The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-02-01
CHARTER CHANGES.
A Synopsis of the Proposed
Amendments.
NO POLITICAL PROPOSITIONS.
A Key 90 the sixteen Questions TO BE
Submitted 10 the People-Com-
parison OF the Two Methods.

and the technical language necessary have
combined to prevent many from entirely
mastering them. The Iaw requires thst
proposed amendments 10 the charter must
be published for ten days for general in
formation, and must then. sixty days
asserwzrd. be aeain submitted 10 the city
council. The object Of this IS 10 give the
people an opportunity to consider them
and enter objections or xaggest amend
nents.
When they were originally published
they included propositions TO abolish the
board of FIRE commissioners and the board
OF police commissioners and put their du-
ties on the board Of public works. The
object was 10 meet the objection which
had been raised 10 having so many COM
Inissioners, bat when the matter was put
before the people there was sucn a differ
ence of opinion among men Of both par
ties, that the city council was finally per-
shaded that the majority, after All, pre-
ferred the separate commissioners rather
than have SO much power in the hands of
one board.
The abandonment Of these propositions
has Invested the proposed amendments of
ali political interest. and those which re-
main are of such character that they will
"
none from those who will take the trouble
10 inquire into their cause and their eff
feet.
Amendment No. merely establishes
the boundaries, taxing in the new ward.
The only changes are the creation of the
Ninth ward and adding 10 the Seventh
ward all that part north of the old boun-
darv line TO Lake Union and south of the
portage.
Amendment No Q is one of the most i'm
portant. At present, the aldermen are all
elected from the city At large, and they will
be at the next election, but if the amend
ment carries they viii hereafter be elected
from each ward. There is very
decided difference Of opinion as to
the wisdom of this amendment.
The same amendment provides that
the house of delegates shall consist of
eight delegates instead of sixteen, the
eight candidates receiving the highest
number to be declared elected. 1t is also
proposed to pay the members of both
houses $500 year.
Amendment No. merely declares who
are heads of departments constituting the
mayors advisory board.
Amendment No. 4, as published, has
been expunged.
Amendment No. 5, of the published list
Is very long, but its main provisions are
now well known. Its most important
change is as to the method of assessing
property for street grading, etc. Its main
provision is as follows:
said assessment district shall, for the purpose
OF said assessment, be divided into four sub
divisions parallel to the center line of the street
or alley proposed to be improved, each thirty
feet in width, and beginning with the one near
est to the marginal line OF said street. to be num-
bered respectively first, second, third and
fourth Each front foot or It's equivalent area
in the first subdivision, thirty feet wide nearest
20 the street 10 be improved, shall be assessed 40
FER cent Of the total amount to be assessed
against each front foot or its equivalent; the
second subdivision, thirty feet wide between
thirty and sixty feet back from the street. shall
be assessed Is per cent of the total amount to be
assessed against each front foot or its equiva-
lent: the third subd division, thirty feet wide be.
tween sixty and ninety feet back from the
street, shall be assessed 20 per cent of the total
amount TO DO assessed against each front foot or
Its equivalent, and the fourth subdivision, be-
tween ninety and 10 feet back from the street,
shall be assessed Is per cent OF the total amount
20 be assessed against each front foot or its
equivalent
Another essential change is as to pay
ment by bonds. The old method made
the city directly liable, and the supreme
court decided that TO be beyond the power
OF the council. Minor details are to in
sure property-owners getting notice of as
sessment and more explicitly directing
how the present provisions shall be exc
cuted.
A very important feature of this article
is the provision that the board of public
works is forbidden TO enter into a con-
tract with any contractor who within two
years has defaulted in payment of any
just claim for labor or material
Amendment No. 6 requires all claims
against the city to be audited; il makes il
the duty of the auditing committee to
recommend or object, but reserves the
right to the council to finally pass upon all
claims.
Amendment No. provided for the
transfer Of the fire department to the
board Of works, but that part of it has
been discarded, and the part retained
makes the rules for admission TO the de-
partment less stringent.
Amendment No. S relates to the park
department. Under the present charter.
if the board raises any money for land. il
must devote fully one-half at once 10 i'm
provements. This is seen TO be a mistake.
and the amendment enables the board 10
ment over 8 series Of years.
Amendment No. 9 repeats a section as TO
bringing suit, as il has been declared I'M
constitutional.
Amendment No. 10 repeats the article As
TO the city police court. 1t Is now I'M
necessary, IS the court is established by
state law.
Amendment No. II increases the salary
OF city attorney to $4,000.
Amendment No. l. repeats s section as
10 filing vacancy. as that is provided for
in amendment L.
Amendment No. Ia alters the method of
submitting amendments to the people.
reducing the time between the first and
the final passage from sixty TO twenty
DAYS.
Amendment No. Is provides for the ere
alton of the Office OF inspector OF plumb
ing, steam and gas.
Amendment No. Is changes the proyis-
ion as to the tax levy SO as to make it APP
ply TO the ensuing instead of the current
year. THIS is absolutely necessary IN order
10 put the city on cash basis and abolish
scrip for wages, etc.
II win be seen that there is nothing Of
political or partisan character in these
amendments, and they are all in the in
terest of good government They merely
reetigy the charter in those respects in
which experience has shown il TO be ca
pahle OF improvement.
THE KENYON BLOCK CASE.
Corporation Counsel Jacobs Argues the
Matter-Hix Opinion.