The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-07-05
HOLIDAY SESSION.
The Charter Makers Advance
Another Article.
1HE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.
Another Tug Over the Question of Elec-
tive and Appointiye Oficers-Judge
Lewis Odd Lapse.

Judge Lewis was caught mapping yesterday
morning az the session of the charter commits
zion, much TO the amusement OF his colleagues.
the lapse was particularly enjoyed By Judge
Rochester who wss not sure that the entire
proceeding was not prearranged plan 70 dis
concert himself.
when the fiuai stage OF the comptroller article
was approaching Judge Lewis moved to make
the Office Of comptroller elective 1t was quite
unexpected, and apparent-rnless many votes
could be changed-thst it stood no Chance OF
prevailing. The same question arose later
when the executive article was reached. and
Colonel sheafe moved TO strike out comptroller
from the list of elective officers IN order TO
make tire charter consistent with itself Judge
Lewis, directing his glance at Judge Rochester,
maguanimousiy voted 10 strike 1t out. as the
commission had so decidedly expressed its
opinion. HIS manner and words were pointed
yebuko to the Democratic leader, who had de-
clared his determination TO carry one OF MS dis
puted points 10 the people.
Sometime after. when the point arose again,
Judge Lewis seemed to have forgotten the Incl
dent and theoretically declared that he had
voted by mistake, and moved reconsideration.
Judge Rochester mischievously hurried mat
tiers forward, but before the question could be
put Judge Lewis concluded TO let the matter go.
CONTROLLER
The committee on revenue and finance re-
ported the substitution of the following for sub
divisions and 5 Of section 2 of the article on
comptroller:
Sec No warrant shall be drawn upon the
treasury in favor of any officer or any other per-
son, or any of their assigns, who is in any man
ner indebted TO the city. without first deducting
therefrom the amount OF such Indebtedness, nor
in favor of any officer or any other person or
any OF their assigns having the collection. care.
custody or control Of the public funds, until the
accounts of such officer or other person have
been presented. passed, approved and allowed,
as is or may be required by law; nor in favor of
any officer or other person, or his assigns, who
has neglected 10 take any oath OF office as re-
quired by law or ordinance or other regulation
OF the city council nor in favor OF any officer or
his assigns, who has failed In the knowledge of
the comptroller to Go any duty imposed upon
him by law or ordinance or other regulation of
the city council"
The article on comptroller was about to be
sent TO the enrolling committee when Judge
Lewis moved that the Office should be elective.
Judge Rochester seconded the motion.
Mr. Firth said IL was true the comptroller
should be independent, but he thought that the
Office called for special qualifications besides
integrity, and in an election the people might
overlook those essential requirements.
Mr. Young said he felt that the Office was q
very responsible one, and 1t was necessary that
he should be something more than a popular or
necessary. This was perhaps the one Office in
the city government that should be appointive.
He desired to place himself ON record as favor
ing election Of officers except in such cases
Mr.. Adair said he could give q good illustra-
tion. Six years ago the people took porter out
of his (Adair'sl store and made him assessor of
the value of their property. He was good
man, q first-rate fellow, but no more fitted for
that duty than to be professor OF Latin AT a col
lege He was back at his old duties and damn
ing the people for enticing him into politics
Mr.. Calligan said the record of Mr.. Adair's
elected porter was fully offset by the case of an
appointed official of Seattle. and the comparison
was vastly in favor of the elected man. Nobody
charged him with dishonesty; II he did not q II
the place acceptably it was because he did notex
actly know how to perform the duties; but moth
ing went wrong in his Office. He strongly main
tanned that all principal officers should be
elected: good bonds would secure faithful per.
Torrance OF their duty. He thought IL prepos-
terous that the people could not be trusted to
make good selection OF the man they wanted
70 serve them.
Judge Greene agreed with Mr.. Calligan. He
thought the chief consideration was to secure
the cOmptroller's independence OF anybody. II
he were not an expert bookkeeper he could en-
ploy one aud he would be compelled to employ
many. As to their setting up their Judgment
against the people, that wasn't the right way TO
u
posing the commission, were, by the vote of the
people, practically the 10000 people of the city
phey had been elected TO use their best judy
nent TO act for the people, who would finally
approve or disapprove
M. Adsir said he desired to explain that he
cast no aspersion upon the man he spoke Of No
more honorable man ever walked.
Judge Lewis said he was as much the people
a. the man who shoyeled dirt. We are on an
equality. We must do what we think is best
without minding what any particular John Doe
may say. He proceeded to give his reasons why
the comptroller should be elected. He instaneed
the case OF mayor, who ought to be independent.
He desired to keep some Offices appointive. lie
would have the judiciary appointed Judge
Deadly. one of the best judges on the Coast, was
sometimes so unpopular that mobs went around
with flags crying "crucify him."
Judge Jacobs called Judge Lewis to the chair
and said that although he had conceived IL best
IS chairman not to speak frequently He de-
sired to give his reasons for his vote on this and
similar questions The federal idea was that
the executive should be permitted to select the
officials responsible 10 him for carrying on the
administration. The state had given some of
those Offices to the psopie to select incumbents
directly. His view was that where duties were
administrative he would vote for the appoint
ment of the officer The Office OF comptroller is
purely administrative and he should vote 10
make 1t sppointive.
The question was put aud Judge Lewis
amendment lost on tie vote The article was
sent 10 the committee of revision by vote OF 6
toa
A NEW PROPOSITION.
Judge Greene offered a new section for tho
legislative article, which went over, after the
first reading. uader the rules He ssid a some
what similar provision WAS in the Boston CITY
charter and had been there for over a century.
II is as follows;
sec. -. General meetings OF the citizens
qualified 10 vote in city affairs may from time
10 time be held, to consult; upon the common
good, 10 give instructions 10 their represeu,a.
sives and TO take all lawful measures TO obtain
q redress OF any grievances. such meetings
shall be called by the mayor, by publishing a
call therefor, slgnef by him. IN two consecutive
issaes Of the city Official newspapers. upon the
Request in writing of twenty qualified voters of
each ward. ii the mayor negleets or refuses Ia
call any such meeting, any three members of
Che house OF de- egages or the police Justice of
the city may, upon ike request. In like manner
call such meeting. The cali shall name some
person TO preside st such meeting until IL shall
be duly organized by choice of clerk ANA chair
man. All proceedings Of any such meeting
duly certified by the chairman and elerk
thereof. shall he deposited with and faithfully
kept by the city clerk At such meetings m.
city, by au affirmative vote of two-thirds Of its
voters there assembled, shall have power TO re.
peal any obnoxious ordinance. and to make any
ordinance NECESSARY for the public safety that
city council might make under this charter
ard any such action shah not be set aside or
snnulled by the then existing city council"
Judge Lewis thought he would y.,ta for tba,
He believed there were times when the majesty
of the people should arise and assert itself If
We had some such provision jus, now we might
stand chance of getting some water
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT