The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-01-04

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giving their time and talents 70 the SERVES
* tbe city. Thev should be required 10
MAKE regular reports to the eoancz. and 10
act under IL general dsreetEos1- The
t5cnble with & board Of pubic warkS would
be that the nere honor wouid not BE =
sufficient inEnceEaenf "a competent hzssi-
ness men TO consent to act The business
Of the city should &c conducted upon he
same general plan IS thai OF private cor
poFation- and uniess il IS paid for, satisfac-
tory service cannot reasonably be expected.
TuE coUxctL UNSATISFACTORY.
H. r. Dearborn. the real estate man.
sail The idea Of board Of pubic works.
- expressed in the pssT-I1TgEE1GEsca
meets wish my unqualified approved. II Is
al excellent idea and would. il aefopsed. he
productive OF many needed m provements
in the administration OF oar municipal
government The city council Is e4ninentsy
unsatisfactory. Let 4 board Of public
works, - consist ii necessary OF ten coma
petent men. a. a sasary OF 81 100 each. be
scTeated. Is will be economy for the city,
and Ne may then expect 20 see permanent
grades established and the adoption OF a
systematic and sensible plan in the NAM
ing. numbering and laying out OF our
streets. etc.
If WOULD 81 A WISE srEP.
r. 4. Spencer, cashier OF the Bank OF
Commerce, said: 1t would be wise STEP
the creation of a hoard Of public works.
for it would relieve coancilnsen, who serve
without pay and have neither the time nor
the ability for the satisfactory performances
OF such ariu0as duties as are entaiaed in
the establishment Of suitable gas, water
and sever systems. and which require the
special service OF trained mel. The basi-
ness Of the city could also be, by this plan.
virtually taken out OF politics and vested
ia the hands of responsible men who would
devote TO it the requisite time and atten-
ton. We are nov at a crisis in orr muni-
cipai history when such a reform as The
PesT-ISTELLIGENcER has suggested, is most
essential
FIRST GET WV eHARTER.
L. G. Gilman said: | think that the
police, fire and public works departments
should be taken entirely ont Of politics ana
placed IN the hands OF commissioners. to
be appointed. say. by the governor. This
would insure the most efficient service.
kat II Is hardly time yet for Seattle 10 30 to
the expense at such an extensive enlarge
ment OF its public functions. | say first let
Us get hex city charter, so that we can
issue bonds commensurate with the wealth
OF our city for improvements. The present
city charter allows only $4,000 indebted
ness. What Is that for a city of
$3.50 people? Nothing. As to the
establishment in the very near future
OF board OF public works, it Is most ex-
celient idea The appointment of GER
tain number Of men of integrity and abig-
ity 70 conduct our public improvements
would result in direct saving to the city
The central idea in such scheme is dis
interestedness u self, unity OF purpose and
quick comprehension and swift dispatch
OF the snhject at hand. Combine these
elements IN a board of public works. and
you have the maximum OF result and the
minimum OF expense, which would be the
very aniitheSis Of the present medus oper-
andi OF the council
GIT BgoAD-MrNnED MEN
County Auditor Forrest said: It's a
splendid idea, provided the proper men
can BE selected TO iii the position. be-
lieve the municipality could more than
save the salaries of el--@@ board in the added
economy of careful set of commissioners
TO look after public improvements-men Of
sound. practical business qualities, mean,
who would be broad enough to grasp
subject and handle il in the right manner
THE COUNCILS MISTAKES.
Chairman Fred Gaseh. OF the board of
county commissioners said: / have read
the PosT-IETELLIsKacER's editorial on the
subject, and | indorse the proposition.
The result would be a great saving TO the
city, providing the right men could be had.
The present city council is not economical.
They make too many blunders. They will
make an Improvement and then spend
money In undoing what they have already
done in order to make changes in what
they should have seen at first Look at
some of the street grades. The city coun-
ell Is apt TO get things wrong end to. | ana
most assuredly in favor Of a board of pub
lie works. for then public improvements
would receive the attention they should
have.
sucH A COMMISSION PROPER.
]. NJ. Colman said The plan proposed
BY the PosT-INTELLIGENcKR FOR the hand
ling OF the water, sewer and street depart
ments by commission or board of pubic
works. impressed me very fayoYablv. ard
consider il proper TO have such a oouan,is-
sion appointed The council now has more
than ii can handle and do Justice 10 all
branches. owing % the rapid growth OF the
city, ard it should not be expected TO con-
tinae trying to handle such a vast amount
OF easiness. To do so mus: mean loss
aud the way to avoid it is hy having 8
board Of public works
FAsons RELIEVING THE corxcgs.
John Haley said The city council has
more than il can handle. and am i'm favor
of relieving il Of some Of the work By plac-
ing Il in the hands 81 a board of public
works or a commission that would have
general supervision OF the water. sewerage
and street departments. as proposed some
time ago BY the Posr-INrELI1e EscFa. It's
advocacy was timely AMI fiily in lire with
my views en- that subject
PREVENT NEEDLES Exrrxnfrcrrs.
Captain u 3 jackson sad: ! am IN
favor Of a haar8 of pubic works Tor The
city, composed og men who would handle
the systems IN business manner 50 "a ~
prevent needless expenditures az monev.
and unnecessary interference with the mo.
&c Ia she treatment ~ the streets. Dtber
cities have such boards, and I see no rea.
sen why one should not Fe selected here
as this eity's growth is saeh as 20
demand L.
a GoaD rHTEe.
A CA8beSE said. | fhiuk Il wougd b a
good ss.ng 10 have board Of public works
appointed 70 handle the wAiev works. ~ r.
E erase gua streets, IS tEse present manner az
managing faoss matters eaases ahesa to
frequently e3aa.et Ii wousd he st great
a..