The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-03-31
The Water Plant Scheme q Bone
of Contention.
WORK OF THE "eoosTEas. -
They Are WeYking Up 0oDti0ent FOR
water Cempsny-sewers Are More
Necessary Than the Old Plant

II, IJO, 600 was discussed the length OF IA
ciic avenue in the business part of the
city. Some prominent people who favored
the purchase were classed by many OF
those who oppose the project as water
company boosters" Both sides are very
active, and it looks now as if the parties
who favor postponement of the purchase
will decide the matter. Hugh Farley says:
have not as yet definitely made up my mind
on that proposition, and don't propose 10 do 50
until have acquired thorough understanding
OF IT. Were / an engineer or ali expert in such
matters presume I could have done 90 long
ago. but not being such. it will require more
time and labor than l have as yet Teen able 70
give the question. Ii l were called upon to de-
eide just now would say let the water question
rest tor the present and give our attention to
sewers and bridges. We have good water
now and a. much a. ii we should buy the pres
ent plant. and probably IS cheap But we need
sewers aud need q bridg. to develop the mats.
Let the company proceed with the periecting OF
its water plant, and when they have clean
cut, completed proposition let US buy, even II
we give a good round figure. Tacoma has here
tofore been entirely too precipitous In its pubic
inn movements. going of half-cocked, a. the say
ing is regard the proposition OF putting in an
independent plant something entirely out OF
the question.
Charles Hotchkiss says:
We should own the water plant. Il Is worth
the price asked. am not sure that sewers can
not be built ii the plant Is purchased ana the
contemplated Improvements made
Mr.. Hotchkiss then consulted the city
attorney on the sewer proposition. Mr..
Murray, the city attorney, was asked by
correspondent of the Posr-INTELLIGENCER
for an answer to the following editorial
from today's Ledger:
According to the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. City
Attorney Murray holds "that cities OF the first
class cannot build sewers out OF any other fund
except that raised for artificial lighting. sewers
aud water" Our state constitution provides
that cities OF the first class may, with the con-
sent of three-fifths of their voters, incur deb,
equal to per cent OF their assessed valuation
for municipal purposes. "In addition they
may, with like consent, incur an additional debt
equal TO 5 per cent OF their assessed valuation
for water, sewers and light. Now. does the city
attorney hold that no city can legally raise any
money to build sewers until 1t has got into debt
in other ways to an amount equal to per cent
OF its property value? II the legislature has
placed such restriction upon the use of money
Tor sewers. what was the probable purpose OF il?
Mr.. Murray said:
The constitution is not self-enforcing. 1t
provides for various things, which may be
taken up by the legislature, aud thus carried
into effect Many persons seem to misunder-
stand this. l recently prepared an opinion on
this point, to the effect that there is doubt re-
gardng the authority OF a city OF the first class
10 build sewers out OF any OF her fund than that
providing tor water, artificial light and sewers
From the opinion referred to the follow
ing is taken:
The city is bound by the words OF the amend
Of a Do al nh oh
says said indebtedness and bonds shall not ex-
coed per cent of the taxable property as shown
ON the last assessment roll" "Said indebted
ness and bonds" referring dramatically and
logically to indebtedness Tor water, light and
sewers. which 10 the only indebte mess men
toned In the entire paragraph amended, aud
the original act gives a special authority to
create Indebtedness for such purposes OF per
cent So that so far a. the amended act 10 con-
cerned the indebtedness for water, light and
sewers and bonds therefor cannot exceed the
sum OF per cent. and cannot come from any
other fund than that authorised for that special
purpose in said act
Those favoring the sale of the water
plant have all along disposed of the de-
mand for sewers by saying that money
could be raised for that purpose from the
assessment for municipal purposes. This
is one of the most vital questions in
VOWED, because sewers are just now more
of necessity than water extension, albeit
portion of the present source Of supply
has been condemned. Still, the conserva-
tive element holds that as between pur-
chasing the water works and securing
sewers, it would ne better to have the lat
ter. The cost of the water and electric
plants at the price asked, and 800, 600 for
improvements would result in bonding
the city for just 81. 7o7 less than the limit
for artificial light, water and sewers. AL
told. over 100000 are needed for sewers.
Attention is called here to the fact that
Seattle. IN computing its proposed extern
sions for water and sewer purposes. does
not mix the tund for municipal purposes
with the one for water. artificial light and
sewers. Items coming under these heads
are segregated at Seattle, while at Ia
coma those who are urging the purchase
OF the water plant at this particular time
imply that sewers can be constructed from
either or both funds.
la his decision City Attorney Murray in
Inmates that Il would ice a bad business
proposition To consider tie construction
OF sewers ircm the fu,id designated Tor
strictly munlcipaI purposes. He said to-
day that 'he safe OF the bonds, ii issued
for the purpose OF ons.ructing sewers out
of the fund set aside Tor municipal puT-
poses. would be hampere,i. no doubt, not
only N the sale OF the same, but that the
value Of the bonds, ii sold, would he
affected
EVERETT March 30. Special. / Before
leaving for Ca.iiornta. Henry Hewitt. IT..
could not resist giving Il parting shot 70
the scheme 10 unload the Tacoma iiga.
and water plant upon that city. In this
connection Ae remarked:
The taxpayers know THAI what | have said
about tbs matter is true. They Anaw ihsi II
the ely Guys hat plant al 81. so0Qe0 1t Is twice
what II IL worth They know that X means =
heavy burden az taXGtloe. increasing The bonded
Indebtedness 80 nearly si.o0.001 The maalpu.
lntors of the scheme are ing all In their power
To put u through. They nave hsrvd men
10 60 about in Tacoma lii the interest
Of th's plundcriug scheme to carry The
election The eAppers go around ard
pvese.... - tell what great things they have done
IN behal. of The measure. Then they make
demand Tor mere money Tor their services Bu,
I think the people are getting their eyes opeaed
Msuy of them afraid TO talk. Their persons
crowd are such taai they dare not open theil
heads, bat, ia the same. thes say Hewitt, you
are right And think tAst when the PROPOSE
zion GENES - vote they viii down II
The state Land Commission.
nYNNrfa March 31 -f @usrial 49, T n,