The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-01-20
BOARD OF ERMEN.
Suggestion for "A New Charter for First
Glass CiiieS.

Class Cities.
Corporation Counsel DOnwOrth submitted 20
the aldermen letter from President II. A. Corel.
OF the Tacoma city council. relative to the Sc
lection commission TO draft charter for
the cities of Seattle. Tacoma and Soosaae. also a
letter from Mayor Ronald giving his opinion on
the matter
Mr.. CoretPs letter suggested that all three
cities go II together and engage some attorney of
distinction from abroad, or that the city conn
Gil OF each city select attorney Of known
ability III the city, aud that these three form a
charter commission t prepare charters similar
To those of metropolitan cities, to be passed By
the legislatures.
Mayor Ronalds letter suggested the adviss-
pillty OF being very cautious about deciding on
making change, but in ease il was decided to
adopt the metropolitan plan OF Il charter he
preferred employing Judge Dillon, If the first
suggestion contained In President CoreI's let
ter was TO be the mode of procedure. But he
preferred commission OF six or nine. composed
OF attorneys aud business men, Two or three
iron each city.
The board went into committee OF the whole
to consider the matter, Mr.. Brewer in the chair
D'. Sweeney opposed making any radical
changes III the present charter He said he mad
made a special study 0. charters and founi that
Seattle had aoout as good charter as any city
III the country. This statement was so radically
opposite to his position in the oil Council with
reference 20 the charter, that i. made even his
Democratic friends smile. He continued that
the charter adopted by the legislature nigh; not
suit the people OF the city. and 1t could only be
amended by thar body.
Corporation Counsel Douwor,h said that the
time was TOO short now 70 give proper consider
alton to matter OF so much Importance
IL was therefore voted 20 instruct he corpora
ton counsel to make a rep y 20 the commuuice-
ton in accordance with the view he exnressei
a Tod ~ Lob,
fof franchise for u system of cable street rail-
way along the line of Seneca street from IVES.
street 10 Fourteenth street. thence 10 Cooper
street, thence to Munroe street, thence 10 Ban
croft street. thence 10 Waii stree, thence to Re-
publican street, thence TO DuwaInlsh street,
thence to Preston or Cuion street and thence 20
Union bay. on the northcTly end OF LiAe Wash
lnrton. keieTTe: to judiciary committee.
Mr. Cram reported, for the committee that
visited The county poor farm with County Com
mi-sione: Gasch TO consider the matter OF the
city and county Joining III the erection Of hos
pitai, that the members o: the committee were
all favorable 10 the plan, provided such an ar
rangement could be entered into legally The
following brief paper, read by M Gasch before
the committee, was submitted To the board and
read by the cl rk:
The proper administration of public charity
IS one of the most important matters for the
welfare OF the whole peope, aud our county
should be thoroughly protected from the influx
OF paupels from adjoining counties. until all
persons who are ao!e 10 support themselves and
those rjgEtfulv depende!i: upon them shall be
taught AMI compelled to do so, So that those,
and /. o,e only, who are mentally or physically
Incapacltated from earning iiveijhob,t shall
be relieved or supported by a tax upon the in
dustry OF others.
The authorities of our city knew little or
nothing Of how the poor are cared Tor. Little or
no attention Is gwen TO Il system OF improved
method Of caring f'r the poor. the maiu object
being 70 get along with the matter with as litt,e
trouble and II, LITTLE expense POSSIBLE for the
time being, without Eegari 10 the future con So
9uences 81 their action.
The people ut large must be led to take a
deeper interest in the manner in which the
poor are cared for and the officials in charge of
THAT important business cannot be too dillkent
and careful Ii the performance OF their duiy
WIKI proper state pauDsr law. strictly pro-
MT tnE tue sending OF paupars from county to
county at large expense by the different OIL
cias, without benefit either - the paupers or
the public. much would he accomplished.
Children have never been admitted te our
a,mShouse and have been sept away from the
demoralzng influence ol adult paurers they
have been sent To the orphan asylum. where
they are properly educated hni trained Tor lives
OF resrectablliiy ard u>efulness
In the administration OF outdoor relief in such
manner that II vii not encourage iIeness
ana pan perisT1, much is done by our ioca. board
OF charity with It's staff Of friendly visitors
The manner of dealing wlt6 professional tramps
so ~ TO prevent announcement TO travel or
beng led and lodged ar public expense also re-
ceivcS t1elr attention.
But little attention WAS formerly gwen II the
management OF the poorhouse or the eassifcs-
ton OF IL Inmates Both old ana young, the
deoased aud respectable, those suffering from
repuistve s1d communicable dl,eases-Hll are
unfortunately commingIed. This is largely
owing To faulty plans aud arrangement OF our
present buIld Hc.
The site selected Tor the new building il ac.
cessible 10 street railway. and has q healthy
situation. with abundant water supply good
drainage facilities, and plenty of the best land
adjoining.
Building Inspector J. &. Helms submitted An
estimate OF the cost OF repiling Spring street
wharf with cTeosoted plies. He placed the
cost at sl,a4i
The following matters were referred:
Petition of John LANCER for ana aba.emen. OF
taxes. petition Tor plankIug Uulon street be-
tween Railroad avenue and West street: nett.
hon OF ". A McC.utchon for the refuufng Of
lac OF s. rsid on horses impouuied without
cause; petition for water main on Rose street.
ordinances providing for change III the T,lau.
OF the south Seattle sewer tunnel making itS
vertical diameter SIX inches greater, proyiIiuy
Tor the purchase oi 3U>o cssks of Portland C.,
men, A. s. pr cHsk and 3.f0O % sewer brick
from TIE seattle Brick auI Tile Comuanv at sln
9er i,rv0 TO ue used IL lining the tunnel: ordl.
asnce establishing ga Official STANDARD mar
idIan line for the city