Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1885-02-06
Proceedings of the City Council.

At the regular meeting of the city coun-
Gil, held on "Wednesday evening, the newly
appointed officers qualified and entered
upon the discharge Of their duties. ID.
NJ. Brown WAS appointed night watch. and
W. +. Ready, Esq. , was chosen us police
justice.
The committee on ways and means made
Il lengthy report concerning the financial
condition of the city. The following is the
substance of their report, which is too
lengthy for publication IN full:
Indebtedness of Tie city on Jan I,
according to city treas. report. .SSd9l ~
Orders issued since. 10 10
Accrued interest to Jan. |, 1885. Alb -
Total... 80. ..............$ 99ii g.
The committee further state that the city
must rely mainly upon the iaA levy to re-.
deem It's orders, which will not be- avail
able for six months, and must also provide
for the payment of the salaries of officers
and further interest until that time. II
must also take into consideration the
liutchins case, in which there j. n pros.
pcctivc liability against the city of from
$1,000 to $1,000. The committee, therefore,
places the additional Indebtedness on July
lst rs follows:
Salaries of officers employees, c>ti
mated at. 49,. .......... ....$ lJn 90
Expenses of making assessmt. 80 2l0 M
Interest upon debt for q months All -
HutchinS case. e.. 1915 w
Total.... ........... -. $:,j5s ~
Add the debt 10 Jan. |, 1885. ..... 9gii Il
And we have grand total of. Sl3,j0 ~
the city charter provides that the indcbt
ednesS OF the city must never exceed in
the aggregate the sum of ten thousand
dollars, and any debt, or liability incurred.
in excess of said sum of ten thousand
shall be invalid and void"
The existing debt now amounts 10
$99i441, and interest for six months tn
$4i35i; or, 800 more than the city is per
mltted TO incur, and therefore that amount
is void according IL law
According To the above showing the city
OF Olympia, ns corporate body, j.. Ia all
intentS and purposes, bankrupt. The liza
biiitieS, fixed and eventual until july LIST.
1881, amount to over Sl3,0OO, leaving the
necessary expenses for street and bridge re-
pairs until that date out, with hardly any
reserves until that date 10 draw upon. and
with the knowledge that every order drawn
upon the city treasurer. and every contract
entered into is illegal and void, until the
liabilities Of the city come within the
limits of the charter.
The committee than recommends r..
trcnchmcn, Ia the fullest extent compat
IDLE with safety Ia life and property in
order to redeem the promises oi the city.
The committee further suggests that
holders of warrants he invited Ia present
them and take other warrants, payable on ar
before July |, 1856. bearing 10 per cent in
tercst, not Ia eNccediin the aggregate 5000
also the creation of sinking fund, and "A |
tax levy of one mill for the benefit thereof; |
also Il general fund. which shall receive |
the benefit of II three mill tax, and the rev |
enucs from all licenses, fines, hall rent and |
other income, not otherwise assigned, from |
which fund outstanding orders, salaries of |
officers, expenses Of fire department. inter.
est and other expenses not otherwise pro.
vidcd far, shall be paid.
The committee also recommends sys.
tema,ic plan for street work. and that no
work shall be done upon any streets or
alleys, other than the main thoroughiarcs
leading out of town, public squares and
bridges. except upon the petition al own.
ers of more than onc-half the property
affected, who shall first give security for
the payment of one.half the expenses of
such improvement.