The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-07-06
please, but let private people manage their

own 6uairS.
Judge Rochester agreed rs to this and
moved to amend so as to confine the con-
tract system to private work.
Judge Greene thought it entirely mat
ter for the council to determine in each
separate case.
Mr.. Andrews seconded Judge Rochester's
substitute amendment He thought 1t
subserved the public purpose to have the
work done By day labor. Ii the board Is
composed of competent and honest men.
he did not see why the work should not be
well and honestly done. He did not think
that men should be Whitfield down and
whitfield down as had been done. The con-
tract system meant that profits were ABB
sorbed by the middIe-man who had money
enough or influence enough to come be-
tween the city which needed the labor
done and the laborer who was to do it.
Mr.. Donworth objected to the amend
ment 1t was question that should be
left to the city council, land the blood be
upon their heads. :"
Mr.. Firth also thought that they should
not now tell the council that ten years
from now they should not give out con-
tract which might save the city thous ands
of dollars. The city has often done work
had the power to do it either that way or
by contract as they thought best
Mr.. Young said contractors often ran
off leaving their men without pay. He
urged the day labor system.
Mr.. Rochester instanced the San Fran
cisco city hall, the New York aqueduct,
and many other instances where experience
of the contract system cried out. fraud,
frlt hat vvh
public work is done by men for salary it
will be more thoroughly done than where
the man is interested i'll saving every dol
lar he can by Sinking work and skimping
material.
Judge Greene argued in favor of leaving
the option with the city council.
Judge Rochester objected to that; he
knew what the council would do; they
would keep the contract system and be
under the control of the contractors,
Judge Rochester's amendment was then
put and rejected by the following vote:
Noes--Adair. Collins, Donworth, Furth,
Greene, Lewis, Nixon, Sheafe, Strive.
Ayes-Andrews, Calligan, Rochester,
Young
another debate arose.
resident owners should not stand in the
way of grading streets desired by residents.
He knew of cases where much needed i'm
provement would have been impeded, if
not prevented. if the proposed provision
that the objection of two-thirds of the own
ers should prevail had been in the present
charter.
Judge Lewis said such a provision was
.1-xH -
ment property-owners were subjected to.
II street were SO badly needed the city
could pay for the work out of the general
fund.
Mr.. Calligan said he was not opposed to
the provision. He desired merely to call
attention to the subject, but would defer
his judgment to that of the commission il
they thought this was the best provision
that could be made.
The method OF paying for street improve
ments caused long discussion. 1t was
finally decided to make assessments pay
able immediately or by ten-year bonds, to
bear l per cent. more than the interest
paid by the city, not exceeding per cent
The article was not competed when the
commission arose and adjourned till Mon
day morning at 8 O'Clock.
The committee on education, of which
Judge Rochester is chairman, and George
B. Adair and Douglas Young his colleagues,
submitted the following report:
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
SECTION l. There lie hereby created and ipsti-
tuted public library. which shall be known as
the Seattle Public Library"
Sec 2. The government of said library shall be
and is hereby vested in library commission. TO
consist OF five t5) commissioners who shall
serve without compensation, directly or indi-
rectly, and shall hold their office for the term of
five (S years. and until their successors are an
pointed and qualified. They shall be appointed
by the mayor, with the advice and consent of
the board of aldermen, and the first mayor
under this charter shall appoint five Is, commits
sioners. one each for the term of one two three.
four and five years, and until their successors
are appointed and qualified, and thereafter on
the first Monday in January of each year. the
mayor shall appoint commissioner who shall
succeed the commissioner whose term then
expires.
Sec. 3. Library Fand-There is hereby created
and established library fund. which shall con.
sist of
First-The proceeds from the sale of the bond.
hereinafter provided for.
Second-such gifts requests and devses as
may be gwen, bequeathed or devised to the
Seattle Public Library.
Third-Twenty per centum OF the gross re-.
celpts OF the city from all licenses.
Fourth-The rents. issues and profits derived
from any property which may be owned by said
library or the city in trust therefor.
Fiith-Any appropriation that the city CONN.,
Gil may make for said fund from time to time
Sec 4. The title to all property belonging to
said library shall be in the name of the citv
and shall be held inviolabe in trust for the uss
and benefit of said library.
Sec. 5. The city council shall speedily. upon
the abortion of this charter issne honds Co. 80
| in the name of the city, pied cling the faith and
| property of the city for payment thereof. in
| the amount OF - dollars of the par value of ono
| thousand l,0o0) dollars each, payable twenty
(2o years after date with interest not to exceed
| - TER annum, with such further terms and
conditions as the council shall prescribe by or.
| dinanee tn he denominated library bonds" and
SHAH sell the same to the highest bidder but AZ
| not less Than their par value, and the proceeds
thereof shall be paid into the city treasury and
| be portion oil the library fund, created in Sec
| ton three (S) OF this article. Sixty per centum
| OF such proceeds shall be used in the construc.
ton of building for such library and forty flo,
per centum thereof shall be used in the mr.
chase of library and museum, together with
the furniture ana fixtures thereof. In the issu-
ance OF these bonis IL shall not be necessary N
| submit the question OF creating such indebted.
| ness or making such loan TO the electors
| OF the city is provided in section
| twenty. nine co. article Of this eba,ta,
| Provided. that no bonds shsli be sold as above
provided, until a site for such library. located
south OF Pine street and west of - street
| OF not less value than fifty thousand fs50 GOO,
| dollars. 10 be determined, valued aud annrovsd
| by the library commissioners has been frs, con-
veyed TO the city in trust for said library. with
| good title free from lien or encumbranca. IN no
| determined by the corporation counsel
sec 6. The library commission. as soon as the