, 1889-08-01
CITY INDEBTEDNESS.
Councilman F. A. Bettis RETURN
From Olympia and Explains
the Situation.
He Says the Lobbyists and Banker'
Are Likely to Defeat the
Constitution.

Councilman +. A. Belts returned
Thursday from Olympia where he wa.
sent by the Spokane Falls city council
to endeavor If possible to prevent the
adoption of such measures by the con-
stitutional convention concerning the
bonded Indebtedness of cities as would
interfere with future needed public im'
provements in Spokane Falls.
A REVIEW representative met Judge
Bettis Yesterday afternoon and asked
him to explain for the benefit of the
public what had been done. by the con-
vention in the matter OF bonded IN.
debtedness and what would be the effect
on public improvements in Spokane
Falls, to which he replied:
"The article prepared by the commit
tee on county school district and city
indebtedness entirely precluded any
debt whatever from being incurred, no
matter how great the emergency, in ex-
cess of the current tax levy for the year
until the question of forming such debt
had been submitted to the people. and
had received the sanction of two-thirds
of the voters, and then only to per
cent of the assessment roll. This article
has since been modified by the commit
tee, SO that the counties may incur
debt to the extent of one per cent of the
assessed value of the current year with
out an election, and that cities may
bond to the extent of5 per cent additional
and the election must be carried in favor
ofbonding BY thrce-hfths vote instead
of two-thirds.
THE matter now stands with refer.
ence to cities as follows: No debt for
any amount or purpose whatever can be
incurred until the same has been sane
toned by three-fifths of the voters at an
election held for that purpose and then
only to the extent of 3 per cent of the
current assessment roll which Is made
g., NNxr. nd fntn
like election cities may incur n further
debt of per cent for the special purposes
of water, sewers and light, when the
plant is owned by the city"
"What effect will this condition of af.
fairs have on Spokane Falls?' asked the
reporter.
'The debt of Spokane Falls, princi-
the first five per cent, so that an elec-
tion is necessary before we can put in
another block of water or sewer pipe.
This kind of sand-lot and demagogue
legislation will cripple and destroy the
energies of this city, and for such un-
precedented narrow minded silurianisn
we are particularly indebted TO three
classes at Olympia, viz: First, the
smooth faced politicians who expect to
gain favor with the "oi palloi" by that
Kind of demagogism; second, the
lobby paid and supported by east
ern bankers, who expect TO make WASH
ington territory bonds which they now
hold, double gilt-edged if they can pre-
vent the issue of any more, thus realiz-
ing several hundred thousand dollars
in premiums; third, Hons. J. J. Browne
and II. w. Fairweather, who, being
bankers themselves, sympathize more
with the desires of bankers than with
the wishes and wants of the people.
These two men aided by the paid lobby
of the bankers, have succeeded in fore
ing this outrage upon the growing cities
of the new state in the committee. II
they succeed in getting the convention
, .o 1he w .aen. vrIw 81 " ,aie ist,er, iaIu,
constitution is voted down. In Tacoma
and Seattle there appears to be strong
determination to vote the constitution
out OF sight"