The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-08-14

special assessments shall be liens upon the
respective lots and parcels of land subject
Thereto IS provided in this act. from the date OF
the ordinance leyying such assessment. Such
assessment may be collected and such liens may
| equity, either in the name of the city
| OF Seattle or of the officer or any
contractor OF contractors, 10 whom 1t shall have
directed payment to be made; and In any such
action or suit IL shall be sufficient statement
OF the cause OF action In the complaint to allege
the making and completion OF the improve
ment, describing IL and the amount Of the assess
rnent on the premises proceeded against, giving
an accurate description thereof ana the amount
| OF such assessments remaining unpaid and the
names OF the owner OF aud each person having
an interest in such premises at the time of com
meneing the action or suit In any such action
or suit, if u shall appear to the court on the
| trial thereof that work has been done or ma
| terfals furnished in making improvements
authorized by the council for which. under pro-
visions OF this act, special assessments may be
levied, the court shall decree against the prem
fses and in favor Of the city or other proper party
plaintiff 20 the extent of the proportion OF the
reasonable - OF such work or materials Justly
chargeable TO such premises. notwithstanding
any defect, informaiity or irregularity in the
proceedings. But in such case, If defects in
formalities or irregularities prejudical to the
party ob1ecting ON account thereof appear, the
court In its discretion, may disaIlow any part or
the whole of the plaintiffs costs or allow costs
70 the defendant; and If the assessment proceed
1ngs shall appear to be regular, the plainti 4
shall be entitled to include in the recovery the
full amount OF the assessment and interest
thereon at the rate OF 10 per cent per annum
from the time when the assessment shall have
become delinquent and ) per cent additional as
penalty for damages and delay"
appeal 10 you to have no more delay about
this supremacy important matter. Put the en-
tire amount in default into the hands of the
corporation counsel Improperly owners cannot
pay, but are willing To pay, they can take refuge
IN the provisions of the ordinance you have al
ready passed, allowing them to pay by INSTALL
ments. The first installment fixes their liability
and YOU can afford to be lsnieBt with them:
but II any delinquent refuses TO accept the liza
biiity, refer the question to the arbitrament of
the court. II is impossible for the corporation
counsel to deal With such vast number of
cases in the short time available recommend,
therefore, that you authorize him 10 employ the
best legal assistance he can get The cost ii the
suit goes TO court is of little importance the
defendant, II he determine upon resistance,
must take the consequences of an adverse judg-
ment with costs TO follow The supreme court
has decided that for street grading, the s'pay-
meiit by bonds plan cann,t be adopted, except
by vote OF the people This throws us back
upon immediate payment plan, which seems to
be very inadequately comprehended.
In effect ii gives from one year to nearly two
years grace for payment because under the new
charter such assessments are to be enforced in
the same way city taxes. 1t is very desirable
a a. 10 grazing b as pc done
and sewer mains, which is much more expen-
siye on ungraded streets. One very important
point arising in connection with this subject Is
the necessity for a change of policy TO main
tanning streets In the business district. The
taxpayers have undertaken to pay for most of
the planking done within the past two years
but am satisfied it would be unjust to impose
further expenditure Of that kind upon them.
The present planking will wear out and IL
should be replaced by paving of Substantial and
uniform material, laid at the expense of the
benefited property and assessed by the front
foot. There Will be no difficulty IN disposing OF
warrants Issued for this purpose under the
stringent en- provided by the charter, which
has all the force and effect Of state law, and it
affords the most ample security to contractors
and scrip buyers
The people OF seattle do not realize the vast
sum paid out within two years for street i'm
proyemeDis. In lSS9-90 10 amounted to s233,-
17716 And in lsgo9l. up 20 June J, to s145,s96.l5
Altogether, s379, 073.2l; including interest. il
runs 10 over 100000, most of which was for
planking. The entire tax for 1ssg-gO at " mills
on sI6,o0O,00O was sl92,OOo In ls90-9i at 10 mills
on $500, 900, il $500 Altogether in two
years the tax levy was $4,000, and the street
work alone was nearly equal TO that. is IL any
wonder the city must come 10 a halt? The fact
Is the amount advise now to be bonded should
have been bonded long ago.
II an attempt had been made to pay that
amount by taxes levied then, it would have
necessitated an average tax levy of % mills in
stead of II for 1889, and Is mills instead OF 10
last year.
Under the new charter contractors and scri o
buyers must look to property owners for pay
ment, and one excellent effect is that self inter
est will insure there shall be no irregularities or
informalities in passing the ordinances or other
legal formal1ties, such as have arisen in the past
to the citys dctriInent
call your attention once more 10 the fact that
your honorable body has done very little to-
wards putting the charter into effect by means
OF ordinances. Especially notable among these
omissions is the fixing of bonds for officials You
should also satisfy yourselves that your finance
committee has examined the books of the several
departments and that full aud complete inyen-
tory OF the cltys property is made. | ask you TO
take notice that hereafter / shall refuse to audit
any account against the city until the provisions
o! the charter as to sworn attestation are COM
piled with.
your honorable body to formulate the laws of
the city. Iou have a very serious responsibility
before you, because the financial policy you in.
itiate now is that which must prevail for the
next two years. beg to remind you that the
charter prohibits me from becoming candidate
for any office at the expiration of my term and
that may serve to emphasize my declaration
that have no personal ambitions which might
tend TO warp my judgment. Ny object has
been. and IN these recommendations now is to
best promote the interests OF The eitv
firmly believe that by adopting the course I
have outlined, you will secure to the city of Sc
attic strong and stable government and 90
adapt the burden OF taxation to the circum-
stances OF the taxpayers to afford them an i'm
mediate relief without unduly discounting the
certain prosperity Of the future.
HAggY WHITE, Mayor
At the conclusion of the reading there was a
moments thoughtful silence and then Mr. Rag.
ley arose and said he would do Mr.. White the
justice 20 say ii was, in Ar. BagIey's opinion.
the strongest document ever presented To the
city council by any mayor in his recollection.
Alderman Hall remarked that he agreed with
Mr. Bagiey that there was good strong sense in
It. He would reserve his opinion as TO the
recommendations until he had time to consider
them. The proposal as to the low tax levy was
surprise TO him and required some elaboration
of thought.
Alderman Miller expressed the same view
Whether he agreed with Mayor White or not in
his views, he was tree to admit that it was the
clearest financial statement that had been pre-.
sented 10 the council. They had general
knowledge, of course, but il was necessary to
have such information presented in a compact
shape.
Mr. Willis expressed himself in terms of com.
! incubation Il have no hesitation he said.
| sin declaring it most able document and re-.
tecting great credit on the financial and politi.
| cal sagacity of Mayor White"
Delegate Shipley said there was one very i'm
| portant point raised by the message hwich was
| new 20 most OF them, and that was as To the
| power Of the council only TO levy for the cur.
rent fiscal year. He thought they should refer
the message to the judiciary committee.
1t was resolved, on motion of Delegate Baglev-
To refer it To the chairmen OF both houses who
shall apportion out the subjects treated to the
several committees.
request from the mayor for leave OF absence
was acceded to. During that time Hon. g W
Hall. president of the board of aldermen. will
be the acting mayor.
THE ISLANDER ATTACHED.
Big Excursion Party Delayed by