The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-04-17

engineer and his assistant 10 ~ aid Of this de-
paxtmenl they having charge II the mechan-
teal work OF the department yhe Bookkeeping
and collection Of water rents tsse transferred to
the once Of the treas urer. TINS t1tting on large
Hist OF saiasied cficeu. Why moi thus abolish the
psssent board and eonsfitute 3ue in fts stead
composed Of members who are irActically fainsi-
lar with the needs OF the e5ty!t Again, this viii
give the mayor (who 10 % be igade the responsi.
BILE head Of the city Rovsmns.st . voice in the
appointment Of the officials staooedinats to the
board Of public works
There are minor psovigiose; Of this article
bearing upon the duties OF frfs board which
should be changed. but the as.sye are the prin-
cfpsi onea
believe that - much Of art sles 2, II ana u
Of the charter ~ respectively f.late to the ap-
pointment Of the police 90. lmission. the ORE
commission and park commission. should b r.
pealed, and the duties Of the .}e1ent police and
fire commission b devolvei sspon committees
Of the common council. This: will make the
councii at all times, through Its committees.
familiar with the affairs Of IL 80 departments.
their needs and their exfravayhaces, and viii.
believe. give CO department. g: more cniciencys
and At . cost far less than "a ;ylesent The po-
lice and Gre commissions mees regularly once .
month. What duties do iha$ perform? APP
point men TO vacancies on the respective forces.
listen 10 the reports Of the chiefs. ana
then constitute themselves 4 u partmeut OF jus
tice to try men arraigned bescs} them on diner-
emit chargos-chieHy druukel,sssa.
The park commission 10 a. "a ensive adjunct
to the city governm CONSISTING q II does OF
I'VE members, each receiving 900 per annum
and having in their employ superintendent OF
parks at . salary OF $3.50 pee annum. This
work Of supervision OF our parss can be done BY
. committee of the council ASH the necessary
engineering work performed Rs the city depart
ment Of engineering. The EXPENDITURES OF this
department are unwaTanteii and it, abolish.
ment would be . long step ir tss hight direction
toward reform.
The criticism will b offered that I am at.
tempting 70 centraiize too maaa power in the
hanis OF the city council E,believe that the
power should be so paced fhe members are
elected BY the people and are sought into more
intimate association with the c'eople Of the city
than any other department pcSsih,y can be: and
the people will elect men wors:y OF the trust 70
the Office.
There is Just one suygestioa: more. snd that
differs from the Others materially in not tesTing
down but with the desire 20 NIKE more efficient
that which il one of the moss admirable de-
partmenss of the city govensn ent refer to
the Office Of the city comptrolisk This should BE-
constituted the bookkeeping department. OF the
city, and there kept Get OF c.samerciai books.
thus keeping . check npcn 81 other depart
ments and showing At all TINES the condition of
the city's affAiTa I:
have given you the cha4 ees most ueedful
There are many other amendSesnts that will be
necessary, mostly legal in thess nature, to make
the city charter correspond ks the state laws
But II the amendments noted sre made the city
will saye many thousands OF dollars per year,
and the present intricate system Of government
viii become greatly simplidsc and there will b
far loas frictien