The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-10-18
FORCURRENTOUTLAY
The Charter Committee and
the Tax Levy Problem.
REDUCING THE MAYORS PAY.
Two Stringent Provisions Relaxed
Power to Reduce salaries-Mors
Sessions Needed.

The charter revision committee was repre-
sented at its session last night by Judge Jacobs,
Judge w. Lair Hill, Judge Andrews, Mr.. Jacob
rurtn' Aldermen Hall, Miller and Pontius and
Delegates shipley, Kittinger and Bagley.
Mr.. Furth said the finance committee recon-
mended not to make any change in the finan.
clal article relating to the tax levy, by which
current" was proposed to be changed to seu-
suing" Their reason was that 1t would take
three or four years before the city could arrive
at the point where it could levy for the ensuing
year, and by retaining the article as liz stood for
. few years the difficulty could be overcome.
The suggestion was adopted and the article
will remain unchanged.
Alderman Korn's amendment that contracts
Tor street lighting be for three years and not
one, as now, was introduced.
Mr.. Furth, OF the finance committee, submitted
an amendment providing that the mayors sal.
airy shall be 81 200, and q clerk the same; treas
urer, $500; corporation counsel, 5000; city
attorney, $1,000; city clerk, s., 900; police Judge
$1,000. 1t is also proposed 20 prohibit any in
crease of salary during q term, but it may be
diminished.
Mr.. Andrews proposed to strike out the
words "$l, 200" and insert $4,000" He GER
talnly thought that not too much to pay for a
good, competent man. He was in favor OF pay
ing that amount and let him employ clerk If
he wanted to.
Mr.. Bagley opposed. He said the salary of
tS'ooO was sufficient to tempt an unworthy man.
he thought the Office largely an honorary one,
out $i,2OO would reimburse him for incidental
expenses By providing q clerk the mayors
once would be kept open the same as other
Offices.
Mr.. Hall thought the mayor should be at his
ONCE at least six hours a day.
Mr. Furth said that in larger cities than Sc
attic the mayor did not give as much time as
that He thought two hours day sufficient; it
10 SO In San Francisco. II they wanted man
OF business. the right kind of man, even s., 900
year would not tempt him to neglect his bust.
ness and give all his time to the office.
Inc motion was lost and the salary fixed at
$1,000.
Mr.. Andrews proposed to leave the city at
torneys salary as now 81 500,
Judge Jacobs said it was the intention of the
committee that the assistant corporation coun-
sci should be lawyer in every sense of the
word and that he should devote his whole time
to the business of the city. The great difficulty
mas been that this city has attempted to run
Its legal business for little or nothing
and the result has cost the city
perhaps 100000 Their object was to
strengthen the legal force. From the earliest
days OF the city the ordinances had been q regu-
lar patchwork. They ought to have a system of
law such as st. Paul had, whose ordinances set
in operation the provisions OF the charter. Now,
IL requires time anu STUDY 10 accomplish such
results; 1t could not be done by inspiration. He
didn't think they could get q competent lawyer
for less than 81, 900 year.
Mr.. Furth and Mr.. Bagley also thought that
that was not too much.
Mr.. Miller was in favor of raising the corpora.
ton counsel's salary to $1,000; there is not a
large corporation in the city which doss not
pay fully as high for its COUNSEL. The present
city attorney is getting too much, but II the
city could get good, ambitious young man, he
should have s., 900 year.
The salary was liked at $4,000.
Considerable discussion took place over the