The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-09-03
REVISING CITY LAW.
Meeting of the Committee to
Amend the Charter.
DEsuLToRY DISCUSSION.
Dividing the Membership Into Com
mfttees-A Few of the Import
ant Amendments Needed.

The charter revision committee met last
night in the chamber allotted to the board of
aldermen in the new city hall. Il has been
made very comfortable apartment and the
occupants last night expressed themselves az
very well pleased with Alderman wilcox's
plans and superintendent Comptons execution.
There were present Judge Jacobs Judge w. R.
Andrews. Mr.. jacob Furth, Aldermen Hall,
pontius, Korn and Miller, Delegates Jones and
Bsgley.
On motion of Mr.. Jacob Furth, Judge Orange
Jacobs was elected chairman. A motion was
also made that Mr.. Henry Miller act as clerk of
the committee. Mr.. Hall thought it was beyond
the power of the committee to elect secretary
except from their membership; but Mr.. FurIh
and Mr.. Bagley agreed that IL would be neces-
sary to have clerk outside of their number, ana
that he ought to be paid. Mr. Hall considered
Henry Miller the best man they could have. Mr.
Miller was accordingly elected.
Some discussion took place to the best
method OF proceeding, and Judge Andrews sug-
gested that several committees be appointed
Mr. Hall hoped the number of committees
would be as few as possible. He was inclined TO
think more work would be done by three or
four than by dividing themselves up into too
many.
Mr.. Furth concurred with Mr. Hall When
the charter was being framed there was large
amount of work to be done and ii needed many
committees. He thought the members of the
council were familiar with the working of the
charter and it would be good plan for them to
make such recommendations for Improvement
as seemed desirable TO them. He would prefer
say three or four committees.
Mr.. Jones doubted il the council would favor
general revision of the charter. The commit
tee had better confine itself to making only
those changes which were of great Importance.
He moved that there be four committees of
three members each-iudeiary, financial, legis-
latiye and executive
This was agreed TO without debate.
The chairman appointed two committees, as
follows: Judiciary: Messrs. Andrews Dom
worth, Jacobs. Financial: Furth, Pontius,
Bagley. The other two committees were taken
under advisement, Messrs shipley and Kittinger
being absent
Some time was devoted to arranging the order
OF business.
Mr.. Bagley moved that an invitation be ex-
tended to the members of the city government
and citizens generally to submit in writing pro-
positions for amendment of the charter
committee of three, consisting of Andrews,
Jones and Hall, was appointed to draw up a set
of rules.
Judge Jacobs, calling Mr.. Hall to the chair,
introduced some amendments to article XIV, the
law department They were referred to the ju-
dietary committee. He had also one to article
XVII
The first proposed to consolidate the law de.
counsel is to have one or more assistants and a
typewriter. The city attorney will also be under
him. In article XVII he proposes amendments
so that the salary of corporation counsel will be
5000 first assistant, $1,000 clerk, 81 600; city
attorney, 500 This amendment was referred
to the finance committee.
Mr.. Andrews was in favor of making all such
changes rs seem to be neeessitated by expert
ence in the working of the charter.
Mr.. Furth reminded them that the amend
ments would have to be submitted separately,
and he did not think, moreover, it was intended
that the policy OF the charter should be changed.
Mr.. Bagley said there no question of so
much importance as that as to how payment on
time for improvements should be made in lieu
of the payment by bond system; that valuable
plans had been nullifed by the courts
Mr.. Hall thought it was matter which should
be referred to the judiciary committee, as it in
wolves legal questions.
Judge Jacobs reviewed at some length the
circumstances which had eonspired to defeat
provisions of the charter; he advocated the in
PRODUCTION of a provision in the charter by
which reassessments could be made for local
improvement districts where, by reason of
mere ilformality, the city's endeavor to collect
grade taxes was frustrated.
Mr.. Furth remarked that part of the rerniss-
ness is due to the fact that the city council had
relaxed Its vigilance because times were hard.
a few years ago, and people had taken advan-
tage of the leniency. The fault really lay with
the city officials and not with the method of
assessment.
This point led to general discussion, which
viii be embodied in an amendment
Mr.. gley called up the subject OF ASSESS
ment on triangles and other lots of irregular
shape. No action taken, and ADJOURN ent
was had till next Wednesday