The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-01-01
Seattle Under a Changed Form
of Government.
a CITY OF THE FIRST CLASS.
Experiment of Dual Legislature for
Municipal Affairs.
transition From the Old Form-work
OF Charter Commission-Advant
of New Arrangement-The Various
observation-disclosures City Omcers.

The year 1890 viii be memorable IN the
annals of Seattle as that in which it
emerged from its swaddling clothes and
became city of the lsrst-class with all the
responsibilities. privileges, burdens and
advantages incident thereto. Seattle had
entirely outsrown the charter under which
II had been operating for four years. The
limit of Indebtedness was burst asunder by
the sheer force of the growing necessities
OF the city, and an almost powerless coun-
Gil vas compelled 10 ignore legal bounds
and permit an expenditure which was not,
however, undue for place of its size.
The state constitution, adopted in 1885,
has made provisions for the rapidly matur-
ing cities; and by virtue of laws spring
ing therefrom. an election was held May
81, at which fifteen freeholders were
chosen TO frame a charter They were
Judge Orange Jacobs. Judge Roger 5.
Greene, Judge FL. G. Struve. Judge ]. r.
Lewis, Judge Junius Rochester, ex-Mayor
John Collins. ex-Mayor John Leary. Jacob
Fnrth, George b. Adair. George Donworth,
Colonel c. NJ Sheafe, J. C. Nixon. w. Il.
Andrews, Robert Calligan and Douglas
Young.
For several weeks that body met in the
old city hall, on Yesler avenue and Fifth
street, and formulated new scheme of
city government which, together with
officers to serve for the nrst term under it,
was submitted to the people on October
and adopted
The commission started out with an ap-
plication of the dual system of legisla-
tnre. and created city council, consisting
OF board Of aldermen, with a member
ship of nine, elected at large, and house
of delegates, with sixteen members, two
from each of the eight wards into which
the city was divided by the new charter.
The aldermen will serve four years, ex-
cept those nrst elected, and the delegates
two years. The members receive no COM
pensation for their services.
The executive branch of the government
IS headed by the mayor, who takes no part
in the proceedings of the Legislative depart
ment. For the hrst time in the history OF
Seattle its mayor was accorded salary,
and he will receive $4,000 year until the
city reaches population of 60,000, when it
will gradually increase. He cannot serve
two consecutive terms. and is ineligible to
any other municipal Office for two years
after the end of his term.
Efforts were made in drafting the char
ter to provide a complete check upon ex-
penditure and hasty legislation. If exper-
fence does not prove that the system is too
intricate for city government it promises to
become one of the most successful in the
country. The council is entirely iegisla-
tive in its character, although, through its
finance committee, il exercises supervision
over all accounts of the city. The mayor
is merely the chief executive, but has
pIenary powers in case of emergency.
Under these general authorities are COM
missions through which the city depart
ments operate. The principal is the board
of public works, consisting of three men,
bers, at salary of 5000 year each, APP
pointed by the mayor and aldermen. Under
their direction, with heads of departments,
are the water-works purchased by the city
about the time the new charter went into
effect), the repairing and cleaning of
streets, the grading of streets for property
owners, the construction of sewers, the
erection and preservation of public build
ings, bridges and wharxes, and the pur-
chase of all materials for the other depart
ments.
The ire department is controlled by the
mayor and four commissioners elected at
large, who serve without salary. They ap-
point the chief and all other subordinate
officers.
The police department consists of
board OF commissioners appointed by the
mayor and cen..rmed by the house of dele
gates. This board was recognized as being
controlled in most cities by politicians,
and extraordinary precautions were taken
TO hedge in the members from sinister in
auences They must be confirmed by the
house Of delegates as the popular body, no
two may come from the same ward, and
not more than two be of the same political
party. They retire in such rotation that
this proportion must always he main
tanned They are FORBIDDEN, under strict
provisions, to take part in any political
primaries or conventions, and they are in
eligible for city Office for year after the
expiration of their term. This board ap-
points chief of police and all subordinate
officials.
The parks of the city are yet In a very
primitive condition, but il was considered
prudent TO prepare for the time when the
city will stand in need of them. A COM
mission of I've was accordingly created,
one retiring al the end of one, two, three,
four and i've years respectively. so that
one will eventually retire every year. The
members receive $500 year salary, that
one having the shortest term 10 serve act
ing as chairman, provision in each of
the boards of which the mayor is not ex-
otiicio the presiding officer.
The movement toward foundation of q
public library at the time the charter was
being framed, led 10 the inclusion of an
article bringing such an institution within
the scope Of the municipal government II
has some distinctive features. The COM
mission is composed of i've, of whom two
must always be women; and they are so
nrotected in their functions that no change
Of the city government or political condi-
lions can interfere with line of policy.
There is neither temptation toward nor
opportunity for diversion of the Office to
demagogic ends. A certain proportion Of
CITY revenue is devoted exclusively 70 the
maintenance of the library. the chief being
10 per cent. Of the gross receipts from nnes.
penalties and licenses. The city council
NAV. before March. 1S95. submit TO the
electors proposition 20 issue $780, 600
worth Of bonds for the erection Of library
building. in which may be included q
museums
In addition 10 these several suh-divi-
sions. the machinery Of the executive is
otherwise materially changed. Most i'm
portant Is the creation Of the Office Of
comptroller, who has exclusive charge of
the books of the city and the issuing Of all
warrants upon the treasury. His depart
r,ent i. in feet, a clearinghouse, which
ac.s ss 9 check upon al sources of expendi-