The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-12-16
THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
recommendations by the Mayor and
CORPORATION CouuseI

Recommendations by the Mayor and
Corporation Counsel.
At the meeting last night of the board of
aldermen the resignation of L. W. VALID
was received and hled. His acceptance of
the office OF secretary of the board of pub
lie works necessitated this step.
Mr.. Il. W. ID. Holbrook, whose resigna-
tion was filed last week, did not attend the
meeting. With these exceptions the alder
men were all present. President Hall occu-
plying the chair. Mr.. T. r. Shepard, attor-
ncy for Chief Engineer Williams, was
among those present.
The board called up as the special bust
ness of the session the contract with Mr..
Benezette Williams, as adopted by the
house of delegates. 1t provides for the
payment of 5000, the adoption of Mr.
Williams sewerage plans, and his employ
ment as consulting engineer at salary of
5000 year from the time the city COM
mences work on the gravity system.
On motion of Mr.. Miller it was read the
third time.
At the conclusion of the reading of the
first clause Mr.. Korn moved to reject it.
lie said he entertained the same views now
as at first. 1t was, he believed, the desire
OF the citizens to close entirely with Mr.
| Williams upon an equitable basis That
was one of the issues of the last election
He was ready to do justice to Mr.. Williams.
but 1T would be an injustice to the city to
do anything but dispense with Mr.. Will
Jams services.
Mr.. Shepard addressed the board once
more, reciting the circumstances which led
to the original contract with Mr.. Williams
Mr.. Pontius said he would like to have
the opinion of Judge Jacobs as to the valid
ity of the contract. 1t had been asked for
some. time ago. Removed thatthe opinion
be asked for by Friday night.
The motion prevailed after considerable
discussion.
LEGAL BUSINESS
The following letter was received from
Judge Jacobs
Your communication of December 10 is before
me. am informed thereby that am directed
to collect the shortage of the former treasurer of
this city, Isaac Parker. You are hereby in
formed that had moved in the matter prior to
the passage OF your resolution on the subject.
AS soon as | came into office as corporation
counsel made an attempt to acquaint myself
with the legal business of the city. There was
not turned over to me any record of such legal
| business hence I had to hunt for it in the
| records of the court, and in many instances, at
the cost OF the city, have been compelled for the
want OF proper or any copies of the papers in the
eases pending against the city, to apply to the
| clerk of the court for copies thereof. have
been nonplussed and COMPOUNDED in many in
notice, nor had in my possession any paper
| pertaining thereto-beng set for trial and have
| gone into court and made the best fight could
Tor the city under the circumstances. Ii is need
less to say that this mode of doing business is
all wrong and to the detriment of the city.
l found when / came into office that a COM
plant had been filed in the Parker case, but no
| summons had been issued thereon. / ordered an
| issue OF the summons: ON its issue was asked
for delay. granted it for one week under the
| promise OF settlement. There will be no further
| delay in the matter II must be settled
Second, you ask me il grade taxes for local i'm
! provements ordered under the old council can
| he collected. do not know. have determined
| that l viii bring suits Immediately on all the
| grade assessments subsequent to the Ronald con-
| tract do not know what the record is for the
| past eight or ten years and do not propose to
investigate ii unless | am compelled to do so. I
propose to inforce promptly all of the ordinances
| and resolutions OF the city council under the
| new notwithstanding and also under the old SO
| far as they are Enforceable.
| am decidedly of the opinion that il would be
best for the city to treat all street grading where
| the proceedings have not ripened into contracts,
| as new matter in everything, except the petition
| OF any has heretofore been filed. Then we can
| know what We are doing, and the landowners in
| the prescribed improvement district will know
| precisely what burdens they assume and the
| rights and liabilities arising therefrom.
City Treasurer Ames, III reference to the
| matter addressed the council stating that
it was impossible for him with the present
| force to comply with the request of the
corporation counsel to supply the neces-
| sary information.
Mr. Pontius moved that the matter be
referred to special committee for inquiry.
| City Clerk Miller said there was joint
! resolution on the subject somewhere in the
/ heap of papers awaiting action.
Lets wait till we get to it," said the
| chair. I'VE will make more progress by
| proceeding methodically."
| The letter was placed on file.
| MAYORS MESSAGE
| The following communication from the
mayor was read:
desire to concur in the recommendation OF
| the board OF public works as TO the grading OF
/ streets petitioned for by property owners. These
streets should be graded at once, and by doing
/ so we will not only comply with the requests OF
| the property owners but furnish labor and en-
| ploylnent for large number of men during a
| season of the year when it IS most needed.
! | desire farther to recommend that plans Tor
| sewer system be secured at once. and that Work
upon the construction OF a sewer system be at
| once commenced and prosecuted to compile
| ton.
/ wish further to recommend the immediate
| creation by ordinance OF the office OF purchasing
agent either that the same be exofiicio to some
other Office or that the Office be directly created
| The plan now in use is leading IT, confusion ana
| chaos and some way must be devised and system
adopted by reference 10 wnlcn tbe city Puf-
| chases can be ascertained.
/ wish, further. to recommend the discontin-
uance OF the office OF building inspector and
that the duties pertaining 10 that Office devolve
| upon the Superintendent OF buildings, bridges
! and wharves. and that his salary be made to con
| form 10 the services rendered, and that proper
| and sufficient assistants be allowed said super
| intendent.
1t was referred to the house of delegates
| with a request that action be taken.
1.-The mayors suggestions are good,
! said President Hall, ''some decisive
| action should be taken"
EXTENDING THE LIMITS.
On motion of Mr.. Miller, the ordinance
| extending the limits of the city 10 include
| Fremont, Latona, Smiths Cove, etc., a.
passed by the house, was placed on nnai
| passage. 1t provides for an election TO de-
| termine the question on January 3.
President Hall said there were many
| things to be considered. He believed the
| people would vote this down.
Mr. Pontius said the petitioners made
| personal appeal TO the Judiciary committee
they seemed unanimous.
Il know that owners of wildcat property
are unanimous. i" said Mr.. Hall: why not
take part at Snohomish and Pierce
In reply 70 a request, Mr.. l.. III. W heeier
who was among the audience, read The
state Law bearing on the subject. ne
showed ikatwhere a petition was presented
4 ,f,s 81 hs auPSflnn II