Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1891-08-08
AN ADJOURNED Session
A Synopsis of the Doings of the
Municipal Council at Yes
terday's Session %
The City Attorney Defends
Himself from Attacks Made
Upon Him
City Treasurer Richards Asks
that His financial Adminis-
tration Be Examined

An adjourned meeting Of the city
council was held yesterday afternoon,
Mayor Wilson and Councilmen Oar
ling, Christopher Monahan, Aubrey,
Allerton and KinghOrn present.
A petition was read from ID. w.
Felt Of the Falrhaven market, asking
that he be allowed permission TO com
plete chicken coop used in his bust
ness, and the construction Of which
had been stopped by the fire marshal
G. V. Alexander, counsel for pcti-
tiOner, said the building was necessary
10 Mr.. Felts business and that il was
not in violation Of the fire ordinance.
Referred TO the committee on fire,
water and light, with instructions
that If the petition be granted the pc
titiOner be required to place a metal
roof on the building.
The report Of Police Justice c. A.
Clark was read and referred TO the iu-
dietary committee.
City Treasurer Richards addressed
the council in reference TO the pay
ment OF city warrants. The matter,
he said, had been mentioned 10y "A
member OF the council at regular
session OF the council, and there had
also been some public talk on the
same question; he came therefore to
ask the council that thorough exam
ination Of his books be made, aud that
ha m nG nj II lao IL,
sligatcd from the time he had taken
Office to the present. If anything was
found to be wrong his bOndSmen would
make IL good, as well as the expense
incurred by the Investigation. A pub
lie officer, said Mr.. Richards, is open
To criticism, and perhaps he WIS too
sensitive on this matter, hut he
would like an examination made.
Some of the gentleman signing the
petition presented TO the council, com
planning Of the way in which warrants
were paid had signed their names 10
that which was untrue.
The petition referred TO was read
by the clerk at the request Of the
mayor for the information OF Mr..
Richards, and, continuing, the latter
said that the petition was one which
evoked public criticism, and if the
council Thought lit to have the exam
inatiUn made he would like TO see IL
done.
Mayor Wilson said the principal
seemed to be about the
method Of paying warrants. The
council had already instructed the city
attorney % prepare an ordinance coy
cring that objection.
Mr. Richards inquired If he had TO
submit his books TO the inspection OF
every one who asked 10 see them. lie
was in public business aud hc would
like to have the instructions OF the
council on this question
Mayor Wilson thought that the
books Of the city were open 10 the in
spectiOn Of the taxpayers of the city,
but there should be some limit Ou the
An officials time
might be fully taken up in showing
his books to every caller.
Councilman KinghOrn then moved
that any examination OF the books Of
the treasurer shall be confined 10
members Of the city council, or 10 per-
sons authorized by the council to make
such examinations. Councilman
Monahan seconded the motion, and
further discussion ensued.
Councilman Darling thought that
the books should be open to the in
spectiOn Of citizens under certain con
ditiOns. Many people, however,
thought they had an unlimited right
to examine the books at any and all
times, thus taking up a great deal of
time, and interfering with the work Of
the officers.
Mr. Richards, continuing, said that
some people would come into his Office
and demand 10 see the books in the
Of experts, and make nOt;l-
tiOns from the books, thus interfering,
tO "A great extent, with the business Of
the Office. One man might occupy
five minutes with his examination,
seven minutes, and so on, and
il one man occupied few minutes
more than another, he was accused OF
and he wished to avoid
such an accusation altogether.
Councilman Kinghorn said that the
city treasurer published statement
at regular intervals, and all the infer
nation could be got from this.
John II. Ware, addressing the cOun-
ell, said that he thought Mr.. Richards
was over sensitive; he did not see
what harm could be done by any per-
son making notatiOns' from his books.
Councilman KinghOrn remarked
that while the city treasurer was paid
tu give information to the public, the
business OF the Office could be very
much retarded by an indiscriminate
OF his books. Mr.. Ware,
he said, had intImated that parties,
asking information from the treas
urer, we're not able TO procure II, and
In reply, Mr.. Ware remarked that this
was true, In one instance, atl east. Mr..
Fraser had asked for information and
the treasurer's deputy could not give
the information sought, without first
consulting the treasurer.
Mr.. Richards, In answer to an in
quiry by Councilman Aubrey, said
that he consulted the city attorney,
and one other legal gentleman OF The
city, in reference TO the payment Of
warrants: these gentlemen had given
their opinion that so long as there
was money In the fund on which
warrant was drawn, these warrants
must be paid, without regard 10 the
order OF their registration. In refer
ence 10 Mr.. Wares statement, he said,
that, according 10 Mr.. Ware. any per
son could first ascertain the amount
of money In certain fund, then i'm