The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-10-14
REVISING CITY LAW.
The Charter Committee Makes
Much Progress.
NEARING THE END OF THE WORK
Proposition Co Reduce the Mayors SAL
ary-keassessment Plan Adopted
Arranging Tax Levy.

Inc charter revision committee met last night
Judge Jacobs aud Messrs. Furth, Hall. Jones.
ohlpiey, kittinger, Miller, Bagley and Korn
were present Among other new propositions
introduced was one to extend the time of a con-
hac. ior hghting to ten years, and Mr.. Furth
Alaoe a verbal proposition to reduce the mayors
salary from $4,000 10 81 100 1t was not a large
salary Tor mayor even at 5000. but, he said,
the city must economic. 1t WILL as reduced.
not make the Office one likely to be scrambled
Tor. aud 1t would therefore lessen the number of
candidates. lie thought, also, the salary OF the
board OF public works should be fixed by the
charter.
Mr. Bagley thought the salary of the MAYOR
should be nominal, but he should be provided
with clerk and have regular office hours. He
pelleved the candidates for mayor would be of a
higher grade with merely nominal salary.
Mr. korn did not believe they could find
many men willing to take the Office at merely
nominal salary. The allowance should be sui
hclent to enable the mayor to entertain distin.
guished visitors. He was in favor of paying the
mayor good salary.
Mr. Hall concurred with Mr.. Bagley, and that
the lower sum would not be more than enough
70 pay expense He thought. however. the
lower sum would result in the city having a
mayor whom the Office would seek.
Mr. shipley was always in favor OF gettiug
good service for reasonable terms; he suggested
clerk. He felt little bit doubtful on the
proposition of lowering the salary II they
wanted good business man.
Mr. Jones thought good men could be had at a
lower salary than 5000.
Mr. Miller blamed the old charter commission
ior putting the salaries so high, but he thought
u was too much of q cut from So 900 to 81, 200
ne would not favor reducing the salary of the
BOARD OF works to less tnan 5000, If all the
work was piled upon them.
Inc matter was referred to the finance COM
mittee.
Mr.. Bagley suggested that there be an amend
meht introduced simplifying the method of
amendment. Messrs Furth and Jacobs depre-
caleo nasty amendments to the charter. Mr..
shipiey doubted il many of the amendments
over winch the committee had spent SO much
time would run the gauntlet OF the two houses
VI the council twice and the veto of the mayor.
rms was referred to the judiciary committee.
When it was proposed to strike out the article
ON the municipal police court, as unnecessary
now that it is a state court, Mr. Miller criticised
the course OF Judge Rivers
Mr.. Shipiey proposed to strike out the section
providing that no suit can be brought against
the city on grade taxes until the amount in
question had been paid into court, aud consid-
Grafton was postponed.
Judge Jacobs reported the plan of re-sssess-
ment OF street improvements, which has already
S~~A PuciAshSu. ~ simply gives Tie COuuCil the
power 70 re-assess in case OF informally or in
sufiiciency. He said he thought it better to
leave some discretion to the city council, and
not load the charter provision with too many
details. Objection had been made to both the
constitution and the cnarter that each contained
too much legislation. Ii was hard to draw the
line between charter provisions and ordinance
provisions. The design of this section is to give
the city the power to make re-assessment, then
the council can do it in accordance with the re-
Quirements OF justice, and he, therefore, did not
consider 1t wise to tie them down by general
rules which might fail to reach a case where the
power was most needed.
Mr.. Shipley admitted all that, but feared the
council might exceed the power intended to be
conferred.
long discussion took place upon the sub
ject there being SO many exceptional cases to
meet in the provision. The amendment was
finally adopted as reported.
After some debate upon matters in passage,
Judge Jacobs expressed himself in favor of adj
journment until q near date and finishing UP
the business.
MT. Bagley said the amendments made in
volved about fifty changes throughout the
charter outside the amendments made in the
direct articles. They should appoint somebody
to do 1t and submit the result to the committee.
1t was agreed that each member should aid in
the work.
Mr.. Furth called attention to the necessity for
changing the financial article SO that the tax
levy should be for the ensuing year, SO as to
make all payments In cash.
1t was agreed that all the committees should
finish up their work and submit oil propositions
to the general body on Saturday night