The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-04-22
THE MAYORS VETO.
He Disapproves the Board of
Works Ordinance.
OBJECTION TO SECTION THREE.
1t Is Referred by the Delegates for .
New Crdinance-Electiono of JAN
itor Postponed.

In the absence of Dr. Kloeber the house
OF delegates last night selected r. H. CAL
Hgan to preside, but DIR. kloeber arrived
shortly afterward. The first business was
the reading of veto by Mayor Ronald of
the ordinance regulating the board of pub
lie works. His only objection Is to the
third section, which prescribes the hours
during which members shall attend to the
business of their office. 1t is as follows:
herewith return, without my approval, house
OF delegates bill No. ,, entitled: San ordinance
prescribing additional duties for the board of
public works by providing for the frequent in
spection by them OF the public works and prop
erty of the city, and requiring them to devote
certain hours to the business of the city,"
In my opinion, section of this ordinance is
contrary to the charter and thereby vitiates the
whole ordinance. am in hearty accord with
your honorable body in the object OF this enact
ment. There is no question OF your right or
power under the charter. to impose upon the
members of the board of public works the duty
to personally inspect all work being done on
behalf OF the city, whether under contract or
not, including laying of water pipes, grading
planking, repairing of streets, building and re-
pairing OF bridges, erecting OF sewers, wharyes
and buildings; and to personally inspect
pumping stations, reservoirs and general water
wharves, docks, bridges, landings, slips, boats.
public buildings and other structures owned by
the city; also all streets which may be reported
to be in defective condition and all defects of
any city property, and report the same from
time to time to the city council with an esti-
mate OF the amount required Tor the repair or
reconstruction thereof, and to require the at
tendance at all meetings of the board of each
member thereof
My objection rests entirely upon section thres
OF the ordinance. This requires that the board
shall be always in session in their Office, when
not engaged outside on the personal inspection
OF public works as aforesaid. By this require
ment the council attempts to prescribe the ses-
sions or meetings of the board of public works.
The charter expressly confers upon the board
the power to appoint its meetings at such time
as the board may, in its discretion, see fit. do
not believe the council can control the discre-
ton OF the board in this respect The board of
public works is a separate department of the
city government. 1t is purely an executive de-
partment Its duty is to effect results. The
council has power to lay upon it such duties,
not inconsistent with the charter, as it may see
fit. The board must perform these duties, but
like the board OF fire commissioners and like
the board of police commissioners, the hours
and times of its meetings, etc, are left by the
charter to their own judgment and discretion.
Believing in the necessity of an ordinance
honorable body as this one, and holding myself
in readiness to cooperate with you at all time
in the enactment OF such an ordinance, am, etc.
Delegate Lyon moved that the veto and
the ordinance be referred to the judiciary
committee for amendment.
Mr. Coryeli said that could not be done;
the veto must either be sustained or the
ordinance passed over the veto.
Mr.. Drew moved that the veto be sus-
tanned and that the papers be referred to
the judiciary committee, in order that
new ordinance be drafted in accordance
with the charter, and this was agreed to.
A communication was received from
the county commissioners, enclosing
draft ordinance in terms covering the pro-
posed new precincts. 1t was referred to
the committee on boundaries.
Appropriation bills for Sl,634 on the
street fund and for 5000 on the park fund
were referred.
The matter of the janitor was called up,
and Mr.. Drew said he did not see how the
house was in a position to take intelligent
action, because several applications adj
dressed to the city council were lodged in
the other house and were not before this
body.
After some discussion it was resolved
on motion of Mr.. Drew to postpone the
matter until Monday night.
The finance committee, who had been
instructed to investigate the collection of
delinquent grade taxes. reported that the
work was being diligently performed and
that the course being pursued by J. w.
= Pratt was calculated to result for the best
interests of the city.
a number of petitions for street grading,
water service and sewering were referred
to committees.
The house adjourned until Monday
night.
The Cincinnati carpenters and bosses have
settled their differences and signed an agree
ment ior two years at 80 cents per hour for nine
hours in the first six months and 3315 cents dur
ing the remainder OF the term.