The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-09-10

one msn at the head Of the department. or one
commissioner. instead Of 4 board OF pubic
works. would have one Efficient engineer who
thoroughly UNDERWOOD bis work would have
the mayor tear al the responsibility, and shen
when the occasion requires Is. he can 20 70 the
bottom with the pruning knife do not agree
with several people, who hold that officers
should al BE elected, Tor the nearest approach
We can get TO good responsible government il
by having good, strong mayor and hold hin
responsible
Major J. r. Hsyden1hought the charter was
not responsible for the extravagsncs 81 which
taxpayers complained, but the men " no were
elected 70 Office under the charter were re-
sponsibie, though IL was exerSable from the
iaet that they were mostly new men and work
ing under new charter, containing many new
features In municipal government
T. 2. Whittier said: II agree with Mr. Graves
In our stock companies we divide our business
mp into departments and put man q. the head
OF each and hold him responsible don't agree
with hin on the question % 10 whether q coun-
Gil composed Of one or two bodies is the best
The two bodies give the people better oppor-
tnnisy 70 know what - going on. and there 10
less danger Of mistakes being made"
d. 3. Ward moved that il be the sense Of the
chamber thai the house Of delegates be
abolished
Chairman Fur;h said he did not think the
members had given the question sufficient con-
sider&ton. He thought they should take
copy OF the charter home and study IL, and
urgsd the adoption Of asuggestion made by Mr..
Ramsey that the matter be referred 20 q COM
mites of FIVE for consideration
Mr.. Wards motion was allowed TO 90 by de-
fault
Mr.. Ramsey said: aI am a Democrat ret
agree with Mr.. Graves that there must be GEN.
tralIzation. / find il necessary 20 follow this
principe in my business. / would cut down
RtAry AZ Z and
football for politicians 10 seek We are run
ming this city on TOO large a scale
Major Hayden asked Xr. Ramsey: sis IL the
fault of the charter or is it tie fault Of our
ofhce-sf The charter provides for three men in
places where one man can do the WORK"
81 would 10. have politician, neither Repub-
hcan or Democrat replied M. Ramsey.
There is too nuch politics in our municipal
Affairs. That IL a great deai OF the trouble"
Nv hen you read that charter through you
will find there are not as many changes neees-
sary as you may think sAid Chairman Furih.
MAJOR Hayden said he liked the members OF
the chamber very much; that they are good
business men, but they are queer fellows 10
vote.
Mr.. Graves opposed referring the matter TO a
COMMITTEES, because thu committee would
simply represent the views OF is individual
members. Mr.. Whittier favored the committee.
@. Z. De Steiguer thought il hardly fair 70 say
that the questions with which state has 70
deal are broader or more economic IN their
tura than those of . municipality. said be:
al do not believe . man the charter commits
sion had an idea on municipal government that
Is not in that charter today This remark Gre
ased SINE little amusement motion by Mr..
Ramsey for the appointment of q committee OF
I've was defeated
Mr.. Furth said be contended that the city gov
eminent could be run with very little more ex-
pense now than under the old system; that the
main thing is 20 get suggestions how 70 eeono-
mize, and be felt sur the council viii be only
too glad TO comply with the suggestions of busi-
ness men. He thought the members should rot
be too quick TO condemn the council; that the
charter wss rev, and those people who have
been elected have done the best they could.
The meeting then adjourned, with the under
standing that the members would aii study the
charter aud be prepared TO express their views
definitely at a meSting 70 be held later.