The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-04-01
THE CITY COUNCIL.
Broadway Grade Under Pay
ment By Bond.
CITY OFFICIALS TO BE FINED.


nc CITY COuuClK mct IN JOINT COuvcutIOu
last night. In the absence of President
Jones, the delegates elected Mr.. Frank
Hanford as president pro tenn. Mr.. Hall
presided over the convention. Those pres
emit were Aldermen Korn, Snyder, Wilcox,
Pontius, Miller; Delegates Hart, Muldoon,
Bagley, Furry. Barton, Krug, Cowden,
Barnes. Shipley. Judge Jacobs was also
IN attendance.
The proceedings were of considerable in
terest, as it was the first occasion of Gre
ating local improvement district under
the charter. The assessment roll of esti-
mated cost had been made out, and this
meeting was held for the purpose of giving
all property-owners an opportunity to
make any objections they might have to
the assessment as made. After this is re-
yised, an ordinance must be passed for the
issue of bonds.
Deputy Clerk Townsley read the roll Of
assessment for the grading of Broadway,
and the chair called for objections on the
part of property-owners.
In response C. r. Brown raised an OBJ
lection to the front foot assessment for a
corner lot.
Judge Jacobs called attention to section
Z of article XIII, by the provisions of
which local improvement district is
created. He read it at length.
Mr.. E. +. Whittier appeared on behalf of
the Union Trunk Line and stated that
they had graded all their property with
the understanding that they were to have
an allowance made in the contract with
the graders. He only called attention to
it but raised no objection. He was salts
fled to take his chances of being fairly
dealt with.
Mr.. Bagley asked as a matter of infor-
nation how triangular pieces of land
were to be assessed. The question is
likely to be often raised.
Mr.. Snyder said the charter made no
provision for fractional lots.
Mr.. Hanford said the fairest way to
assess property is by front foot. This city
had tried several ways, and in every one
there have been found cases Of injustice
and inequality. The new charter wisely
adopted the front-foot system. If man
had corner lot he had, of course, to pay
for improvements on both sides. but it was
considered that corner lot was worth so
much more
Judge Jacobs, in reply to Mr.. Snyder,
said the charter provided for parcels" of
land, which certainly included parts of
lots. He then proceeded to point out how
difficult, if not impossible, it was to devise
means which would not work seeming
hardship in some cases. He instanced the
Occidental block. which was assessed four
times for street Improvements. The terri
torial court is the only one that ever held
assessment and taxation to be the same.
Welter quotes that decision, and says it is
the only one to be found anywhere, and is
In connict with the entire current of legal
opinions. He thought the only equitable
way was that suggested by President Hall
that where the council considered the as
sessment unfair they could make a rebate.
Mr.. Wilcox called attention to the diff
Guilty of assessing to the CENTER of the
lot, where its shape was of unequal sides.
Judge Jacobs smilingly replied that the
legal Interpretation was ito the center
line"
Mr.. Pontius asked if the bonds must be
sold before the work was given to the con-
tractor.
Judge Jacobs said he had told the Board
of public works that as there must ALWAYS
be uncertainty about the sale of bonds, as
they must be sold at par, it would get the
city into terrible muddle if it entered
upon work before the bonds were sold, and
he would not himself begin work until the
bonds had been sold at par He said it
had been suggested that the contractor
might take the bonds, but then he must
run the chance of being the lowest bidder,
as the charter requires. He thought his
advice was safe that the contract should
not be let till the bonds were sold. The
board might advertise for bids, reserving
the right TO reject, and if the bonds were
not sold they could reject all bids.
1.-THE judge thought it might be good
plan for the joint convention to fix the
rate of cost per front foot
Mr.. Miller wanted to know where the
board of public works got authority to
allow private persons to grade property.
Mr.. Whittier explained that the object
had not been to escape q grade tax. On
the contrary, if the city had done the
work it would have cost the car line $50:
it had actually cost them 500 to do it
themselves, as they had taken especial
pains with it.
The levy was fixed nj 81 5000 and tba