The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1893-11-23
TOUCHES EVERY POINT.
The Reorganization Boojum Fully and
Thoroughly Laid Bare.
JUDGE LEWIS ANSWERS THEN ALL.
All the Points ON which Informs.
tien Do Desired Are Here Explained
Clearly and Compieseiy-A Great
Man,s OptaIon.

THE question OF changing the govern.
ment OF the city and organizing under the
general laws Of the state as a city Of the
third class Is now being discussed. :"
wrote Judge ]. r. Lewis for The HERALD.
"and not only as taxpayer, but as an
earnest friend of the city, | propose
briefly to consider the question.
THE city Of North Yakima was organ.
lied and has since be engoverned by the
provisions OF charter passed in 1885 by
the territory.
Several objections are urged against
the present charter. chic among which
are the following: 1t is said that many
OF the grants and limitations OF the char
ter are incompatible with the state con.
stitution and are void,' and among these
are the power to light the streets,
to construct water works, to con-
struct system OF sewerage, and every
grant OF power which requires for it's ex-
ercise a resort to the taxing power of the
city; the qualification OF the voters has
been abrogated by the constitution, and
The manner OF extending the boundaries
OF the city has been voided provisions for
the assessment and collection Of taxes
re fer to existing laws and that it il diff
cult to ascertain what the law Is and
that no power exists in the county or city
officers to sell lands for taxes; that the
municipality cannot contract a debt in
excess of one and one.half per cent. of
its taxable property, unless by a vote Of
three-ffths OF the electors; to obviate
this latter vote should he authorized
for power to contract such debt for etrictly
municipal purposes that warrants issued
in excess Of one and one-half per cent.
without such vote are void that unless
such authority shall be given, the mayor
will refuse to sign warrants and business
will have to be suspended, and to obvi-
ate all these difficulties the city should
be reorganized under the general laws of
the state as a city of the third class.
The present city charter was most
carefully drawn; the powers given are
ample and well guarded and well adapted
to the government Of the city, and under
it's wise and ample provisions ts broad
streets are well ornamented with shade
trees, and water in abundance furnished
every citizen for the purpose OF irriya.
ton beautiful homes have sprung up AZ
If by magic, and the city has the best and
most complete system OF waterworks,
electric light and sewerage within the
state; ample powers are given under the
charter for the purpose of furnishing
water, light and sewerage in sections 10,
IL, II and 10 OF the charter, and the best
proof OF the sufficiency of such grant OF
powers is the fact that 30 much has been
accomplished under the provisions of
such grant.
"But to what extent, If any, have these
provisions been abrogated abridged by
the con stitution and laws of the state
By the provisions OF article 81, section I,
no existing rights are affected by the
change to state government, and per Sec
ton all laws in force when the consti-
tuition was adopted not repugnant to the
provisions Of such constitution are con-
tinued in force until altered or repealed
by the Legislature; and to save question
in case where the word territory is used,
the legislature at its first session enacted
that, in all cases wherein the word terri.
tory WAS used in our laws, it shall be
construed to mean state. Laws OF 1899,
page "a.
"On the admission of the state tho city
retained all Of its rights and it's charter
remsined in full force in SO far as the
same was not repugnant to the constitu-
ton. None of the provisions OF the char
ter as to streets, light, water, sewerage or
taxation in anywise conflict with prov g.
ions Of the state constitution in fact, as
to all such matters, the constitution and
the laws enacted under it have enlarged
and extended all such powers. Under
the organic law of the terri tory and acts
OF congress, the city could not become
indebted in a sum in excess OF four per
cent. OF its taxable property, while under
the constitution and laws OF the state it
may, by order OF the council, contract o
debt in the sum OF one and one-half per
cent, and by a vote OF the electors,
three fifths voting 10 favor thereof, the
city may, for strictly municipal purposes,
become indebted in sum Of five per cent.
OF its taxable property, and, in addition
TO such indebtedness, the city may, by a
like vote Of three-fifths of it's voters, be.
come indebted for water, light and sewer
age in further sum of five cents. Con-
stitution, article s, section O f; laws OF 1891,
page 26l; laws OF 1890, page $40; laws OF
1891, page 326.
"These provisions apply to all incorpo-
rated cities, and hence include the city OF
North Yakima. Most assuredly, then,
there is no conflict, for the powers OF the
city are enlarged. In addition to the
above powers. full authority is given to
the city to ratify, by vote of three-fifths
Of its electors, an indebtedness in excess
Of one and one-half per cent. and not over