The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-08-17
SHORTAGE OF $4,000.
The Water Works to Exceed
the Estimates.
ANOTHER ELECTION ORDERED.
Some Of tho Questions Arising in Com
nection observation-disclosures OF Money
Already Expended.

Some OF the Questions Arising in Com
nection observation-disclosures OF Money
Already Expended.
The city council has decided to ignore
the election in May authorizing the issue
of bonds 10 the amount of 1856, 900, and
order new election, at which it is to be
hoped that all question of validity may be
met. The supreme court has decided that
three-fifths of the qualified voters means
three-fifths OF those voting-which is the
only act demonstrating who is a quali6ed
voter. The bondholders did not seriously
doubt this. because the supreme court of
the United States had already decided the
question that way, and all that was wanted
was decision of the states highest court
placed on record.
The objection to the discrepancy be-
tween the ordinance ordering the election
as passed and as it was published is now re-
garded as technicality which would not
invalidate the bonds. The late city attor-
ney has been very seriously condemned for
the error of Judgment or whatever it was
that permitted such tampering with a
statute in course of CESSATION, but the mere
verbal alterations were strictly in harmony
with the originating laws and the intention
of the ordinance, and it would not be held
by any court of equity as invalidating q
contract based upon it.
In moving that a new election be or
dered. Councilman Wallingford only re-
ferred to the ordinance as the stumbling
block. I'VE now have a city attorney" he
said. "who can draw up an ordinance that
will stick
The discrepancy between the ordinance
as printed and as passed will be seen by
comparison of the following extracts:
: As printed. the following is the version:
That If three-fifths of the qualified voters Of
the said city of Seattle shall at said election
vote in favor of authorizing, etc.
The ordinance, as passed, reads as fol.
lows:
That If three-ffths of the qualified voters Of
the said city OF Seattle voting at said election
vote in favor of authorizing. etc.
In one case it is shall" and in the other
1t is voting"
The proposition of the council is to call
an election for the purpose of issuing
bonds to the amount of $955.000 of which
$4,000 will be devoted to sewerage pur-
poses. That will leave $S45.000 for the
alter system. The law under which this
election will be held is Senate bill ZIG. and,
so far as can be ascertained by an ordinary
reading Of it, the citys council must pro-
mitigate an ordinance specifying and
adopting the system or plan proposed and
declare the estimated cost as near as may
be, land the same shall be submitted for
ratification or rejection to the qualified
voters of said city at a special election. of
which thirty days. notice shall be given"
Thirty days will bring the time very near
the charter election. The act SAYS the vot-
ing must be at a special election. The
charter election is a special and not gen.
eral election, therefore it would seem to be
reasonable that 1t might be on
the same day. But if it shall
be held that special election
means an election especially held for that
purpose, then it is certain no other ques-
ton may be put on that day. That being
the case, tn e proposition to issue $500, OC0
worth of bonds for the purpose of refund
ing the city's other Indebtedness cannot be
submitted on the same day.
The point was raised in the suit recently
had before the supreme court that the or
dinance was invalid because the consti-
tuition says the Indebtedness may be in
CURED for supplying water, artificial light
and sewers" It is commended that the
land" is distinctive, and that either is
meant The statute takes that view, but
that being correct then, If both water sys-
tenn and sewerage system are to be pro-
vided, there are two propositions out of
three submitted and each one is separate.
According to the city charter, only one
subject must be named in an ordinance:
and that was one objection made to the
last ordinance which embr aced both the
water and sewerage propositio ms.
The supreme court is understood to have
decided that one ordinance is sufficient, as
the only subject is the holding of an cleo
ton under the same legal authority.
The issue OF bonds to the amount of
$500. 900 for the refunding of indebtedness
must be under sections and of the Will
son bill, and no election will probably be
necessary. That act provides that city
council may incur an indebtedness or bor-
row money to liquidate an Indebtedness to
the amount of one and one-half per cent.
of the taxable property of the city. The
assessment roll has just been completed.
If it shows a taxable value of $4,000 600.
that will allow $500 900 Indebtedness. suf-
ficient to pay Yesler and Reinhardt and
leave balance.
The proposed apporhonment of the
money at the time the former ordinance
was passed, April %. 1890. was as follows:
To pay balance due Spring Hill Water
Company for It's plant. ............S $3.50 QUO
Estimated cost of pipe lines and fire. boat 10000
Estimated cost OF pumps and boilers 1900
Estimated cost of force main from Lake
WASHINGTON to the harbor. 5000
Pipes, valves and hydrants ........ $4,000
Aotai. -......-.-..-...-.... 45,006
1t will be revelation to the public that
already $136, sos has been expended, and of
the amounts in the estimate the pipe line.
fireboat, pumps at Lake Washington, and
some labor are all that have been paid for.
The estimate made was liberal one, as it
has proved, and the precaution NAV have
been a wise one, as it famiiarzed the pub
lie with the big figures; but as a matter of
fact about $4,000 has been expended for
which no equivalent appears in the esti.
mate.
Following are the chief terms of expendi-
ture for which warrants have been drawn
on the city treasury up to August Is:
Spring Hill Water Company,
water for hydrants -. $5.S25 %
Spring Hill Water Company,
purch ase OF plant. 2265 CT
Spring Hill Water ompaHy,
expenditures ............. 1274 a
$S,S65 20
Water Engineer