The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-09-02
TOO MANY OFFICERS.
Mayor Ronald Proposes Some
Radical Changes.
The CHARTER roo DIfFusivE.
Proposal 90 Abolish Pofie~s Fire and
Park Commissions A single
City Couneii Preferable

II ne FEE0IH&Bl8bS8u1b VI zNAy~h ANS'tN-s~~
for amendments OF the city charter we're
submitted 10 the city council last night a.
follows.
.Unaer the Law cur charter can be
amended only al general election Ez-
rserience has led noe TO the conclusion tnat
the charter ought 20 be amended. In view
az the fact that proposed amendments,
after the passage OF one branch OF the
council. must be published for twenty
DAYS before the same can be called up IN
the other branch. and that they must be
adopted by both houses and approved Dy
the mayor for at least sixty days before
the general election. il Is nos time, ID
sny opinion. that we proceed TO formulate
some amendments TO the freeboiders
charter. In my annual report 70 your
honorable body Of January !, 1888. Ia re-
ferring 70 this charter, used the follow
ing language: In attempting TO hedge
against. or to curtail powers and divide re-
sponsibslity. II practically places power
everywhere and responsibility nowhere.
II Is adapted 10 cities having many
times tbs population of ours and.
therefore. In many respects Il should De
made more elastic, 30 that IL can
be applied 10 our present needs
and likewise TO meet our great require
ments, from time 10 time, in the iuture.
For the present the municipal machinery
IL too costly and cumbersome for . city
of this size By its provisions IL IL man
datory upon the city 20 keep and mai1l-
tain, nj large expense. many officers 10
perform duties which could very safely be
entrusted to and discharged as part oil
the duties OF other officers. The charter
provides, however, that certain duties
shall be discharged by certain officers and
makes nobody else responsible, and pre-
vents such duties from being lawfully dis
- ffaar
respects. the council has discretionary
power TO Judge of the necessity of such
additional burdens. IL would make the
charter more applicable TO the present IS
well rs to our future needs.
s.Mv experience, subsequent to that re-
port, has confirmed the judgment which
therein expressed.
"a dual legislative body may be adapted
10 older cities in the East. but new,
growing and progressive city like ours.
with Its circumstances and conditions
rapidly changing. IL IL hardly applicable.
IL was the intention of the trainers OF our
charter that one house should serve ms
check upon the other. IL has been dis
appointment In this respect. | believe
that one branch of the council should be
abolished and the legislative department
Of the city should CONSIST OF one house
consisting OF one member from each ward
of the city.
s.The most radical changes are called
for in the modification Of article eight en-
titled The Department of Public Works.
believe IL best that there be board OF
public works. TO consist OF three members.
vet experience has led me to believe that
thousands of dollars of useless expendi-
ture has been entailed upon this city since
the adoption of this freeholders' charter
by the provisions of this article which
make IL mandatory upon the city 10 main
tain q vast number OF useless officers and
employees. This article should be so
amended as 10 place IL in the power Of the
council, whenever In their Judgment they
deem ID necessary, TO provide for the APP
polntment Of such officers as street COM
missioner or q building inspector or q
superintendent of water works. | believe
that for some years to come all of these
duties can be properly discharged under
tho direct supervision of the members of
the board Of pubic works. The receipts
from water. instead OF being paid into this
department, should be paid directly TO the
treasurer. As a check upon the treasurer.
in this respect, there should be connected
with the comptrolIer's Office q water
register.
abolish tho police, fire and park COM
mission. The park systems of New York
and Chicago were established without the
aid Of park commission. Committees on
council, being in closer touch with that
body. can get their aid and support sooner
than an independent commission ana can
therefore accomplish results quicker aud
mora effectively. | arr aware that these
views will he objected to as tending toward
Capitalization. There Is no analogy be-
tween the national government where
Capitalization OF power IL dangerous and
the government of a municipality. In the
latter the people are in such close touch
with the municipal authority that radical
tendencies are Immediately discovered and
speedily corrected BY ballot. With a
proper degree OF Capitalization in the gov
eminent OF eisY a good man can give us
the hes. possible government, while a bad
man, being under tho immediate eye and
voice of the citizens. cannot have an OPP
portunity uader the continued pernicioas
methods. The very opposite is true in the
government of state or nation.
Another mistake. in my judgment, il
the provision that the present charter re-
qnires the council 10 designate two city
official newspapers. One is sufficient
This has cos. the city. usclessly. ST GOO A
month since tue adoption OF the charter,
and che amount Is increasing yearly.
IL believe that the city ought To have
special oficer 20 act as purchasing Ageut,
Under our present ordinance the board OF
public works il purchasing agent Oar
experience completely demonstrates that
this plaza has not worked well. The city
OF Seattle pays for everything she puF-
chasc@ more than ans OF her private clti.
Eens pay for goods, wares and merchandise
purchased from the same vendors"
Alderman Dauiton moved that the mes.
sage be referred to n committee of three "a
act with like committee of the house OF
delegates, who shalt prepare amendments
a al. So
Alderman Sweeney thought that bet.
Ger method would be TO allow each mem.
ber OF council 80 prepare amendments
He bad. no said. given the subject Of
charter amendments considerable study.
and had looked into charters Of other
cities.
Alderman Daulton was of opinion that a
committee could accomplish better WORK
tasn the entire council The committee
would, no doubt. make inquiry of other
members and anybody " no Vas interested
Alderman Jordan also considered that a
committee could accomplish better work
Ii was not necessary thai tho committee
should control the entire work. After tie
amendments were drafted they woa.d. O:
course. be submitted 10 the council.
nr, Sweeney said there were maav pes,-
pie outside 81 the council Sho were inter.
ested. and they would not be likely 70
know when the committee met. lie very
much favored discussing in open council.
City Clerk Ssoncman suggested that the
work OF Amendments be completed before
the cad Of the year. There Is Always los
u business 20 be dcne toward close Of a
session, and ia addition. the new registra.
ton las would entail an enormous