The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-06-01

FYrops,s Or The POSITION.
why b. warrsnts Wore Issued, why
4 II seed to Be Validated by Vote
ia How 1t IL to Be Done.

IT, bond election takes place today
~ is open from O'Clock till o'clock.
ftst a. x against every paragraph of the ticket
6ef Inning sin favor OF.
An election Is 10 be held today for the purpose
81 validating by popular assent warrants issued
her I'd the legal limit during the twelve months
beginning Immediately alter the FIRE, and for
the further purpose Of authorizing an issue of
bonds to the amount involved.
The assent OF fhree-hfths OF the voters IL re-
qusrcd by the state constitution.
The polls viii open at o'clock and close at
o'clock.
For several months past the steps leading to
tho bonding OF the city's indebtedness have
been discussed not only In the city council, but
by most Of the municipal organizations. and the
question has become thoroughly understood by
the people.
The necessity for mourning the indebtedness
beyond the constitutional limit transcribed all
written Law. without rehesrsing any of the In
cidcuts connected with the actual work which
followed the FIRE, IT may be interesting to re-
print some o. the comments made about that
time in order to comprehend the solemn nature
Of the obligation then entered into by the city
to repay money advanced upon warrants in ex-
cess Of the very restricted limits of the old char
ter, which was framed when the city had only
about 1000 population and had been found In
adequate long before the fire.
These extracts viii shows further, that there
was no lack OF q sense of responsibility on the
part OF the city governments, but that IL was
fmpelicd forward by the people themselves who
pledged their ratification OF the councils acts
The day after the fire, june 2, 1850, q mass
meeting was held at the Armory, presided over
by Mayor Moran, and on that occasion the citi-
sens who gathsred in immense numbers, by ac-
clamston pledged the city's credit for the ueces-
sary funds with which TO rebuild the city. II
was resolved TO start in anew. straighten the
streets, plank them solidly and increase the fire
protection.
No man who was present at the meeting and
entered into the impressive obligations assumed
on that evermemorable day should fail to cast a
ballot which 10 to redeem the pledge he offered
then.
At meeting of citizens held on Juno IL,
Judge Lewis said; suppose 5000 is paid out
every day by the city authorities to workmen;
why. the citizens will undoubtedly reimburse
the city council. say, keep all men busy who
will work.
On the same day the Posr-ISTELIraEScga
said cditorially: "one OF the most important
duties OF the city authorities is that of ing
work for the idle who desire employment.
There is an immense amount of work to be done
In the city These men do not want charity:
&f<<< d. hn&fa 10
bad men than TO have one good man go
hungry
On June 1s. the same paper said: "The num-
beF OF men Al work In the burnt district ia now
stsuf s.0au. aud during the coming week Ii need
NOS be matter Of surprise II the number
reaches 5000.
On June Il, commenting upon the reluctance
OF the city council to run into debt, the Posr-
lxrRILiaEScER said: "Thc old street lines are
20 be changed, new wharyes and new docks are
to be built. and the. grades of the most import
ant part of the city are TO be materially altered
An army ~ men mus, be employed In this ,cork"
A month later, July 10, IL was realized that
even more strenuous efforts must be made: ave
need money Immediately for the repair of our
broken streets and ruined public docks, for sup
PLYING means OF protection against future fiery
-
and for many other purposes, and in the dam
aged state OF our fortunes 10 is impossible to
raise this money by direct and immediate taxa.
tion. Either we must have authority to use our
credit, the product wholly OF our energies, or we
must suffer delays in rebuilding the city, involv-
ing losses not only for the present time but for
oil time TO come"
On July l. the mayor addressed thee
council, urging that legislative relief be
sought. "Under the present circumstances"
he said, 'the city has no means TO prosecute
the improvements that have been made impera-
lively necessary by the fire. The city
has reached its limit of indebtedness and ia
paying 10 per cont. interest, whereas II the
debt was funded the rate Of interest would not
be more than 3 per cent
Councilman Jones said IL was absolutely
necessary to go into debt. cit is the only
means by which public improvements can be
made, and the life of the city, TO great ex-
tent, depends upon them"
A meeting was held at the courthouse on
"Wednesday. October ., 1882 at which the Seattle
board OF fire underwriters, the Chamber of
Commerce, Board of Trade, and large number
OF citizens were present.
Mr.. Frank Hanford said the leading insurance
companies were disposed to keep up the high
rates of insurance until the city had more water
and ga paid and fully equipped fire depart
ment''
Councilman Niesx said he understood the
meeting was called to sustain the council even
A. IL should find il necessary to exceed the pre-
scribed limit OF Indebtedness. The limit of
$4,000 was too low, but the issue of warrants
beyond that sum might be enjoined unless the
council were strongly upheld by the citizens.
The following resolution was adopted:
Rcsoircd, That we, as merchants and citizens
Of Seattle, will uphold and sustain the council
in whatever action IL may take, 80 long as il ac-
complish the end we ask in the shortest POS
sible time"
The state legislature in January. 1890 passed
the laws rendered possible by the new state con-
stitution. enabling the city 90 incur indebted.
ness up TO per cent. OF its property valuation
fer general municipal Indebtedness and fur
ther amount, not to exceed 5 per cent more, for
water and sewerage purposes. The latter be-
came last summer the paramount consideration
and bonds were issued for the extension of the
water and sewerage systems. 1t was not advis-
able 10 attempt to hoat bonds beyond tho
amount then raised, $4,000. and the strinrency
IN the money market early this year tended still
further to delay the issue. There has never
heen siouot in the minds of the city council
that the bonds would be voted for or the least
hesitation on the par, of the people in avowing
responsibility for the eity's indebtedness but it
was not business prudence either to so into a
stagnant market or aceedc to the ars; offers
made. 1t has been delicate task to secure a
rood price for bonds, and at the same time feel
secure as 20 the lowest point at which the city
could take decided stand in its demand for
terms.
tcld. After rejecting several conditions made by
Harris & Co, the city authorities accepted
their bid conditional upon ratification
nv the people One powerful reason why the
council preferred 20 deal with that firm. all other
tf.oss - -