The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-05-01
TWO MANY OFFICIALS.
Comptroller Carson Fav0rs
Charter Amendments
WHY BONDS SHOULD BE ISSUED.
More Need Of Light Than Parks-Ihs
City's Commercial Integrity Must Be
Preserved-sewer Question.

past week or SO have diverted attention
from the proposed amendments to the
charter. The subject is still occupying
the public mind and will take first place
o. soon as the bond matter is disposed OF.
J. NJ. Carson was asked yesterday to
name some of the changes he regarded ~
advisable and necessary in the city char
ter. to which he replied:
In my opinion a number OF changes In our
charter can be made 20 advantage. never did
see any necessity for so many commissions.
"What Is every mans business Ia nobody's bust
ness" Very few business men can afford 10
give the necessary time gratuitously TO look
after public business. I do not mean by this
that the commissions have not punctually at
tended 20 their public duties, but think II better
TO put all such business in the hands of paid Of
fcials and require them TO devote their time to
the duties assigned theru- Then, too. have
never been able to understand why we should
require our fire, police and library commissions
and health bosrd to serve the city without COM
pensation and at the same time pay the park
commission monthly salary. In fact, fail to
see Any necessity for park commission
1t ali. In our climate, even in the
warmest weather. our women and chill
dren never compelled TO climb out on the
house tops or seek the parks and fan themselves
20 keep from sunoeating. or TO get fresh air.
Our citizens In localities especially adapted TO
parks are showing such commendabe pride in
identifying their grounds and providing aInusc-
E1ents that there Is very little need OF pubic
parks. Just As hong as people have their choice
Of visiting public parks withou. 'amusements
or private parks with amusements. they will at
tend and pstronize tie latter. The city now has
two large parks. and 10 per cent of all the fines
sEd licenses go into the park fund: better use
this fund TO improve and beautify these. and If
we have any surplus, use ii TO build nice wide
streei OF boulevard along the lake front between
Yeslsr avenue and MadisonIstreet. 80 that those
who desire o. DIVE can drive out one of these
streets. along the lake 'front.' and back the other.
This viii be all the boulevard system we will
need for some time. at least until such time as
we are able 10 keep our business streets in the
heart of the city In psssable condition. The du-
ties required and performed by our PARK COM
mission could be performed by the city engi-
peer, street superintendent and board OF pubic
works.
The charter erght to be changed so that all
taxes conld be paid at place and at the same
tme and all tax deeds for property sold for de-
inauent taxes should be Issued by one officer,
and not as now. by the city treasurer and county
treasurer.
Section Is OF article VIII OF the charter should
be changed 30 that money remaining in the
treasury 10 the credit OF any local improvement
fund, after all the cost and expenses OF such
Improvement IL paid. II not called for within
two years, should be turned into the general
fund Of the city instead of the mex. local i'm
proycment district fund created, as now done or
required 10 be 3one. There Is no reason TO my
mind why any surplus in a local improvement
district in one part of the city should be turned
70 the credit oi another local improvement dis
trict In some other part OF the city. II such
supius remains in any district after the expenses
are all paid. the parties who have overpsid
should be notified and the amount rebatcd. II
y,Atr led for "a in fun md 4 n tn
be coufscased. IL ought to 60 into the general
fund Of the whole city and not into . local inn
provement district only.
While thore are number OF changes neces.
cary ii ocr charter, aud which ought to be
sssdc At our next regular election. yet there is
uger OF the pendulum swinging too far to the
olhe, aide. and eliminating from tho charter
features which long experience has proven to
be reliable safeguards. A city council composed
OF two branches has many times proven q check
upon extrsvsgant. vicious and in some in
stances corrupt legislation. The objection to
and trivial expense OF q second branch of the
council viii not weigh In the balance against
What might resul, from extravagant aud vicious
legislation.
Mr.. Carson was also asked what he
thought of the different bonding prospo-
stiona. He replied:
The mos, impor,nn, Of these 10 the placing OF
ton al this debt, while technically illegal by
reason of being above one and one-half per
centum of the value OF property In the city,
made necessary 10y reason OF the large expcnd-
lures caused BY the great fire. The wharves,
par OF the bridges over the tide fats and plank
lug Ia the streets we're burned Some of these
warrants ara for spikes, hardware and lumber
for these improvements: 100 of these war
rants, calling fer nearly &76.0o0. are on
the tre department fund. mostly for
fire apparatus in use In the city during the
past year or two ana in now. I27 are on the
police fund, amounting 20 between Sill 900 and
$4,000. most of which went To pay our present
police alarm system: sTs are on the salary fund.
amounting TO sZ79.0o0 Under our charter all
employees are paid out OF the salary fund. Those
who work on our streets. on our water works
on our wharves, in our tunnels and IN our fire
department. as well our city officials The
amount paid city officials proper is less than Is
per cent. and that paid other employees about 81
per cent Of salary roll; or of thie se79, coo,
about So 20 10 officials aud about $e2s $50 to the
toiIers OF the city These warrants were Issued
at a time when our citizens would not have
been willing for Improvements To stop, and the
city has had. aud is having tho benefits and the
issuing of S per cent twenty-year bonds and
paying of this debt saving over 33i o0o in Inter
es, annually and preserving our credit thereby,
in no wsy affects the amount the city can now
or hereafter expend Cor water. sewer aud lights
a. the bonds To take up this floating debt must
come ont OF thc per ceatum limit for general
municipal purposes, aud all expenditure for
water, sewer aud light is confined 10 the per
o.ntom for tsose purposes, go fsr mourning
indebtedness Is concerned
Then. t22aj1 of this debt Is the balance due on
the old courthouse property, now tile city hall
These obligations are out. were taken on the
good faith 81 seattle, and In al conscience
ought 10 be validated and paid. Considerable
has eeen sald about "hlood suckers '.mouey
,hsvess." aud that these warrants were cobb eli
up a. a cents on the dollar These things are
said iaaevlssd.y. for all warrants were sold af-
ter Advertising Tor bids, anu the bids are on lie
ia the coinptrolss's office. The lowest vas sol.
Veuts on tie dollar, AMI from thai w 10 los.
cents on the dollar.
In my Judgment unless this debt - validated
and paid 10 Will be useless TO issue or Offer bonds
for sAle for any purpose, as bond buyers are on
the lockout for the least indication or intirna-
tien q reputation. Many OF our citizens want
&C. and viii visit the " orlds fair, and very lew
Ibeiese of them while hoasting of our city anu
oes gloriogs Northwest. want 10 have IL said
Ihat seattle has Just refused 70 validate aad pay
aiust debt
Tho next most Important psupesltt Is the
completion Of the north sewer tunnel That
pletsd without deterioration aud damage Ii
Csn lie completed now with less money and
more safely than q. any future time
The question OF further bonding for sewerage
purposes and the Plan or system under which II
shsll 10 done is an important one. and calls Tor
csFnes, sad serious consideration. II any new
sewering is done during the next year i; Will
lie done oet Ct the general fund. IL can only 10
dope otherwise ey pc.itioa and immediate pay