The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-07-18
ONE OTHER SESSION.
The Charter Commission Passes
the Last Article.
NOW READY FOR ENROLMENT.
Thanks of the City OF Seattle rendered
to the observation-disclosures" for Its
Aid to the Commission.

The charter commission has practically con-
Guided It's labors and the committee on enroll
ment, of which Judge Roger S. Greene is chair
man and Messrs- Sheafe and Donwortn the
other members, viii for the next ten DAYS be
occupied with the task of inscribing the docu-
ment
The last session was very unlike any that pre-
coded it The proceedings have ell along been
conducted with the decorum aud gravity Oh the
supreme court of the United ates, ana ~
though the number of members In attendance
has sometimes run very close there has, until
yesterday always bsen quorum for niteen
minutes however, the august body OF grave ana
reverend seigniors sat as impotent as corpo-
rate body can become with no power to do any
thing except adjourn.
Several days ago Judge Rochester gave notice
that he would be compelled to leave the city
Thursday night, and has complained OF being
overwrought The work all day was ratner
tedious and the END was approaching. The
members present at The afternoon session were
Judges Jacobs Rochester and Greene. Messrs
Nixon, Young, Sheaie, Furth, Calligan Dom
worth and Collins. Toward O'Clock Mr.. Don
worth lefr and soon after MIR. Ca ligan secured
leave of absence for a short time To keep an en-
gagement Judge Greene called up his PROPOSE
ton to eliminate the provision requiring that
the first corporation counsel must nave been
resident of Seattle for two years. Judge
Rochester resisted il, and toward O'Clock SAID
he was compelled to leave on the evening train,
and asked leave of absence, saying that 1t was
the first time since the commission convened.
The permission could not be withheld with any
courtesy, but as Judge Rochester left the
chamber the other members looked blankiy at
each other. for there was no quorum. Within
a few minutes Mr.. Calligan returned and Mr..
Adair arrived, TO the great relief of the other
members. who wound up the business
The charter commission rendered the thanks
OF the city OF Seattle to the PosTINTsLLIGENCER
for its services, which had been of great value
to the commission aud directed that the reso-
luton be engrossed and presented to this pa
per. They then adjourned till Tuesday week.
The article on parks was the first business
taken up In the cay, and was read by sections.
The many points presented received careful
consideration, but no amendments OF general
interest were made.
On the question of the commissioners giving
bonds. Mr.. Young moved to omit the provision
altogether and was supported by Judge Roches-
ter, but Mr.. Furth and Juge Greene objected and
proposed small salary, so as to afford basis
for giving bonds. Judge Rochester said that he
felt about the park commission es he did
about the charter commission. If they attached
any salary 10 the Office they would find that
small politicians would be anxious to get on
the board. even for small salary, and the
amount would not cut any figure with men OF
the caliber they desired to secure for that
board
Mr.. Donworth, at the close of the discussion,
agreed to.
Mr.. Calllgan moved to make the amount Of
the bond 5000 each. Agreed to.
Considerable discussion took place over the
extent to which the policy and action of the
park board should be controlled by the city
council. 1t was finally determined to leave the
commission as free as was consiste Mt with the
necessary jurisd ction of the legislative body,
and the article was passed.
THE CONTRACTS SECTION.
At the afternoon session the section against
officials being interested in contracts, intro
duced by Judge Greene, evoked discussion
upon the advisahility of including provision
against member CT any board recommending
any person to Office or for q contract with the
city 1t was resolved to strike it out as imprac-
tieable.
further motion was made to strike out the
words, cor advance money or furnish material
| or supplies" and the section was then put upon
| final passage.
THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS.
| The article ON board of public works was re-
| called in order TO make some amendments me-
cesstated by other changes in the charter. and
| Judge Rochester then moved to make the COM
missioners elective officers. Judge Jacobs called
| Mr. Young TO the chair in order that he might
address the commission.
Judge Jacobs said the question 10. can we bet
ter project the interests of citizens by the article
| amended or by making the Office appointive
| He had heard members say that the capacity of
| the people would enable them to select as hon.
est man for commissioner as for mayor, and
| that they had right 10 do ii. He thought 1t
| question OF policy and not one of the peoples
rights He pointed TO the recent records of
treasurers in eleven states. who were defaulters.
Every one had been elected Can any man
| point to any such record as that under the ap-
| pointive system in the Federal government? Is
there any such melancholy record as that in
the whole county? He claimed that to much
| greater extent corruption and defalcation in Of
| fee took place among those elected by the peo.
| pie than among those nominated by gov
errors and confirmed by senates. 1t is claimed
that the people show judgment in the
| selection of mayor and would do equal
| " well as to heads OF departments.
| But the people cannot be well acqusinted with
| the special fitness OF ndidates and that con-
sideration is likely to be subordinated to pros
| poets of political success. The history of the
| country shows that where an Office calls for
special fitness, the fttest man is most likely to
| be selected by responsible appointment He
| instanced the case of banks and other corpora
tons run on business principles. How do they
get god officials? They select board of direct
| ors qualified TO make suitable appointments.
| The stockholders themselves would never at
1 tempt It He was opposed TO this amendment
because he believed IL sgainst the best interests
of the people who had delegated him and his
COLLEAGUES to draw up the best possible charter
| in their JUDGMENT.
| Mr.. Calligau said the object of the commission
| SO far had been to avoid rings. He himself was
poor politician but he believed that If he
could appoint the board of public works he
| could run perpetual government to suit him
| self II the people objected to the members of
| the board they could elect others, but If they
put the power in the hands of one man they
| might find themselves so bound up that they
| could not free themselves.
| Mr.. Collins said ne proposed to vote for the
| best interests of the people, without any party
considerations whatever, and ne would go as
far as anybody in advocating election of officers,
but this was al office where ii corrupt man
| sought the Office he could probably buy himself
| in aud there were circumstances under which
Il would be decidedly for the best interest of the
people that the responsibility for selection should
| not be left 20 merely political influences.
The amendment was rejected with only Judge
| Rochester's vote in its favor.
RocHEsrER's ALTERNATIVE.
The commission passed to consideration of
| Judge Rochesters alternative proposition to go
| before the people on the question whether the
| police commissioners should be elected or APP
| pointed.
| Judge Rochester said 1t was only fair to the
| minority that the commission allow this 70 go
before the people as an alternative proposition.
| Judge Greene asked how many made minor
| ity Is each one minority if he happen TO diff
| fer from the rest?
Judge Rochester replied that the act under
| which they were acting had provided for alter
native propositions. If the commission were
agreed there would be no necessity for an alter
| pariva He had no dopbt that it reoTired a