The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-01-27
THE CHARTER AND ITS ENEMIES.
Fourth Ward Republicans Hear Good
Speeches on city Affairs.

Fourth Ward Republicans Hear Good
Speeches on city Affairs.
The Republicans of the Fourth ward
filled their meeting hall in the Russell
house last evening, and gave enthusiastic
receptions TO the speakers who addressed
them. After the call 10 order J. W. Car
son, upon call of the chairman, opened
with a vigorous speech. He did not think
it the proper time to enter into political
discussion and did not propose TO do so,
but wanted to impress on the minds of
his hearers the necessity OF getting TO
work. The Democrats are constantly in
venting some cry of the hour in order TO
evade real issues, and preparations must
be made to meet them. That the Repub-
hcan party is the party OF true principles
has been evidenced by their ascendancy of
twenty-eight years due to the confidence
of the public. Work must be done, how
ever, and it il the clubs that must do it.
One thing in favor OF the Democratic
party is that they have opened their doors
wide to everybody, and in this they should
be initiated.
George L. de Steiguer made short talk,
introducing several laughabie anecdotes
by way of illustration. He wished to en-
phasize what Mr.. Carson had said about
work, and that a full vote should be
brought out in order to insure victory. He
closed with q eulogy of William McKin-
ley, calling upon his hearers to be as bold
OF heart and to meet the issues of the cam
paign as squarely as did the champion of
protection.
Delegate S. NJ. Shipley gave a welI-in-
formed and instructive talk on the city
charter and municipal matters in general.
He said that one of the principal charges
coming from the Democrats that it was
necessary for Republicans TO combat was
that city affairs had not been conducted
properly for the past year. He had heard
1t asserted on the streets that the present
administration was guilty of great extrav-
gance. Such an assertion was brought
about by the introduction of
party politics into municipal affairs. Be-
fore the last election there had never been
straight party tickets, but the innova-
ton had led to a general investigation
and better understanding of the conduct
OF city affairs, and it was a good thing 1t
was appalling TO many to discover that
the city was in debt nearly s., 500, 00O
But this had been the heritage bequeathed
W BItSSht city anu was
not the result of its extravaganza A
large percentage of the debt was accounted
for by the fact that two years ago the city
had issued bonds 10 the amount of $780,
900 for system of water works, and Re
publicans and Democrats alike had voted
for the measure. After the great fire the
city council at once took active steps to re-
pair the streets and improve the fire de-
partment, which, with other necessary ex-
penditures, had cost between $500, 900 and
100000. The negligent system of govern
ment under the old charter was response
bic for between 500, 900 and $500, 900, which
was charged against the general fund,
through the present inability to collect
street grade assessments.
The Democrats had cried out first against
the city charter because it was cumber-
some, and then, when certain charter
amendments were proposed, said that they
would tend to centralize power too much.
In the present amendments to be submit
ted to the voters at the coming election
every line tending to further centralize
power had been removed
Chairman Kittinger appointed John II.
McGraw, Joseph Mcdonald and w. L,
Scott an advisory committee to consult
with the central committee. John l..
Neagle was placed on the executive COM
mittee, in place of Griffith Davies, re-
signed.