The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-07-01
CHARTER BUILDING.
The Commission Hats on the
Subject of Taxation.
MORE CONSIDERATION GIVEN.
A Morning Devoted to Details OF the
City Councils Power-All-
Day Sessions.


legislature. Beginning with today the ses-
sions viii probably last all day. as this Is
the last week and only two days longer VIII
be available in which to put the articles To-
gether in a symmetrical form.
COMPTROLLER AND ASSESSOR
The committee consisting of Messrs.
Adair, Furth and Young. to whom was
referred the article reported by the finance
committee and the article reported by the
executive committee on comptroller. sub
mitted the following in lieu OF those
articles:
SECTION l. The comptroller shall be appointed
By the mayor, subject TO confirmation by the
board of aldermen. He shall be exohicio as
SCISSOR. As assessor he shall perform all the du-
ties prescribed by this charter or by law. for as
&c sing property in the city for the purposes OF
taxation and in relation TO street improvements.
Sec. 2 The comptroller shall exercise general
supervision over the financial affairs of the city.
He shall number and keep record OF all de-
mands allowed by him, showing the date OF ap-
prevail. amount ard name OF original holder.
the number, on what account, and out OF what
fund payable. He shall be required TO be con-
siantly acquainted with the exact condition OF
the treasury He shall, on the first Monday oil
each month, or oftener II required. report to the
mayor the condition of each fund In the treas
ury.
He shall make annual reports to the city coun-
Gil and to the mayor on his request, OF the
financial condition and requirements of the
city with a careful statement and estimate OF
the receipt and expenditures He shall
keep a complete set OF books By
double entry system for the city, in which
shall be set forth in plain and business
like manner. every money transaction of the
city, so that he can at any time tell the exact
condition of the cfty's fuances.
He shall make an annual report showing the
source from which the city's revenues were de-
rived. and how expended He shall require all
claims, returns, settlements and reports to be
verified by affidavit. He shall Issue all licenses
and turn the same over to the tax-collector for
collection, aud shall draw and sign all warrants
upon the treasury except as otherwise in this
charter provided.
Every demand must, before ID can be paid,
excepting that OF the auditors selary, which
must be audited By the mayor. be preseLsed to
the auditor to be approved. He shall not APP
prove the same unless the money is legally due
aud remains unpaid and the payment thereof
from the treasury of the city is authorize by
law aud out OF the proper fund.
No demand upon the I. easury shall be allowed
by the comptroller In favor OF any officer or any
other person, or any of their assigns. who is in
any manner indebted 10 the city, without first
deducting therefrom the amount of such in
debtedness; nor in favor of any officer or other
person or his assigns, having the collection,
care, custody or control of public funds. unless
the accounts of such officer or other person have
been presented, passed, approved and allowed
rs is, or may be, required by law: nor in favor
OF any officer or other person. or his assigns.
who has neglected TO take any oath of Office SIS
required by law or ordinance, or other regula-
tiou OF the city council; nor in favor of any
officer or his assigns, who has failed. to the
fado nj ha aofnr troll or 10 do dnf
imposed upon him by law or ordinance. or other
regulation of the city council.
The comptroller shall have authority to take
affdavits and administer the necessary oaths in
the transaction of all city business; he shall
have his seat in either branch OF the municipal
assembly with the right 10 debate on any ques-
ton pertaining to his department. but shall nave
no vote.
Sec. 8. He shall keep publicly posted in his
Office list of all persons receiving salaries or
wages from the city, with the amount of
monthly salary or wages received by each oppo-
site his name. which list shall be revised and
corrected by him monthly and be az all times
open to public examination.
Sec. 4. He shall perform such other duties as
this charter or city council may direct; and may
appoint such regular and temporary deputies
both as comptroller and as assessor. as the city
council may authorize, whose compensation
shall be fixed by ordinance.
Sec. .. Inc term OF Onlce OF the comptroller
shall be two 90 years.
Sec. s. Whenever in the Judgment of the city
council 1t shall be for the TEST interests of the
city, the Offices of comptroller and assessor may
be made separate and the salary of each of said
officers shall be fixed by the city council, end
where separated, the assessor shall be appointed
by the mayor subject to confirmation by the
hoard of aldermen. and hold his Office for the
term OF two t2) years from the time of such ap-
pointment, provided, should such appointm ent
be made within any inexpired term. his term of
Office shall terminate soon after the next gen
eral election as his successor shall be appointed
and qualified.
Sec. T. II shall be the duty OF the finance CON-
mittee Immediately on its appointment to make
thorough examination of all the books OF the
city clerk, city treasurer and COMPTROLLER for
che term next Immediately preceding and re.
port the result of such investigation to the city
council.
SEWERAGE.
Mr. Collins presented report OF the SAN
i&ation committee offering an amendment
to one of the sections OF the article on sew
erage, by which it was made unlawful to
remove any dead body from the city with
out permit.
LEGISLATIVE ARTICLE.
The article on the legislative department
was taken up on third reading, and sec
ton 20
A discussion took place upon the aues-
ton of publishing the ordinances.
Mr.. Furth thought only general ordi-
nances need be published.
Mr.. Donworth favored retaining the old
verbiage, which had proved satisfactory.
Judge Rochester advocated publishing
all ordinances.
Judge Lewis said there were many orai-
nances that nobody wanted TO see There
were many ordinances he did not want Ia
know anything about-he would rather not
know the council passed such ordinances.
do you advance that" aueried Judge
Rochester, las a reason for not publishing
them7" (Laughter.l
Judge Lewis smiled grimly. as he ALWAYS
does when the Misunderstanding proclivities
of the city council are limited at, and pro-
ceeded 10 say that il would be sufficient In
publish all ordinances of public and per-
manens character, and among other exam
piles he cited street grades.
you cannot call that permanent. for
they are changed every few weeks re.
marked Mr.. Furth.
Judge Rochester made forcible speech
in favor of publishing all ordinances. He
maintained that charters were intended IN
limit as much as to define powers, and
the council should not be allowed To deter.
mine what part of its proceedings and
ordinances should be given 10 the public
and what withheld
After several changes had been sug-
gested the section was amended so that il
reads "all ordinances of general. public
or permanent nature and those imposing a
fine or forfeiture
In the following section Judge Strive
proposed 20 amend so that no tax for yep,