The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-02-06
A VALIDATING Law.
The Action Proposed by the Clearing
House.


the city council last night the following memo
rial and bill, which explain Themselves:
The Seattle Clearing House Association, motto
ing various defects and eTrors Ia the steps here
tOfore taken towards the proposed issue 81 bonds
for the funding of the present indebtedness OF
TIE city, have examined into the matter f.. the
purpose 81 aseertAiniDg what steps it may be
necessary 20 take TO have legal bond issued.
yYe ARE advised by our counsel that the first
step necessary would be the passage OF law by
the legislature authorizing the city 10 validate
the present outstanding indebtedness IN
ek ssn OF tea per t ass' b bg spef fr
the cons Tuition OF this state positively dsqual-
fees amy city from contracting debt in any
manner or for any purpose in excess Of one and
one-haIf per cent Of It's assessment roll, without
the assent OF thTee-hsths of the vote east 81 an
election held TO authorize such debt No
election was ever held 10 authorize these war
rents and the lnyaiidity before the law OF the
debt represented BY all such OF these warrants
as were issued after the total eIty debt reached
enc ana one half per cent. viii survive its trans.
mutation into the new form Of bonds and faint
the whole proposed issue
We therefore beg 70 submit the bills prepared
By ctr attorney, al1o earnestly recommend your
they stand, aud vigorously urge their passage
by the legislature, and that suitable commit
tee Of members OF the city government ana Of
leading citizens. together with qualified legal
counsel. be sent to Olympia TO urge the speedy
passage of the bills.
second, that Immediately upon the taking eff
tect Of such q statute wei considered
scheme OF finance for the city be
adopted upon consultation between the
members OF the city government aud such
persons ssBd organizations q this city as may be
best sble to assist In the consideration of the
subject. and that in pursuance OF such scheme
the proper ordinances, carefully prepared and
supervised 70 keep them free from all defects
aud errors, be enacted 10 prepare Tor the hold
ing OF an election or elections 10 ratifY the ex-
cess warrants and other debt capable OF ratiice-
tien. and 10 fund the whole floating debt of the
cts. including all its legal. moral or honorable
obligations, IN new, suitable bonds.
Following is the bill to be sent to the legisla-
ture;
An act TO enable cities and towns to validate
certain warrants and other obligations and
evidences OF Indebtedness on the part of such
cities and towns issued by the corporate ati-
thofifiAs thereof in excess OF their legal
authority, and declaring an emergency to
exist
BE z,actea 6 the legislature ofthe state Of Wash
f1otea,
sEcrlos j. Any city or town now having a
corporate existence in this state may ratify, in
the manner prescribed in this act the ATTEMPTED
mourning of any Indebtedness OF such city or
town ~ the issuing OF warrants, making of con
tracts 81 creation oi other evidences OF indebted
/ ness on The part OF such city or town
| By the corporate authorities thereof Mt
any time prior 10 the passage of this
act, when the only ground of the inyalidity OF
| such Indebtedness, 80 TO be ratified. is that at
| the time OF such attempted mourning thereof,
the sEmo, together with ali other then existing
| Indebtedness Of such city or town, exceeded
/ u. Ter centufn Of the taxable property in such
ctty or town. ascertained By the last assessment
Tor city or town purposes previous 10 the at
tempted inenrring Of such Indebtedness, and
thai such Indebtedness was so attempted To be
incurred without the assent ol three fths of the
voters therein voting at an election held Tor that
purpose.
sec. . Whenever the city council or board OF
trustees OF any such city or town shall deem i;
advisable thut the ratification authorized by this
act shall PC obtained. the corporation shall pro
vide therefor By ordinance, " hich shall specify
the separate amounts az each distinct class OF
such Indebtedness, SO to be ratified, the date OF
period OF the attempted mourning by the cor
porate authorities OF each such separate
trre of the indebtedness comprised in
each such distinct class and shall
provide ior the holding of election for that
purpose, OF which thirty days notice, to be pro
vided for in such ordinance, shall DO given iu
the official newspaper or newspapers of such
city or town, at which tive attempted incurring
OF such indebtedness shall hc submitted To the
voters in such city or town for ratification or
| disappr0Tal Each distinct class of such in.
debtedness so specified shah be the subject of d
distinct vote IN favor OF or against the ratica-
ton thereof, and such vote shall designate the
class OF indebtedness referred to- By the descrip-
ton thereof used and the amount specified in
/ the ordinance.
See. 3. II at an election held as provided TO,
I'm section OF this act, three-iths OF the voters
| iu such city or town voting at such election
shall vote in favor OF the ratification of any dis
tnct class OF such Indebtedness specified in the
ordinance providing for such election then
/ such indebtedness So ratified shall thereby be-
! come aud is hereby declared 10 be validated and
binding obligation upon such city or town
when the only ground Of the previous inyalidiy
OF such Indebtedness is that. ~ the time OF the
ineuFrug thereof SO ratified, the same. together
with all other then existing indebtedness OF
/ such city or town exceeded Ia per centum o.
the taxable property in such eity or town
! asccElained by the last previous assessment foI
city or town purposes, Provided, That neither
4 anything In this act contained. nor tht
/ vote east at any such election. shall be deemec
I 90 validate or authorize any Indebtedness which
| together with all other Indebtedness Of such city
/ or town existing at the time of the ATTEMPTED in
! curing o the same, exceeded any constitutions
! Limitation OF indebtedness which might he in
| cured with the assent OF thFee-hfth OF the yot
erS in such city oT town voting at an election I,
| he held Tor that purpose; aud provided further
that THIS set shall apply only 10 Indebtedness at
/ tempted 10 DC incurred prior TO the passag,
/ hereof.
! sec. g. inasmuch as there is no existing stat
| ute Of this state to enable cities and towns Il
| validate Indebtedness attempted 10 be incurred
! on the part al such cities aud towns by the cor
1 porste authorities thereof in excess of thei
| legal authority. and iussmuch AS the leea
authority bias been exceeded. 10 good faith ii
sOndrN cities and towns OF this state an emery
/ eucy exists Tor the immediate effect OF this Law
! Therefore this act shall take effect and be i,
| force srom and after Its approval by the GOV
eFnor.