The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-11-13
LOOPING OFF BOARDS.
Fire and Police Commissioners
May Be Abolished.
BUREAU or LABOR PROPOSED.


On Tuesday night the charter revision
committee will resume its work Now
that its policy is fairly outlined, is may be
OF interest 20 know who compose the CON-
mitsee. as association and antecedents wall
have considerable bearing on the results.
The chairman Is Thomas r. Drew. an at
torney and delegate from the First ward,
with tendencies toward the Collins wing
OF the local Democracy. Mayor Ronald
and Corporation Counsel Donworth are
sufficiently well known.
Mr.. Donworth has the advantage Of hav-
ing been . member of the commission
which drafted the original charter and
has the distinction Of sharing with City
Engineer Thomson the credit of running
the only two branches OF the reform ad-
ministration which have given unqualified
satisfaction 10 the people Alderman Re
gram is the representative OF the Eighth
ward and Ii . master teamster. Alderman
Cram represents the Second ward, where
he was formerly in business as q grocer.
The third alderman is DIR. ]. Eugene Jor-
dan. There are two other doctors on the
Crichton, the latter of whom il the only
The citizens are represented by w. T.
Scott. an attorney and Republican;
w. g. Armstrong. typesetter and form
erly president of the Western Central
Labor Union. and Joseph Kerr. q pile
driver and ''the taiiest man in the city,"
The principal matter to come before the
committee tomorrow il Drew's provision
for . bureau of labor statistics, whose
scope Is set forth in the following pro-
posed addition to the charter:
"There shall be . commissioner of labor
statistics. who shall be appointed by the
sent OF the board of aldermen, and shall
hold his Office for two years. beginning on
the LIST day Of January, and until his
successor is elected and qualified; pro-
vided. that immediately after the TAX
ing effect of this amendment the commits
sioner of labor statistics shall be
appointed who shall hold his office until
the LIST day of January, 1888 Such CON-
missioner shall have the same qualifica-
tons, shall give bond and shall be subject
to removal from Office In the same manner
as other appcintive officers of the city. He
shall receive such salary as shall be pre-
seribed by ordinance. Such commissioner
shall keep an office in such place rs the
city council shall provide, which shall be
Of Seattle. and he shall collect, arrange
and systemaiise all statistics relating to
the various branches of labor in
the city and especially those relat-
ing to the commercial. industrial and
social condition Of the inhabitants. Such
commissioner shall Immediately after the
taking effect of this amendment organize
and establish q free public employment
Office, and shall cause TO be placed in front
thereof on a sign board the words Free
Public Employment Office" IL shall be
the duty of such commissioner TO receive
all applications for labor and those desir-
ing employment, and those desiring to
employ labor and record their names in a
book kept for that purpose, designat-
ing opposite the name of each applicant
the character of the employment
or labor desired and the address of such
applicant; provided that no application
shall be received by any person desiring
employment unless such person be q
bona fide resident of the city. No COM
pensation or fee shall be directly or indi-
rectly charged TO or received from any
person or persons seeking employment or
any person or persons desiring to employ
labor through said office. and the viola
ton of this provision shall be punished
by such penalty as shall be prescribed by
ordinance. Such commissioners shall make
q report on the first Monday of each month
to the mayor of all persons desiring TO
employ labor and the class thereof. and all
persons applying for employment through
his Office and the character of employment
desired by each applicant; also of all per-
sons securing employment through his
Office and the character thereof and a
semi-annual report of the expenses of
maintaining such Office, and an annual re-
port in the month of December giving the
statistics gathered by him during the
year. Whenever required by the mayor or
city council such commissioner shall, as
far as practicable, mako . report Of sny
fact. or statistics within the scope Of his
official duties."
Joseph Kerr has expressed the doubt
that Ii Is q wise measure to include in
the charter. rs 1t has . tendency toward
class legislation.
Alderman Cram. rs chairman of the fire
committee, has prepared an amendment
aboiishing the board of fire commissioners
and placing control of the department di-
rectly in the hands of the chief, who Is TO
be appointed by the mayor with the con-
sent of the council. The chief shall have
power TO appoint all subordinates, but
cannot dismiss except upon charges to be
preferred before the city council.
If that should be adopted the probable
ity is that the same course will be pur-
sued with reference to the police commits
sion, although Mayor Ronald has
expressed doubts rs to the advisabiiity OF
aboiishing that body. The board of
health and the library commissioners will
probably be left, although changes may
be made as to the powers and machinery
~ the ha~tkh hoar1