The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-05-23
NEW PLAN PROPOSED.
Board of Public Works to Be
Reorganized.
ECONOMY IN DEPARTMENTS.
Proposition Agreed Upon the City Coun-
Gil Committee of Retrenehment-
The Fire Department.


tee met last night, with Delegate Frank
Hanford in the chair. The other men,
bers present were President Hall, Presi-
dent Jones, Aldermen KornNand Miller,
Delegates Bagley, Lansing, Barnes and
Muldoon. The committee cannot be said
TO have made very much direct progress
SO far as the number OF reductions made
is concerned, but 1t incidentally initiated
movement which will have considerable
influence in the city's affairs.
1t did not come first in the order of BUSH
ness, but the proceedings were altogether
of adesultory character, and its importance
justifies precedence
Mr.. Hanford introduced it by saying
that he had seen that day an article in the
PosT-INTELLIGEScER which seemed to him
to throw new light on the subject of so
many departments. He thoroughly APP
proved the suggestion that instead of so
many departments and sub-departments
they should be concentrated in the board
of public works. There was no need of so
many superintendent, and clerks, and
deputies. He advocated, also. that all
moneys belonging to the city should be
paid into the city treasury direct, and a
duplicate receipt system adopted, such as
now prevailed with regard to taxes and
licenses. The board of public works
should have direct and entire control over
all the subordinate branches now scattered.
Messrs. Hall, Bagley. Lansing and Jones
supported this view, and Mr.. Bagley
moved that committee of five be APP
pointed to formulate plan for consolida-
ton of the different offices under the
board of public works.
The chair appointed committee con-
sisting of Messrs. Bagley, Jones, Lansing,
Hall and Miller, which will meet Wednes-
day afternoon at O'Clock.
Mr.. Hall suggested that it be expressed
as the sense of this committee that all
moneys belonging to the city be paid to
the. city treasurer direct, except fees of the
police court and harbor department where
that course could not be conveniently
adopted. He put it in the form of mo-
ton that water taxes and building fees
should be paid direct to that official.
The motion prevailed and it was made a
part of the instructions of the committee
of five.
Mr.. Hall then invited the attention of
the committee to phase in the reduction
plan which he thought needed further
"
officers whose salaries were fixed by
charter. 1t had been objected that they
could not be lowered during their term.
He thought under the circumstances that
the council would be justified in reducing
salaries which were now felt to be Excess
sive, and let any man who thought him.
self aggrieved appeal to the courts for re-
dress. 1t was true, he continued,
in answer to remark, that
there was distinction to ,ss.
made bet xeen those offices who's Salaries
were fixed before the mn s.o were elected or
appointed, and those wherein the men
mad accepted positions subject to future
ae rlls,Ef' BY the council. But there is an
emergency, and he doubted if any official
would care to place himself on record as
suing the city for an excess over what was
determined by the council to be fair COM
pensation.
Mr.. Muldoon did not agree altogether
with this. He would vote to ask these of
ficials to consent to a reduction on ac-
count of the necessities of the city, but he
was opposed to compelling them to accept
less than the charter had provided because
that would look too much like reputation
Mr. Jones made an earnest speech in
favor OF making the reductions in such a
way as to make them acceptable with a
good grace.
Mr.. Bagley referred to cases in state and
congressional affairs where a compensa-
ton was fixed by law, but officials were
compelled TO accept the amount appro-
priated.
Mr.. Barnes also objected to making a
reduction Of charter salaries except with
the consent of the men concerned being
first obtained.
Mr.. Korn feared that if such an ordi-
nance were passed it would be declared
unconstitutional. He moved that the task
of ascertaining whether a reduction would
be submitted to by those officers be left to
the committee Of five.
Mr.. Lansing thought so also. believing
that if they were approached in spirit of
compromise rather than force they would
be met.
Mr.. Bagley moved that the charter
officers be asked to accept salaries as fol-
lows: Mayor, $2,400; treasurer, s., 100;
corporation counsel, $2,400; city clerk,
1880; comptroller, 5000. If they would
not accept this reduction the council will
he powerless, but it would have done its
best. The motion prevailed.
Mr.. Hall said they had not touched one
Office which did absolutely nothing, and
that was the park commissioners. who re-
ceived 81, 500 year. He moved that they
be requested to serve for nothing Mr..
Hall remarked that he would like the mo-
ton to extend the commission the privi-
lege of resigning if they did not like the
pay offered, which was as much as the
city council received.
The matter of the board of public works
was revised Mr. Hall said that under
the proposed reduction the chairman
would set the largest salary each year, as
the members reached that place by rota-
ton.
Mr.. Bagley suggested that the chairman
be asked to accept 81, 500 and the secretary
he given 81, 500. 1t was evident that if the
proposed consolidation took place the
secretary's responsibilities wonld be in
creased.
Mr.. Hall moved 1t to be the sense oil
the committee that this reduction extend
TO March next. The object of this was to
give the officers an understanding of what
was expected. BY 1892 the new taxes
would be in aud the city better able TO pay
high salaries.
The operating department of the water
works came in for a share of consdera-
ton, some objection being raised TO what
was considered too many engineers.
Mr.. Miller said his opinion was that
they did not need any chief engineers; he
Was told that engineers could be got st $l0C
month who would take watch. He
moved that the services Of the chief en-.