The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-10-21
ONE MORE SESSION.
The Charter Revision Commit
tee Closing Its Work.
SEVERAL REFORMS ADOPTED.
Proposition to Have Fewer Couucilmen
and Pay Them-An Amendment
to Bind Contractors.

The charter revision COMMITTEES met last
night and considered number of amendments,
most OF which have been published in full.
They must all come before the council Judge
Jacobs presided and there were also present
Judge Andrews, Aldermen Hall and Miller
DELEGATES shipley, Jones, Kittinger, Bagley and
Mr.. Jacob Furth
Mr.. W. E. Bailey, one of the park commission
ers, said ne had been delegated by the board of
which ne was member, to ask that the powers
Oh the board be enlarged In the charter. He
desired at this time only 10 ask their interest in
the matter and he would submit later the form
OF the boards request. The change they wanted
was as TO the means of acquiring title and
power to condemn land for park purposes. They
wanted provision similar to the powers given
by the Minneapolis charter which gave the park
board authority to acquire land for park pur-
poses, paying for it in Installments instead of
issuing bonds
Judge Jacobs said Tacoma Judge had de-
cided that cities OF the class of Seattle had no
power to condemn land. He thought 1t strange
decision, but he supposed all the judges would
follow II under the new rule. Cities of the first
class had not even power TO condemn for the
purpose OF improving and widening streets.
The committee then took up the amendment
regulating the method of assessing for street
grading.
Mr.. Bagley submitted an amendment which
he said was the production of himself aud
Alderman Miller 1t provides that in 1892 there
shall be elected one alderman and one delegate
from each ward, each member TO receive $3.50 a
year, but $3.50 to be deducted from every such
members salary for any absence unless be
declare on honor that it was unavoidable. 1t
was referred TO the legislative committee
Nr. Shipey introduced an amendment max
ing provision for the filing of bonds by all per-
sons entering into contracts with the city. 1t is
Carefully drawn, SO as to avoid straw bondsmen
being imposed on the city. 1t also provides for
the greater security OF men employed, those
who supply material and those who take sub
contracts.
Mr.. Hall feared that only contractors who
could put up cash would be able to secure
bonds. The amendment was referred to the
executive committee
Mr. Furth said there were few contractors
who could enter into such a contract with the
city. There would be great monopoly created;
he felt it necessary to have something to pro-
tect both the city and the laDorers and material
men, but this is so stringent that il would
compel contractor almost to periure himself
before he could get his money, because of the
impracticability OF the plan.
Mr. Shipley defended the measure; he said
there were men who had defrauded their en-
pioyes and kept right on contracting with the
city.
expiration of terms.
Mr. Andrews proposed the creation of an
auditing committee, consisting of the mayor
comptroller and presidents of both houses, as
now, to audit all claims against the city, with
out which such auditing the comptroller should
issue no warrants.
Mr.. Furth introduced an amendment consti-
tuting the advisory board OF the mayor, presi-
dents OF the two houses, chairman of the board
OF public works, city comptroller and city treas
urer. This overcomes the difficulty which has
arisen in determining who were to be members
The committee took up the amendment drafted
by Mr.. Shipley by which, In case of petition
for street grading under the payment by bond"
system, the city council should have discretion
airy power to order it under the immediate pay
ment plan. long discussion took place upon
the advisability of putting so much power into
the hands OF the council, the opposition taking
the ground that il one system was petitioned
for the council should not arbitrarily be able to
insist upon the other.
Mr.. Jones was in favor of making 1t easier to
change from deferred to immediate payment
for improvement If it were found better the
work can be done much cheaper by the latter
method.
Judge Jacobs, calling Mr.. Hall to the chair
said 1t was not in harmony with the spirit of
the charter 10 let the city council decide which
way the prcperty-owners should pay for the
grading. As petition is required as the first
step, he thought it should be either accepted or
rejected.
+. 1t L
Ice to allow the council to insist that property
owners should be compelled to pay cash when
they have expressed their desire to have the
work done by the bond system. He moved to
amend so that the work shall only be done as
petitioned for. 1t was agreed to; and after a
long debate over details the other amendments
were voted down and the provisions left un-
changed as to their general character:
On the proposition 10 extend the time of con-
tracts for lighting from one year to three years,
Mr.. Andrews spoke against it on general policy.
II was voted down accordingly.
An amendment proposed by Judge Hill
to avoid the expense of intermediate elections.
1t provides that in case of vacancy in the office
OF mayor or councilmen the council shall elect.
Mr.. Andrews moved to add that unless a
vacancy is Allied within twenty days the houses
shall meet every day and ballot until an cleo
ton is had. The council in joint convention
will elect elective officers, except members, and
in their case each house will make the selection
for itself.
flying the method of changing the charter. Its
main effect is 10 reduce the interval between
times OF consideration by the council The in-
terval is proposed TO be twenty days between
the two houses
Mr.. Hail objected TO any method which would
make more frequent any changes in the charter
Mr. Andrews made a forcible argument in
behalf OF his plan, and IL was adopted.
The proposed amendment To modify the
provision that no member of either house shall
be directly or indirectly interested in any con-
tract with the city, was voted down.
The section in the charter requiring payment
into court OF the full amount in any action re-
speeding grade taxes proposed to b. re-
peaed and the motion carried.
The article referring 10 the judicial depart
ment was regarded rs being unnecessary and
amendment was adopted accordingly; the
court is created by state Law.
The committee adjourned until Friday night
Mr. Jacob FUrth was excused from further at
tendance.
Puebla's Passenger List.