The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-12-20
0ARD OF ALDERMEN.
J Williams Contract Ordi-
nance Rejected.
se,Nlon BY JUDGE JACOBS.
.,sermen Conclude 60 Make Williams
An o6er of Compensation to
pate-Fire Hose Needed.

rAs hoard of aldermen met last night
IN The special object of considering the
.,rnosed contract with Mr.. Benezette Will
~ in lieu of that under which that gen.
]: s.man is now experimenting the con-
<,netior Of the water system. The fol-
3krina opinion Of the corporation counsel
& Ivr read:
n ~ matter Of the socailcd Williams contract
81 ~ ire ctr has been referred to me hy you for
= rssnson have heretofore investigated this
s. -..ssr assise fully. Rave net the contract be-
- ne At the rrcscat time and do nos deem il
sssesssry 20 re-exsrafne IL. l went personally
q sssors the house OF delegates when this matter
u "a before thena. and save ny opinion in detail
8 - fhe q ne<fion Involved IN vogr reference
81 I'll hr.eAy rspcst here the conclusions which
4iksre srrived 81 from fuli and thorough in
/ usssssfion.
s,sssie ara Mr.. Williams was quite general and
n srsrrsur in its terms. He was TO prepare in
81 ~urral plan of watcr-woTks and OF permanent
re- SUPPLY for the city Of seattle, but the
Z rssas and plsn and source of permanent sup
y Il pyopcsed by him were subject TO the ap-
ssnfrsl OF the city council. He FIRST proposed
8 81 bringiag Of water from Rock creek, trfbu.
~ al Cedar river to the city, but after further
Sysstsestion he abandoned the scheme himself
n n reasons satisfactory TO him and equally sat
biactory to the city. He then proposed Cedar
7 1ru as a source Of supply; with swan lake as
~
80 cuf OF woodca slaves. heavily hand
- with iron 70 be the means
which the water was TO be brought by Is own
Esayifx within g convenient distance OF the city.
IN. IN brief was the plan proposed by him /
n mn heretofore said that the source OF supply,
4 4 sell - the means BIZ which that supply was
i d k brought 10 the city, or within convenient
sircsdy partially completed system of water
vurks Of tic city, was subject to the approval OF
- city, setting through its council. In my
/ hdrment the city council can only act or mani
~ its intent OF viii IN two ways-ilrst by ordi-
| nance. second by resolution. so far as ! an I'm
iorrrd, nc ordinance or resolution of the city
council was ever passed adopting or approving
&ons the contrary, the sentiment OF
/ he people IN this city was very plainly shown
through It's journals aud other popular and pub
/ n expression as being opposed TO the scheme
4 leass 80 Ear as the presen; supply was con,
Rrped OF q - stem reaching into the immediate
iufure. But ii is said that the city has ratified
NJ Williams swan lake and Cedar river scheme
" payment to him OF larger amount of
ncrey on general account than the percentage
Under his contract, 50 far as the same has been
Ueented BY the purchase OF the Spring Hill
1 vater-uerks would amount to. II is true that a
payment made by city may be properly con-
Ldercd an act of the city, II such payment was
authorized and made with full knowledge of
Al the facts. But ana not st all satisfied that
ne generous treatment Of Ar. Williams by the
dty can be made use OF by him as an evidence
Dat the city by its constituted authorities in-
tended to- or did In legal eject, thereby rstify
his Cedar riyer-swan lake-innaes-open bitches
bereled- conduit system.
Bui ii Is urged by some that Mr.. Williams had
tie sole and exclusive right under his contract
% determine the source Of supply of the water
Tor the city and the means by which said water
ives to be brought to the city or within con-
Wnient distance Thereof. / cannot acknowledge
De solndness OF this construction. Such con-
{urrction, II correct, would give Mr.. Williams
he hight TO bring the water from Lake Michigan
q froYn the Yakima river and provide for the
tlnueling OF the Cascade mountains as means
!or getting il here. Although such schems as
have mentioned might increase the gross sum to
Be received By Williams by charging the amount
upon which his pcrcentsgc would be levied, yet
! deem such construction unsound. Equally
unsound is the construction that be had a right
SAY what the source Of supply would be.
have no doubt about the ability of Mr..
Williams as q hydraulic engineer, but while
~ this. have no doubt but what there arc
number OF men in this city abundantiy capa-
Die OF attending 10 the means necessary TO sup
~ this city with water.
have heretofore recommended, and do now
Ecommend the reasonable compromise az the
Williams matter. II is not for me to say what is
polifsc or expedienf In the mstter.
since writing the above my attention has been
tailed TO sec OF Article OF the Freeholders
charter. find By this section that il shall be
ne duty OF the city engineer TO hle ali sur
veys, plans, specifications, maps, piats and
estimates made by the engineer Tor public
Improvements With the secretary OF the board,
-
Now, while do not doubt the power OF the
CITY 70 hire an assistant to the engineer 10 per
form the work required 10 be done BY the en-
gnesr, and in that regard do not doubt the
power OF the city 10 hire Mr. Williams as such
assistant, he is TO be the assistant OF the city en-
Cneer and his plans, specifications, maps, plAfs,
and estimates are TO be subject 70 the sureryts-
Ion and control OF said engineer tho re-
ponsihle officer Of the city.
II Mr.. Williams. under any compromise made
With him, Is willing to accept OF this srboEdi-
tanEffa -Srar 1 IL a trrF
The chief engineer is the osfcial and bonded
officer OF the city. The city holds such engineer
as the responsible officer OF the city and not Mr..
williams or any other man This 10 the sitnA-
ton, and any employmens Of Mr.. Williams
must be made in subordinznce TO this charter
provision.
a vote was then taken without discus
sion and the ordinance covering the con-
tract was rejected BY vote OF I'VE TO two;
ayes, Miller. Bogarsius; noes, Wilcox,
Snyder, Korn, Hall
Mr.. Snyder moved 10 tender Mr.. VIII
Jams 5000 cash in full payment. This
was not seconded, and after some discus
sion Mr.. Pontius moved 20 commit the
matter to committee 10 ascertain what
would be fair compensation.
The motions were voted down, but sub
sequently Mr.. Snyder moved that the
house concurring, the matter be referred
to the finance committee for report.
TIEE HOSE
4 communication from the board OF
public works asking for authority TO
purchase 1000 feet OF hose, was read, to-
gether with a communication from the
board of fire commissioners and the pro-
posal of the Eureka Hose Company.
Mr.. Snyder said that the recent orsii-
nance creating the board of public works
purchasing agent, takes al such matters
out OF the committees hands.
Mr.. Hall said that the board of public
works could accept or reject a proposition.
Snyder continued and said that il was
the duty Of the council 10 authorize the
purchase of the hose which this body
thinks necessary.
Wilcox said that the ordinance did not
give the board Of public works the power
70 purchase. exclusive Of any action by
the council, bat that the ordinance only
covered emergency cases.
Hall then said that as be understood it.
the hre commissioners should recommend
the purchase of hose. then the board Of
public works should advertise for bids and
alter the bids have been received the conn
"a should act upon the recommendation
OF the board.
Pontius said that he was in favor of pat
ronizing home hrms. and as far as he could
see no other bids had been called for.
Miller said that the whole object OF the
board Of public works was 10 shirk the duty
Imposed upon them
Chief Kellogg vas called upon and said
that be had explained the necessity OF the
purchase Of hose, and upon his recommen-
eaiion the TIRE committees had advised the
purchase OF Paragon hose II was no OBJ