The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-11-09
New Plan to Curb the Five
Hold-0yer Aldermen.
the BOARD or WORKS PUZZLE.


the Eve hosd-0ver aldermen. Last night
/ Corporas.Ca Counsel D0nworth introduced
an amendment, Of which the f0Glosiag
are the salient features:
s.sErr1os l. All legislative poxer % the
city Of Seattle shall De vested IN mayor
/ snd ezfy council whach shall consist Of
one house onEy-
''sec- . The city council shall consist OF
l tsfce rs many members - there are wards
in tne city. two them hers 70 be elected
| from eseh ward.
sec. 3. This amendment shall take ef-
/ feet and 20 into operation 81 L clock
/ noon on the second Monday after the can
yass by the joint convention Of the coun-
1 cis Of the returns Of the general election
| bed IN March. lss4. and az said time the
eighteen persons who. oui for the sdop-
ton OF tnis amendment. would have con-
ssitufed the board Of aldermen and house
/ Of delegates, shall be merged together IN
/ one house 20 BE known as the city council.
/ The nine members elected rs members Of
I the board OF aldermen shall 20 out OF
Office NJ the end OF one year AFTER the tax
ing effect Of this amendment, and the nine
! members elected members Of the o0ase
1 OF delegates shall 20 out of Office at the
end OF two years after the taking effect Of
/ this amendment On the TUESDAY follow
/ ing the first Monday In March. lse6, and
annually thereafter. there shall De elected
-
| 20 succeed those whose Ter ms are about TO
| expire, and the term OF office Of the mem
bers 30 elected shall be two years. Each
councilman shall further hold office until
his successor IS elected and qualified"
Joseph Kerr submitted another PROPOSE
ton providing for one house OF fourteen
members, one to be elected from each
ward, and the holdovers TO serve out their
terms. but their places are TO be filed in
1895 and n. succeeding elections By i've
members elected at large.
Chairman Drew suggested that the
amendments be laid over. as Mayor Rom
aid, w. T. Scott and DIR. KIoeber were un-
AvoidsbIy absent.
Dr. Crichton moved TO reconsider the
vote by which the board of public works
reorganization amendment was adopted.
Alderman Ingram presented a substitute
which provides that the mayor shall APP
point three members Of the board who
shall from among themselves select the
superintendents of streets. water-works
and public buildings. 1t was laid over tai
the nexs meeting.
Joseph Shipper and W. Y. Rinehart. on
behalf of the Bureau of Associated Chart
ties, presented an amendment placing
upon the board of health the duty of look
ing after the necessitous poor by means to
be designated by the council. Mr. Snip
pen addressed the committee in support of
IL. He said there was hiatus which left
the sick and poor who had been in the city
less than six months without any relief
The result vas that q great burden was
placed upon the charitable who were
nevertheless without the power TO make
systematic efforts TO care for poor people
| in sickness
Mr.. Rinehart said the police department
was often called upon 10 take into custody
people who were in need Of immediate re-
| lief and medical attendance. IL was diff
| cult to reach the county authorities, and
although many physicians offered gratui-
| touS service IN urgent cases there was no
| fund from which medicine could lie pro-
/ viGed. The chair referred the amendment
| 10 the sanitation committee
! The referendum aud initiative system.
IS IL is called. was formally adopted. IL
| provides that upon petition by Is per cent
! of the registered voters anv amendment to
the charter shall be submitted By the city
council to the voters.
! DR.. Crichton said that after thoughtful
consideration he had come TO the conclu-
sion that It VAS dangerous innovation
and would lead to confusion.
Mr.. Kerr said he did not altogether ap-
| prove it. He thought there should be
some means by which amendments should
be revised so as TO prevent confusion. He
voted for il, nevertheless, and the amend
ment carried
Ferdinand TokIas addressed the COM
mittee in favor of having some provision
by which it could be known early in the
| year how much the taxation would be.
He advocated limit of expenditure as the
best means of limiting taxation. He also
advocated dividing the revenue into
twelve equal paris. no more TO be spent in
| any one month.
Alderman Jordan asked what he would
do In the case of smallpox or other epi-
demiesa The city would be helpless. its
hands tied by its own laws.
Mr.. Toklas replied that it could be met
| by contingent fund.
Mr.. Donworth said il was a business. II ke
suggestion 20 limit taxation, but il was
| not new. ls is already to be found in the
constitution and the charter. The reve-
nue. is also divided into twelve parts. not
| equal parts, bat apportioned to the de-
mands Of different seasons. The city has
NOS issued warrant for year and halt.
The proposition requiring ali officials TO
procure bonds from guaranty insurance
company was reported favoraoly, With an
amendment giving officials the option of
/ insurance or private bonds.
DR. Crichton thought the approval Of
bonds should be made by the city council
/ IN open session.
Alderman Jordan opposed submitting
bonds 20 The council. as IL would give that
body an indirect power 10 reject a nonina-
! ten. tie wanted the responsibility 10 be
| pat upon the mayor.
| Mr.. Don worth amended by recurring
the city council TO designate the insurance
com panies, and 50 save having every bond
/ passed upon.
Alderman Jordan said the companies
| would then begin 10 puil wires.
/ Mr.. Drew understood insurance COM
I pAnies would not take municipal officers.
/ The proposition sss adopted as amended.
Mr.. Armstrong introduced a proposed
amendment that there De board OF ex-
I ANIMATION Of steam engineers 10 be an
I pointed by the mayor. with the consent of
I the board OF aldermen. Ii was referred.
An amendment was passed making anv
/ member OF the city coanea ineligible 70
any other city Office except that OF mayor.
7 Mr.. Douworth said experience in the city
council might afford a qualification foS
/ becoming mayor, but II was considered ua-
( wise 10 make she council = mere stepping
/ stone o a salaried Once