The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-09-07
In JOINT SESSION.
South Twelfth Street Grade
ReaSSeSSment.
TEST CASE UNDER THE CHARTER.
All the Members OF the City Council
Back in Their PIaces-RoutinS
Business In Both Houses.

There was full attendance at the joint
session of the city council last evening.
President Sweeney was in the chair and
there were present Aldermen Miller, Daul-
ton. Carrie, Cram, Brewer. Ingram. Wolfe
and Jordan; Delegates Kloeber, Lyon,
Ryan, Coryell, Cook, Crichton, Brace, CAL
hgan and Drew. Corporation Counsel Dom
worth was also present.
The object was final action upon the as
sessment roll for the improvement OF
South Twelfth street. The total cost is set
at $50, 1872. of which the property owners
are assessed for $29, 2O2
II. II. Dearborn appeared on behalf OF q
number Of property owners who had paid
their taxes, and he thought now
1t would be very unjust to
make them pay more. He thought
the city should put the street into shape
as far as Stacey street. On behalf OF a
number of non-residents he expressed the
opinion that their receipts should be taken
as proof of full payment.
Mr.. Donworth said the council could
not reassess q part of the street only; II
any property owner has paid in the
amount will be deducted, and if he has
overpaid he will be entitled to q draw
down. The amounts already paid will be
marked ''paid" on the new roll.
Mr.. Dearborn said the people he repre-
scented especially had paid amounts hardly
more than half those of the new assess
ment. He read a letter from q non-resi-
dent, E. II. C. Plimpton, who two years
ago had paid on three lots. The letter
made siurring comments on the legislative
action of the city.
Mr.. Kloeber interrupted to object to the
reading as irrelevant, but the chair ruled
that it should be read, the house having
permitted it.
Mr.. Dearborn continued, but made q
sort of apology for the writer, and added
the remark that it seemed like boys play
to assess and re-assess. He thought the
city should stand by its own errors, and
where people have paid in good faith they
should be allowed to have their receipts
stand as they are. Mr.. Dearborn admitted
that he would not pay under the old as
sessment.
Mr.. Calligan said the city council had
no option; it is absolutely necessary to
make the re-assessment in accordance
with the law. He was not astonished that
Mr.. Dearborn felt some remorse for having
sold those lots. [Laughter.l
Corporation Counsel Don worth, in reply
to questions, said the objection was all
very well on the part of those who had
paid, but a large number have not paid
and never will pay unless the council
makes the proposed re-assessment. It
looks perhaps like a hardship. but these
things happen in all cities. The only
question before the council was whether
the city wished to make property owners
pay for the street grade or let majority
escape through a technicality which had
been decided by the supreme court to have
made the previous attempt to assess en-
tirely void. This is, according to the de-
cision of the highest court in the state, the
first assessment. This is called re-assess-
ment, but the first had been merely an at
tempt to assess and had failed of its pur-
pose.
The assessment was then approved and
formally passed.
The South Fourteenth street assessment
roll will be taken up for approval on Sep
TENDER 30.
The house adjourned until Friday night,
the board until Monday.