The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-04-26
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
Report Of the Committee ON Park
Board Inauiry,


The excitement which has attended previous
meetings seems to have subsidized, as the lobby
was but sparsely filed The measure attract
ing most attention was a report of the Joint
esmmittee appointed to investigate the park
board 1t was as follows:
Az to the first charge: We find from an ex-
animation OF all the testimony of the laborers
employed in the parks, and with very few ex-
eeptons said laborers were acquainted with
Commissioners Burgess and Evans, that said
commissioners visited the parks to their knowi-
edge not to exceed three times, while Mr.
Roberts testimony went to show that he was
employed as park foreman September II, 1891,
and quit work February T. 1892 and that dur
ing this time he saw Commissioners Burgess
and Evans at the park three or four times
while he does not know Commissioners Bailey
show that Commissioners Bailey and Barker
had visited the parks was Superintendent Tay-
lors. to the effect that they usually came late
second-we find that trees and shrubbery
were shipped TO the parks from Kitsap county,
at cost, BY the superintendents figures, Of
about US, while the cost of planting the same
Ia very uncertain.
Third-We find that Commissioner Evans has
used laboring men during the working hours
for the purpose of eleetioneering, but there is
no direct testimony showing that he caused the
I discharge of men for political reasons.
Fourth-We find that Commissioner Burgess
did sell to the city certain flower pots, but as to
the amount being exorbitant we have not sufi-
eient Information to form belief.
Fifth-As TO the fifth charge, we find that
the park laborers during working hours were
engaged in and did cut a tree into four-foot
stove wood, and the same was hauled by the
park teams, during working hours, to the houses
fsuperintendent Taylor and Foreman Roberts.
sixth-As to the sixth charge, we find an
abundance of testimony showing that many of
the laborers employed in the park Were re-
quested to move into the second ward and Join
aRepublican club therein and this request
was made by Foreman Roberts during the
months OF January and February, 1892 That
Crff GofA t.f.
quest in order to retain their positions; but that
some OF the refused to do this, and as q
consequence two Of said laborers, namely, Will
son and Lennon, were discharged by said Fore
Commissioners Burgess, Bailey and Evans be-
Ing heard, all admit the filth and sixth charges,
but disclaim any knowledge of such affairs
In conclusion, we believe that the department
Of public parks since January /, 1892, has been
conducted in a grossly improper and extremely
unjust manner, in this, that men have been dis
charged for political reasons and the department
made machine for partisan purposes; that the
service has been violated by the appropriation
OF public labor to the performance of private
interest," and that the park commissioners have
been dcrelict in not visiting the parks more fire.
quently and thus checking these abuses.
The report is signed by Aldermen Miller, Daul
ton and earle. and Delegates Drew, Brace and
calligan. On motion of Dr. Jordan the report
was adopted.
Mr.. Ingram asked II after all the work that
was done there was no recommendation. He
moved that 1t be referred to the mayor Mr..
Cram moved to refer the report back for q rec
ommendation, and that was agreed to-
An ordinance was read requiring contractors
to pay their labor monthly, but DR.. Jordan
wished to make it weekly, and it was referred
to the finance committee.
When the bill creating the office OF license in
spector was read, DR. Jordan moved that sit be
relegated to limbo; il is only TO create new Of
fee This is supposed TO be retrenchment ad-
ministration, and here il is creating new Of
fcez." The bill was nevertheless passed, the
only dissentients being Jordan and Daulton.
The ordinance to clerk of the municipal
court also passed.
y Mr. Daulton asked, in justice to Mr. Carson,
that the charges against him be taken up and
referred to a select committee for investigation,
and Daulton, Ingram and Miller were appointed
despite the protest OF the last two.
An opinion was read from Corporation Coun-
Gel Donworth, advising that new petitions will
be required for the improvement of Day, Eighth,
sixth, Doylston, Hughston, Beacon. Bush,
Arthur. White, Randolph, Victory, View and
Cedar streets, and streets in Lakeside and Rose
dale additions. The city clerk was directed to
notify the petitioners 1t is as follows:
question has been referred to me by the
city clerk and members of the city council
gGdlng the method OF proceeding in cases
Where petitions were presented TO the old city
council Tor street improvement and were pend
ing at the time of the adoption of the amend
ments OF March sth, last In reply will say that
a. the old provisions of the city charter were re-
pealed without any saving clause OF matters
penalng of this character upon which the city
council had not already acted by ordinance, they
n were rendered imperative by the amendments.
N lie charter now provides that no Improvement
q this kind can be ordered by the city council,
except in pursuance of certain petition setting
iiorth certain things The city council now has no
jurisdiction 10 order such improvement un less
apetition is presented containing certain speci
NED ayerments. None of the petitions pending
Nthe time of the amendment conform to the
requirements OF the amendment, hence all
these petitions insufficient TO give the
Present council jurisdiction TO proceed. Ii
therefore becomes necessary that the petition
s's De notified 10 put in now petition con-
iofinao!e 10 the amended charter. The method
procedure under the amendments is much
more rapid than IL formerly was, and the petit
aoners Will not lose much time II they proceed
uonee 10 file new petition.
:, The petitions to which refer are these: For
me Improvement of Day, Eighth, Sixth, Boyls-
@n, hughstou, Beacon, Bush, Arthur, White.
randolph, Victory, View and Cedar streets, and
streets in Lakeside and Rosedale additions. In
.ne case OF broadway, De Forrest, Willard, Har-
sasu, DIVISION, Rose and Duwamish streets,
efulnanees bad been passed and this opinion
Aaoes not apply to them.
The city clerk was directed TO notify the
petitioners
The ordinance prescribing salaries of officers
Il was read and it referred to health and
ponce committee of which DR.. Jordan is chair
man
A bill prescribing bonds for officials was re-
ferred to judiciary committee. The amounts
ere: Mayor, $4,000; city clerk, $500; comp
6oller, $4,000; treasurer, 100000; corporation
counsel. 1900; city attorney. 81 600; each mem
/ Der board of works, $1,000; secretary, $4,000.
/ city engineer, 5000; street commissioner 5000
/ Superintendent of sewers, $1,000; superinten-
| Gent OF buildings, sS.0lo; port warden. 5000;
! health officer, 5000; inspector of plumbing.
H,o0o; chief of fire department, 5000; chief OF
/ police. $4,000; Superintendent OF parks, 5000
The matter of the sidewalk at Front and Mad.
/ ison streets finally settled by the adoption
Of an agreement with J. q. Kenyon.
~ The general expense and park appropriation
Bills were passed
An ordinance vseating Iippincott street was
/ referred to the street committee.
The following reports were presented;
l By T. W. nsulton. in favor of amendment
/ so The ordinance making the board OF public
WORKS purchasing agent; its effect is TO require
esils TO b. made twice year Tor bids for sup
/ pies, instead OF every two months; that no
/ sppiies be bought except upon resolution of
/ Ne council; sud that preference shall be given
/ " local merchants wherever practicable.
/ by DIR. Jordan. of the committee OF heslth and
EAee, adversely on the report of Chief Jackson
II Ea monthly appropriation in advance OF $50;
~ Thought il better Tor the chief 10 nay out any
4 Eall sums and put in bill; adopted
10y Lsander Miller, in favor OF granting liquor