The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-03-07


bonds which had been offered for sale.
If he examined the Law he would discover
that this was not included IN the limit OF
Indebtedness as contemplated by the con-
stitution, but was part OF the current ex.
penses, because it was payable out OF current
therefore, nothing to do with these special
assessment districts. It was contingent
liability. secondary, and not . primary
liability. The courts have not decided yet
that the city is primarily liable. All the
council was asked to do was to change the
form of the warrant; il was . step forward,
and not backward. The obligations are
out; they have been incurred. If they
should be declared void in the future the
loss would be on the holders. He repeated
that he believed the real fear in the
mayors mind was that this action would
jcopardize the sale of the water bonds.
The supreme court has laid down the
rule that cities had the corporate power to
Incur the liability 81 and haonE derived the
Mr.. kittinger said they must not forget
that the city saved per cent. by the pro-
posed plan, besides the cost Of judgments,
which would be $50 in each case at least.
Mr.. Shiplcy moved that the bill be
passed over the veto. 1t was passed BY
vote of IA, two members having LETT the
house.
SEWERS AT CITY E4P1NbEs
A report was read iavoring the granting
Of Fay's petition for sewer. Some dis
cussion took place, in which the general
opinion was expressed that the property
owners should not pay for the building OF
sewers.
Mr.. Kittinger said they must not curtail
expenses on building sewers. It was the
opinion of the finance committee that
there should be an election, at which the
people would authorize issue OF bonds to
build sewers beyond the sum already
voted. Mr.. Barnes moved that 1t be the
sense of this house that all sewers here
after built be at the expense OF the city.
Mr.. Bagley, in reply to remark, said
that the plans prepared by Mr.. Williams
would be here in short time.
Mr.. Muldoon had never lived in city
where there was not tax for the special
purpose of constructing sewers. There
was q great deal Of sickness in Mr.. Bag
iey's neighborhood, and at the present
they should do all they can to relieve it.
Mr.. Cowden said the Lake Union dis
trict was the most healthy in the city. He
argued in favor of constructing sewers
there.
Mr.. Jones also referred to the valleys
along the ridge as very dangerous.
Mr.. Barnes motion was put and carried
unanimously.
committee on sewers.
REDUCING EXPENSES.
Mr.. Shipley moved that joint commit
tee be appointed to confer with the finance
committees of the two houses, and imme-
diately proceed to investigate the several
departments with view to reducing ex-
penseS within the income of the city.
Heads of departments are invited to rem
der assistance tn that end
The motion was adopted, and Messrs.
Shipley and Hanford appointed by the
chair.
TELEPHONE CHARGES.
Mr.. Lawrence, of the telephone COM
pany, appeared in order to ask the house
not to agree to Mr.. Bagley's ordinance.
He protested that newcomers often ordered
telephones and put the company to great
expense. They would then 60 away, and
involve the company in great loss. He Of
fered schedules of rates to show that the
charges in Seattle were reasonable. He
mentioned that there were $50 telephones
in Seattle. The company had. he said,
never taken one dollar out of the city.
They had new switchboard and all their
plant destroyed by the fire. The company
had put up the finest poles in the world.
He said they were anxious to do good
service; every dollar earned had been put
back into plant.
Mr.. Bagley said he saw no objection to
protecting the company, and if the bonus
was taken of he would be perfectly salts
fed.
The ordinance was re-committed to be
amended accordingly.
INSPECTOR OF BUILDINGS.
Mr.. Kittinger asked that the bill 40 to
building inspector. which had been lying
on the table for some time, be taken up.
This was assented to and the bill read and
put to vote.
When Mr.. Shipley voted he said it was
with the understanding that one of the
deputies should be q member from the
Bricklayers' and Masons' Union.
to 1, and ended a contest lasting over five
months.
VOTING MONEY.
Board of aldermen bill appropriating
money to pay salaries came up. The
finance committee recommended that the
wages of stokers be $50, and that salary
be paid for pilot. Captain McAllip had
raised the wages and made the appoint
ments.
Tile house agreed and the following
amounts were allowed from the several
funds: Total, $34, 961; general, So, Isl. 90;
water, S., 549.96; fire, $7i4.25; health, $50;
lowed: Wyckoff street. 81 ,654.0l; Erie street,
$209; Baker street, $972.O6.
PETITIONS.
E. F. Murphy-For payment for work on
Joy street; finance committee.
Seattle market-For establishment of q
license for meat, vegetables, etc., for
peddlers.
For an ordinance providing for the
Strengthening and improvement of the i'm
perfect streets in the Kaufman and Burke's
second addition. The cost of the original
plan will be 5000 to $4,000. The petit
TONERS propose to cut off the corners of
Suffer and Charles and Bush and
Augusta diagonally, condemn twenty-five
or thirty feet in Kaufman's addition ad-
joining the strip left by Burke for Main
street, between Crown and the second
street west. Or, cut OFF the corners and
vacate Crown and the two streets west
(Temple and Market) and run Pearl and
Alton streets straight through to Yesler
avenue. This will cost only about 50 O0O
or $500.
DIR. Robert Albin was invited to address
the house and with a diagram he explained
how it was proposed to make the change
and what the benefit would be. The cor
poration counsel had advised them that an
assessment district could not be created.
and that the entire city would have to
bear the cost. The property-owners had
therefore set to work to ascertain the
cheapest way out of the difficulty. They
would be content to have Main street
opened but it would be better to have ali
the streets opened to Yesler avenue.
A petition had also been presented for
the opening of Main street from Market to
Yakima. Petitioners claim very emphat-
ically that great injustice has been
done the property-ownerso OF the neighbour
hood This was taken into cops;,la...;--