The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-07-10
THE FIRST ARTICLE.
Delinquent Taxes Take up a
Mornings Session.
THE COMPTROLLER ELECTIVE.
Passage OF Another ArticIe-The Report
of the Committee ON Elections.
City Boundaries.

At the meeting of the charter commits
sion Yesterday the first display OF temper
was manifested, but it only lasted mo-
ment. Ii arose from the fervor Of debate.
and at once subsided. The entire proceed
ings OF the day. except upon the passage OF
the comptroller article, were IN the nature
OF committee work.
The committee on corporate powers m
troduced the first article of the charter de.
alaring the corporate succession.
CENTRAL RIGHTS AND LIABILITIES.
SECTION L The municipal corporation now
existing and known as the city of Seattle shall
remain and continue body polite and corpor
ate In name and In fact, BY the name OF the
city OF Seattle. aud by that name shall have per.
petual succession, may sue and defend IN All
courts aud places, and in all matters and pro-
ceedings Whatever. and may have and use
common seal and the same alter at pleasure,
and may purchase. receive, hold and enjoy
real and personal property within and without
the corporate limits Of the city Of Seattle, and
may sell, convey, mortgage and dispose OF the
same for the common benefit, and may receive
requests, gifts and donations Of all kinds OF
property within and without the city In fee
simple or in trust for charitable or other pur-
poses, and do all acts necessary to carry out the
purposes sfsuch gifts, requests and donations
with power to manage, sell, lease or otherwise
dispose of the same in accordance with the
terms OF the gifts, bequest or trust
Sec q The public buildings lands and prop
e-ty, all rights of property and rights OF action,
all moneys, revenues, and income belonging or
appertaining TO the city OF Seattle, are hereby
declared TO be vested in the said city Of Seattle
Sec. g. The said city of Seattle shall continue
10 have. lold and enjoy all public buildings.
lands, wharves, waters. property real and per-
sonal. streets, alleys aud other public places,
rights OF property. rights of action. suits,
actions. moneys, revenues, taxes, licenses,
Income, hooks, documents, records, archives,
claims, demands. and generally all things in;pos-
session and action of every nature and descrip-
ton, and shall be subject to all obligations,
debts, liabilities, dues and duties of the exist
ing municipality.
Sec. 4. Suits. actions and proceedings may be
brought In the name OF said city Of Seattle for
the recovery OF any property, money or thing be-
longing thereto, in law or In equity, or dedi-
Gated to public use therein. or for the enforce
mcnt OF any rights OF, or contracts with said
city. whether made or arising or accruing before
or after the adoption OF this charter: and all
existing suits. actions and proceedings in the
courts or elsewhere, 70 which said city Is .
party. shall continue to be carried on by or
against said city.
Sec. 5. All contracts of every description here
tcfore duly and legally made and entered into
by the city OF Seattle by virtue Of any existing
law. shall remain valid and be binding upon the
city of Seattle.
Judge Greene introduced the following
article, signed by Mr.. Donworth and him.
self
AMENDMENTS
SECTION /. Any amendment or amendments
to this charter may be proposed In either house
Of the city council and IL the same shall be
agreed TO by not less than three-ffths OF all the
members of each house. such proposed amend
ment or amendments shall be entered on the
journal OF each house with the yeas and nays of
such house thereon. and shall for ten consecu-
tive days texcluding Sundays). beginning with
In fve days next after its passage, be published
In the city official newspapers, and shall, not
less than sixty nor more than ninety days after
the frat publication, be again submitted to each
house OF the city council for passage, and pur-
sue the same course before the council and
mayor % ia pursued by an ordinance. and IL
upon such resubmission the same be agreed TO
again in each house by not less than three-ifths
of al the members thereof and be not returned
by the mayor with his objections. or be passed
Notwithstanding his objections by not less than
two-thirds OF ell such members such proposed
amendment or amendments shall be submitted
TO the qualified voters of the city for their ratif-
cation at the next general election, or at a spe-
cial election to be called for the purpose by the
city council before such general election, and il
At such election q majority of all lawful voters
voting thereat shall by their votes ratify any
amendment 80 submitted, the same shall
thereby become . part of this charter, aHd
within i've DAYS after such election be by the
mayor in proclamation published in the city
Official newspapers proclaimed Q part thereof
provided, that II more than one amendment DO
submitted. the same shall be submitted TO the
voters at such election In such manner that
they may vote for or against each amendment
separately, and the city council shall cause
every amendment that is to be submitted to be
published for st least thirty days excluding
snndaysl next preceding such election in the
city official newspapers
The committee on elections also made its
report, presenting one of the most inter-
esting of the articles introduced.
COMPTROLLER AND ASSESSOR.
Judge Greene moved to make the Office
OF comptroller appointive.
Mr.. Andrews strenuousIy objected to the
amendment. He maintained that the pro.
vision requiring seven years experience on
the part of the lawyer 10 DE chosen was a
sufficient guarantee against serious mis-
take and thought it an insult to the people
to intimate that they could not make a
wise selection.
Judge Greene did not know what the
continual talk about the people meant The
people are certainly going to govern the
city. What possible interest can any men,
Der of this commission have as to which
way the selection is made except for the
general interest The commission repre-
sents the people and is aetuated only by a
desire TO make such charter as shall be
best in the interest of the people.
Judge Rochester made fervid speech
against the change. He would not consent
to the amendment. he insisted that the
people were quite competent to select their
own servants and If this amendment were
adopted. ne would be compelled to 70 be-
fore the people and declare that they had
been betrayed and should repudiate the
charter. The question had been debated
day after day, and with stubborn persis-
tence, too. He attributed much of the ac-
ton to the personal vanity of some of the
members. In the name of the people, he
protested against the imputation that thew
could not be trusted 70 make as good a
choice as mayor and board OF alderman.
Judge Greene claimed to act quite as con.
scientifically as anybody ON that floor. The
reason he advocated making this office APP
pointive was because 1t required special
training. Ii he wanted u particularly
qualified man for any special work he
would not select him himself, but would 90
to somebody who might be familiar with
the special qualifications required and tn.
most suitable man for the place.
Mr.. Donworth pointed out that after the
first year the mayor and his creatures
would control the police department. and
il was now proposed TO place the machinery
of the legal department in the hands OF
another creature of the mayor. He should
eertaifiy vote AGAINST IL