The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-05-27
lTTLE'S FINANCES.
Chamber Of Commerce Dis
cusses Their Condition.
ptAuD'sc The COUNCIL.
1ossrtson Passed Isdorsing Iss Policy
ana pIedEing the chamber 80
Uphold Il.

g fxsD number OF members Of the Chamber
cSumerce responded 20 the call Of President
s 71Gy fos messing 10 consider the financial
osi1on OF the municipality and the leading
s];7r65sss dssirabie in lie proposed charter.
II II. y O. Graves called the meeting TO order,
80 peemising that in the abscnce Of President
! 1870, Who had been compelled TO go /, Fort
-. ~ had been requested. IS vice president.
4 p eeeupy the chair, be explained the object of
~ pessinx. He invited exCounciim&n siesz
y ext.a.n the situation.
ii. 9. r Siesz said he had tried that day TO
f1nxn llimseif OF the state OF the city-s 6nsaees
= harmed that In round figures the jnaebted-
- rff $40 600, or about 5000 beyond the
1 III limit
3 ri. Graves explained that the old limit Of the
xfg's Indebtedness was II per cent. on the a.
GGoed ysluasion OF property 10 February Lass
- legislature passed wnas IL known - the
0jls6n bill, providing sn increase OF the limit
= 3per cent for generfi improvements and
~ csrt further for the special pnr?ose al
9pply1ng water. sewerage and electric lighting
4 narch smother bill was passed covering the
1reeial peovixIons OF the other bi ]. but ampif-
fvjue IL details AS 70 the method Of issuing the
fn6a Under this act the council have or.
1rred IN election authorizing an issas
= bonds 20 the amonnt Of fa53 GO
4 which $4,000 is for water par
res ana sli0.0sO for constructing sswera
. freiussre of the Grant street bonds. the total
ndebekdness OF the city Is now littse over
m0,1o o. $60.9o more than the legal limit OF
- amount. $4,000 is IN the shape III water
rnsrants which. II the election results IN ap-
reoysl. will be covered BY the bond issue. 70
nj ihe actua. excess Of Indebtedness is only
ua00
n. Niesz thea explained that the Arst bin
IA bsen objected TO by the governor because
- Grt section applied the act to cities then In.
enrporsfed. and not. - the constitution speci-
"a, 10 ritses having more than 20 GO popuia-
tIon. The latter bill was intended to meet that
ehjecsicn, but both bills had been signed II IL
rndes the latter bill that the election has been
eedesed Mr. yiesz remanded his hearers Of The
ext5sordfrsry necessities OF the city, explained
~ urgency Of immediate action by the couucii
end sad they depended upon the people 70
tuntjfy their coure.
II. G. X. Jenner said the chief poiut 10 be
oDosidered was how to devise ways and means
pgovide fupds for necessary work until the
norma OF The new law could be compi.d with.
II referred 10 the natural reluctance Of bankers
= handle the citys strip under the circum-
ofnnces until guarantee wss given that the GER
n1cates Of indebtedness would be endoued by
~ people.
% Tar ~ the limit of Indebtedness was en-
earned he doubted very much II the city had
rot the power already 10 issue TO the extent
81 per cent. He quoted authorities In support
d his position and suggested that II the cham
her thought there. was question about II. they
submit IL to three eminent attorneys com.
retent 10 pass upon laws bearing upon
municipal corporations. The city cannot I'm
prove In conditions and maintain its reputation
los public spirit II 1t has TO wait for the adoption
of new charter before continuing It's present
work. He would not wish TO live
d city where public improve
menss were not urged 10 the extreme
limit OF constitutional Indebtedness. II was not
the same with municipalities - with individ-
nails The best cities were those which bur-
6sned themselves with debt for pubhc improve
rnents. II was only siow-Foing places that re-
fused TO incur taxation for Improvements
Judge }. r Lewis believed in the new order
az thinssin Seattle. lie had Just besn to the
city council. where means had teen agreed
upon to provide considerable sum Of money.
and they had settled the controversy over the
fesler property. The scope OF the discussion
now wss the city's finances and its government.
past. prssen, aud future. The chamber
represented the commercial interests Of the
city. and 1t was eminsnily proper that they
should consider these questions Governments
are only for tho purpose Of protecting the lives
and interests OF the people. and incidentally
10
walks. light. means Of iocomo;ion on foot and
In vehicles, suhordineting all things TO the gen.
eral safety, comfort and eonvenience Of the
people
Looking over the new laws" he continued.
Eve find that the power grated to the cities OF
this state ere great. Under them We can gov
rrn . city OF million reople-even Ave mai
lions The city government should be- In my
opinion. miniature Of the state and national
esss In, -.s,.
charter we should have senate and house ana
judicial department Under our state laws
II is competent ~ have city
council consisting of two bodies-ssy, q hoard
Of aldermen elected by tie city at large and q
house OF delegates elected by wards. Under
sueh legislative body the city won'd have .
strong government, safe and inconupsibie."
Judge Lewis tnstanoed Ban Diego ss hssne
most successfully governed by such a form Of
city Legislature and referred to the opportuui
tics for exercise of improper COS porate infneu
Afforded by small. councils.
THE mayer" continued he. ought 20 have
freat power and be responsible TO the people.
He should be able 10 suspend oisicisis. and par
tieniariy members O: IA. police force. He
should occupy such position that the people
coald appeal 10 him. As il Is. the responsible
ity Is scattered hither and thiiher. The mayor
II roweriess. the council 10 not in continuous
session. and nobody is responsible. The Tweed
regime in New York sfords ar example OF
this. where each oflloisi could say. It's not
me. In like way officials arc enabled 10 shirk
responsibility.
The city council has no right 20 interfere
With public works any more tnsu the state
legislature had. That body should make laws.
and ether departments OF the city government
execute them, Public works should he FER
fcFmed under direction OF board or a com.
mission OF one or even three members The
work would then be doae better and more
promptly. II they We're not somebody could be
held responsible.
There should also be board Of health. Under
the state laws tho city now has the power 20
regulate wharfage ohsfses so that there is NO
longer aa excuse Tor sxorhitsnt charges. valu.
able franchises are given away like drink al
water. We have progressed 10 Point where we
do mos need In give them away~tley have to-
come worth millions
Seattle bad ALWAYS, he said been noted for sss
mossesiy Ia iSsS Il WAS only GAINED 70 be Q
town and bad charter suited In its moderate
nseis. In 1851 il wss repeated. bar in ,see WAS
granted another Ia ISIS It's powers were much
enlarged and ia iSsa is charter was entirely re-
modelled
we have now good charters very
GOOD charter Tor 1900 population laughter.
b., we have grown heyoaa H. The speaker
referred In detail to the insdeenscy Of the
maximum of taxation nutH the passage vi
The laws now going into operation. eu, IN.
city had done wonders. He Was SURPRISED
after an absence 70 taa sach great Improve
rsenss, all OF which he thought were good ex.
eep, the hump on James street. which ought 10
b converted iuto toeoggsa slide. lLssga,erl
The city IS shout 20 own Us owa water
works. T. should so further. aud ereci is ewn
electric lighting rgaat sm opposed 10 enter
ins taso ioug-tSTra contract with any GOA
r4ay. No monopoly oushE 10 dictate the price
81 light or wstsr Ia Philadelphia gas Is Only
e esa:s i.o1o let, sud water is mach cheaper
Gsa here. Portland hss siso greatly reduced
The 4. ~ tn -,