanciImen- The number Of votes BE-
Ing stated IN the canvass, the figures
shswed the votes. and the dselarssios
IN fast was this: Messrs- H4rrinetcu
and Matthias in the First. Msssrs. Yes
Ter and Snyder IN the Ssoond. and
Messrs. Lay and Horthap In the Third
we're duly elected for tue term Of two
years. and Messrs. Olaney, Sox and
frye we're elected for one year. Tue
Csnncil having 90 adiadRsd certificates
OF election we're given 20 ths several
parties, and they qualified and have
oeen from thence actinR a. members Of
tie Council in accordance With Lac. by
TIE Judgment and decision OF the for
mer Mayor and CoaneiI, Who, By au.
thoFity Of lag. 30 sdjudged. Was thsir
Judgment eorrees7
IL Is said that in osdsr to arrive ct a
proper conclusion ~ 20 an election, the
chief point 10 20 ascertain the intention
Of the votsf. This fast mu.t be asces-
tained IS veil BY the ballot ~ by all the
surrounding circumstances. and aha
ballot Il to be construed Ia the light of
~ the facts connected With the elecsion.
Every circumstance 10 to be considered
30 aid In discovering the intention Of
the yoter. HAYES W. Miller, Sc Iowa. 897.
What are the creams ances surruund-
ing this election, and ths persons vos-
ing The charter provided fer the
siectios Of tso members In each vud
for two years and one for one year. The
ordinance provided thst the persons 70
ceiving the hiehest number Of votes
should be elected for two years. and the
next highest for one wear. Every citi-
zen was boand TO take notice OF this
law, and the ballots were cast ia view Of
the provisions Of the isx. aud the case
stands as IL each voter hsd attached q
copy Of the ordiaanes 70 his ballot.
The voters. therefore. fixed the term of
each member. aud the Caascii simpiy
sanvassed the returns and dseisred the
result of the vote.
| am therefore Of opiaion thtt the
learned Mayor and Couucil. an JAY 25,
1874, decided correctly. Their ordi-
nance was valid, and their Judgment
eofrest. To hold other Kiss would BE- TO
decide thst the action Of tbs lass Mayor
and Council was strap 10 to deceive
the voters. Tue present Mayor and
Council, under Section 3sof the charter
hsye decided, following the dscisiou Of
their predecessors. that thsre 10 bat one
member to elect In each ward at the en-
suing election. and notice was given
some weeks since 70 that effect. ANY
voter could have questioned the mat
ter, and proceeded In the proper coart
TO make the Co1ncil call for the election
OF three members In eaca ward, bat
no question vas made and the point
10 raised at this late day and am salts
fed that bat one member should be
elected from each ward for the term Of
two years.
Touching the desired point. II 10 the
duty Of the Election Board 10 count all
ballots east. showing BY the returns tbs
name Of each person voted for, for what
ofice and the numbsr of votes received,
and IL will be the duty Of the present
Council and Mayor, TO canvas the votes
in the manner the same as wss done by
their predecessors, and make q state
meat showing the persons who on next
Monday are elected TO the several Offices.
A eertiheate will be Rivea 10 such per
sons, and IL will be Jprfsaa .faeis evidence
Of the facts stated. Truly yours,
J. Il. LEWIS.
We soncur In the foregoing opinion.
w. II. WHrrE,
O. JAcons,
Oh. HANFoRp.