The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-07-03
POWERS OF COUNCIL.
The Charter Commission Gets
Through a Long Article.
A GOOD MORNINGS WORK DONE.
Important Changes Made in the Report
of the Committee-Severai Sec
lions Recommitted.

Commerce meeting in the afternoon.
The proceedings at the morning session
were very much in the nature OF committee
work, the discussion being mainly as 10 the
construction of the language employed,
which sometimes varied as widely as views
of the principle involved. Much OF the
time was devoted to expressing the extent
of the power OF the city council in borrow
ing money temporarily; and also upon the
provisions to be made for sinking funds to
meet bonded indebtedness, the discussion
turning upon the point that while some
provision should be made for such repay
ment and the tax imposed therefor ought to
be made annual or gradual. the consequent
accumulation of money would offer temp
tation to dishonesty which must be
guarded against.
Early in the session Judge Lewis called
attention to the lack of fire fighting facili-
ties possessed by the city, and after severely
criticising the dilatoriness of the present
council he offered the following:
To the end that this commission be advised
touching the provisions TO be made in the char
ter as to water aud water-works,
Resolved, that the mayor be and is requested
to furnish the commission the following infor-
nation
First-wha. contract. If any. has been made
by the city for the purchase OF the Spring Hill
water-works and when.
Second-what provisions, II any, have been
made to improve or enlarge the works
Tnird--what is the present state and condition
OF such improvements.
Fourth--What amount has the city paid for
water since such purchase.
Fifth-When is il proposed to have the works
enlarged and the city 10 have charge OF the
works
The commission proceeded with the arti-
Gle on the city council, and after making
many amendments, some of which aroused
lively discussion, the end of the article was
reached.
few sections were referred back to CON-
mittees, but with those exceptions the fol-
lowing is the text of the article. which Is
the most important in the charter:
LEGISLATIVE.
SECTION l. All legislative power of the city of
Seattle ahall be vested in a mayor and a city
council which shall consist of two houses,
namely q board of aldermen and q house OF del
egates
Sec q The board of aldermen shall consist OF
nine members elected from the city at large,
and the house OF delegates shall be composed of
two members elected from each ward.
Sec. 3. AT the first election under this charter
nine members of the board of aldermen shall be
elected. The five receiving the greatest number
of votes shall hold Office for four years, and the
other four for two years. and in case OF a tie
vote the length of the term shall, at the first
session, and before transacting any other bust.
ness, be determined by lot. At each subsequent
general municipal election enough aldermen
shall be elected to succeed those whose terms
are about to expire and the aldermen so elected
shall each hold Office for four years. At said first
election, and at each general municipal election
thereafter, two members of the house of dele
gates shall be elected in each ward, and the
debates so elected shall each hold Office two
years. zach member of either house shall fur
Their hold Office until his successor is elected
and qualified.
sec. 4. No person shall be eligible for alder
man unless hs be freeholder. citizen of the
United States and have been resident and
elector of the city for at least two years next
prior to his election and no person shall be ELI
gible for delegate unless he be a citizen of
the United States and have been an elector of
the city and resident of the ward for which he
is selected at least one year next prior
TO his election. No person not resident or not
n citizen or who holds any other place in the
city government shall be q member of either
house.
Sec. 5. No member of either house shall hold
any other Office, federal. state. county or NUM-
clpal, except in the National Guard or as notary
public, or be an empioye of the city or either of
ested in any contract with the city, or with or
Tor any department. institution, board, officer,
agent or employee thereof, advance money or
furnish material or supplies, or become surety
for the performance OF any such contracts; or
directly or indirectly recommend, solicit, ad-
wise, request or in any manner use his influence
to obtain the appointment OF any person to any
office, position, place or employment under the
city government or under any department.
board, officer. agent or employe thereof. Pro-
vided, that nothing in this section shall impair
the right of member to nominate and recon-
mend any person for any position or office to be
filled by the city council or by the house of
which he is a member. Each member upon
taking Office shall make and Gle in the Office of
the city clerk an affidavit that he will faithfully
comply with and abide by all the requirements
OF this section, and the violation of any of the
provisions of this section shall work a forfeiture
OF his membership aud warrant his expulsion
from the house 10 which he belongs.
Sec. 8. No person shall be eligible TO member.
chip or be a member OF either house who shall
have been convicted of malfeasance in Office.
bribery or other infamous crime by Judgment of
any competent tribunal
sec. :. The houses shall meet in separate
chambers. majority OF either house shall
constitute quorum Of 1t, but less number
may adjourn from day to day or till the time of
next regular meeting and may compel the at
tendance of absent members in such manner
aud under such penalties as that house shall
prescribe.
sec. S Each house shall-First-Annually and
also whenever a vacancy occurs Choose from
lis members Its president. who shall perform
the usual functions of ii presiding officer and
may he removed by the affirmative vote of not
less than two-thrds of all The members Second
Establish rules for Its proceedings. Third
Keep journal of its proceedings aud allow the
proceedings 10 be published; and tske the yeas
aRE ian a.
two members and enter The same in the journal
fourth-Haye authority 10 punish It's members
and Others for disorderly or otherwise con.
D. tempiuous behavior in its presence and 10 expel
for such behavior in its presence any member
10y the affirmative vote OF not less than two
thirds OF its members, specifying in the order of
expulsion the cause thereof. Fifth-Have
authority to create aud use committees OF its
+ embers, in order 20 facilitate the discharge of
its leg sative functions; provided that no com,
mlitec OF either house and no joint committee
from both houses AID no part Of any comm ittee
and no member Of either house shall have or
exercise executive or adm illustrative power
slxth-Hase power % compel attendance of
witnesses as vel as production of papers and
things pertinent 10 business before such house
81 any az Us committees or q Joint COMMITTEES
from both houses
Sc, 3. The board of aldermen aud the house
Of delegates shah each have power 10 appoint
from IT'S members committee consisting OF
three, TO he cenomiuatei finance committee
and 10 al al vacancies in said comm tee
ESch sucA committee shall have power to inveS-
ugaie the transactions and accounts of all ofi.
GERS having tie collection. custody and dis
hurSement o! public money. or having the
power TO approve, allow or audit demands on
the treasury II shall have free access 70 any
records, cooks and papers IN al public Offices
kEalt asve power 10 sdmi aister oaIhs or afhrmS.
uohs ana 10 examine witnesses and compel at
tendance hetofe them by subpceua. Ssfi com