The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-07-21
HOUSES IN SESSION.
another Debate on the Question
Of Economy.
rAYoR WHITE ON ALMoNRy.
,,-era Of Aldermen Passes the MIX Or
1insnee-several Street Grade
Bills Put In Motion.

=. citv council met In Joint session last
x.st Tor the purpose Of approving assessment
-, The frys considered was for Rose and
S-wsmish streets After q long debate upon
es,eral Iersl points offered by members OF both
+ Sc.,ses. a. roll was approved, none of the prop
~rtv-ovnen appearing TO object to the assess
snsrta 1hs roll for Thomas avenue. from Tenn
,srsnoo 10 Willow, was approved. 1t amounts
= ebout 1900. or nearly $3.50 lot, but there
- 10 objection made The houses then went
s.eo afpafats session.
IA following message from Mayor White was
I. "a to the house OF delegates, but by some
~lrau6erstauding 1t was not sent to the slider
-. II IL addressed to the city council:
kan that you are in doubt whether to ap-
.~soge 81 certain items of expense sent to your
norabls body as having been incurred in reliev
RI cases OF extreme distress or in sending pau
n out Of the city. As your hesitation raises
Soafiou OF public policy, submit that so long az
Sceeoitsous cases are referred to me by you
Ill take such steps as, In my judgment, seem
s noet the requirements OF each case and such
= vii best promote the citys interests.
have n 1t sought and do not desire the re-
liability. IL is not pleasant task to have to
nm away starving woman from the door; to
nuse helpless cripple or blind man the right
8 earn crust, nor Is il good policy to keep en-
Invalid or pauper in the city when few dollars
would send either away TO homes or friends.
Hithefto the entire burden of the duty of aims
living has fallen upon q small band of noble
women who have done splendid work at q sacri-
~ Of personal comfort and with such results
Msntifle them to the gratitude of the COM
AZ tie city grows the number of INDECENT and
oaicssd win increase. and IL . system cannot
BOW Be adopted, AZ least q policy can be inaug-
ustsd The county is not bound by law to care
* those who have not been residents for six
nonths. Tho cases are different. County re-
lefis for citizens who reside here, who are pre-
umed to have been taxpayers. and whose care
bpfoperly charge upon their home county.
ne city's principal burdens are transisnts
vbm it II desirable to get rid of.
It would not be fair to the farmers who do not
bonedt BY increased population a. city prop
eny-ovners do to make them bear the suspense
d caring for the city's poor. Seattle has COM
pofstively very slight pauper class, but it
1nns one OF the inevitable incidents OF 1ntra-
mural growth.
Iuued upon the state legislature last session
- passage OF law appropristing 10 per cent.
d liquor licenses TO the care of the poor; this
nemS to me just application of the law of
empsnsation inasmuch as very large proper
10 Of crime, poverty and disease is due to in
The city council authorizes payment of $500 a
1onth for the care OF the INDECENT sick; it can
y Justly appropriate sum. If it sees fit, TO the
hystematic, and in New York is q department
efcharities and corrections, whose mission il is
no sss to help the necessitous than to punish the
vicious.
The decision of the supreme court has prac-
Ideally settled the question of the city's liability
for street improvement bonds Since there is no
obstacle in the way of resuming private i'm
provements, earnestly urge upon the council
the prime necessity of granting petitions
1or street work. Contractors are willing to
take bonds and the result will be to give en-
poyment to q thousand men. Many of these,
although not now q charge upon the city, are
badly in need of work, and the citizens can well
ahord 10 pay per cent. for few years If mean
time 1t keeps men employed who win not only
b provided for themselves, but help to keep
eher branches of business stirring.
Upon the city council now rests the response
bility OF fastening or rstarding street work.
The summer months are passing away, and win
ter greatly increases the difficulty and expense
Of all such improvements.
The House referred the message to the finance
eommitfce