The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-01-28
ONLY A FEW CHANGES.
The Aldermen Adopt Most Char
ter Amendments.
ALMOST UNANIMOUS VOTING.
DE. Sweeney Places the Cfty's Interests
Above Psrty-D. I. Denny Makes
Good Suggestion.

The board of aldermen held q special
session yesterday 70 consider the proposed
charter amendments. Meesrs. Amasa S.
Miller. ID. Il. Denny, NJ. a. Korn, Z. s.
Ingraham. w. II. Bogardus and ]. 2.
Sweeney were present.
Mr.. Sweeney said he should vote against
the proposition 10 have the aldermen
elected from each ward; be thought g
man elected az large would be more indie
pendent.
Hr. Denny and Mr. Bogardus expressed
astonishm ent az such opposition from a
Democrat. Mr.. Bogardus said surely each
ward knew better who should be elected
than the entire city, and Mr.. Denny added
that by the present arrangement two or
three wards could control the entire board.
He thought this one Of the best changes
proposed.
1t was adopted. as was also the PROPOSE
ton 70 reduce the number of delegates.
Dir. Sweeney opposen giving councilmen
any salary.
Mr.. Denny had always been in favor Of
giving reasonable compensation to coun-
cilnen, and he spoke now with the con-
viction that he would never again be q
member of any council.
The entire amendment was then
adopted.
DR.. Sweeney proposed to make it neces-
sary to have petition for improvement of
streets signed by three-ffths instead Of
two-fifths of the abutting owners. Mr..
Denny himself opposed the principle that
improvements should be ordered on the
petition of less than majority, and on
motion Of Mr.. Pontius majority was re-
CURED.
Mr. Denny proposed an amendment
which, as he said, was 10 prevent the city
changing the grade where valuable i'm
provements have been made unless three
fourths of the property-owners to be az
fected shall consent.
The amendment provides that mo grade
shall be changed where any abutting owner
or owners have built or made improve
ments on any street, highway or alley
unless such petition shall be signed by the
owners of three-fourths of the frontage
on the street, highway or alley within the
district to be affected"
Ii was agreed TO.
The amendments as to the fire depart
ment were adopted in accordance with the
action of the house.
The amendment as to assistant corpor-
alton counsel was adopted with the ex-
ception that whoever is elected city attor-
ney in 1892 shall be the assistant
Captain Snyder desired to amend so that
the stenographer may be ''him or her,"
Notwithstanding Mr.. Ingraham's decara-
ton that him always embraced her." 1t
was agreed TO.
On the proposition 10 provide for the
filling of elective offices in case of vacancy.
Mr.. Sweeney thought it safer to allow the
people than the council to elect. He
pointed out how by the proposed change
as 10 the aldermen, ward politicians could
better control the election. He said ii
might seem un-Democratie to do so, but
experience had shown that wire-pullers
could exercise greater control by having
aldermen elected from the wards: and he
thought it might be possible 10 control
the mayoralty; il could not happen if
they we're elected at large.
Mr. Miller said il might happen that III.
first ward would elect the entire board.
Mr.. lngraham was opposed to special
elections TO I'LL vacancies. The officers
are elected for two years, and if by act Of
God vacancy occurred no harm would
happen by letting those who were chosen
select man TO fill the vacancy.
Mr.. Sweeney said a member of the board
feels much more independent if he is
elected at large without being bound by
ward affiliations. He hoped the action of
the board would be reconsidered.
When the question was put Mr.. Swee-
ney asked TO be excused from voting; the
proposition was Democratic, but he was
there in the city's interests.
The remainder of the amendments were
then adopted, and the board adjourned
until Friday evening.