The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-04-25
"SACREl DAT NO DEMOCRACY"
One Of tho Wafhorses on the Pap Suck
efs of the Administra alton.

SEATTLE, April "a. 1898.
To THE EDITOR: In re. DR.. Sweeney; What
was the matter with Mr.. Sweeney anyhow?
Was it because he had a better than average ed
ucation? Was 1t because of his larger expert
ence in the city government under the new
charter? Or was it because he il built OF clay
not plastic enough to meet the views of his
confreresf What was the cause of tho late
"coup d'etat?"
This opens question of momentous import
ance to Seattle, Who is the state? or, are we to
accept the declaration of l< etat est mott Such
seems to be the doctrine OF the present ruling
power.
Now, ! need scarcely tell you that am q
Democrat from the soles OF the feet upward. but
am disappointed in our present administra-
tion-nay, worse, disguised.
The old regime was condemned heartily for
many reasons, and one of the greatest was, if
the term may be SO applied, "ne potsm." do
not mean by this appointment of your relatives,
but oil your fellOw-elccted officers, to better
paving offices than those they were elected to
fill.
The new naturalization condemned the old
one on that ground, individually and collect
lively, and every piece OF doubtful or dirty work
done by the old council would form to the new
such picture Of horror ould keep the new
administration, Ike Cesars wife, sans peur ct
sans reproche.
We, the electors, believed the protestations OF
the new and pure and undehled council We
were to have, and, irrespective of party, elected
these men by overwhelming majorities.
Whist 10 the result?
If before the election any OF the candidates
had told the electors that they. If elected, were
to Immediately resign the positions they had
been elected to fill and elect themselves into
better paying positions, how many votes would
they have received? / venture to answer-not
one. except their own.
The old council was condemned for hosting
some OF its members iato such positions by all
parties, and particularly by the Democrats, as
by the old charter the expenses OF a new election
had to be borne by the city, and when Harry
White resigned the mayoralty he did 1t one
week too soon, and had to retain Office until an
election could be avoided and a direct appoint
ment made, which was then limited to vacan-
cies occurring within ninety days OF the regu-
lar legal election.
An amendment was voted on and carried at
the last election which entirely dispenses with
the voice OF the electors, and places the powers
exclusively ia the hands of the representatives
of the people who are elected, and are at liberty
next May to desert their posts aud appoint who
they will to fill them. This present "par:y Of
purity" who were to be "only little below the
angels in their administration, have read to
the electors sermon, having for its text, How
to Make Hay While the sun Shines
The people elected these men either as alder.
men or delegates. with the full understanding
that they would hold these offices during the
full term for which they were elected, and that
by precept and example they would effectually
crush out for ever more the style of uepo,ism
much objected to.
Have they done sof
AT the last election there were returned to the
council in both houses eighteen members.
Sixteen OF these were supposed 10 be Democrats
and two Republicans. who don't count DO
not know exactly how many "teats" the mu.
nicipal COW Is possessed of, but for all there Is
a sufiiciency of-mikers, let us say, in wait
ing. And some OF these "teats'' are very
'rappy.' and in every way more desirable tba
the 50 per month paid to the members of the
council so. since the new amendment was
carried. these servants OF the city go to work 20
Improve the occasion"
The present position shows four are provided
for, as follows:
Board of works
Street commissioner Observation-Disclosures.
superintendent OF water works ~
-"a'"', pro 'e'h-'..--. l
This leaves fourteen positions unprov,ded for
but two of these are Republicans and NAV be
safely left out, leaving only twelve sstests To
lie declared vacant" would most res pec,fullv
submit the following distribution of .stea,s" 10
She remaining elected ineumbents:
city physician .
|
Superintendent OF builGincs.....
CITY engineer. .-.. -.........--.-
tumoing inspector. .........,.. l
thlef OF fire department. ...-...... l
Assistant chief oil ire department .... l
HarboF master ......-.......... ;
Two positions on board OF works .
Municipal Judge Observation-Disclosures. ... /
Ia some OF the positions the saisry may q,
present De small, but the council has the poUer
10 remedy that defect 20 suit-not you my fellow
electors, but themselves. think 1. NAV be sd-
Vlssoe TO hold one or two roGstahouts 10 4 tho
mayors chair pro iempore and any other odd
JOB Which may turn m
When the next election is dine bovr -rs,ros
taose elected a. the last election will haya
developed ihemse YES into--say miIkers-at the
cry "'ea'sT Consider. my friends, what voice
yon lave had in the selection of the successors
In once To those you voted ior The new char
Ter renders tEe clty administration perfectly
sutocFauc- They can laugh g; the electorate
aud tel them az e.Ct est moi" and damn the
electorate. anyhow. The only thing they are
good Tor Is 10 elect US and we will appoint our
ee'Fes 10 4o the suction act at the public COW,
aud we Will ourselves elect HON we please 10
nomiua44y serve the people. Damn the people;
Nc are The people.
IheFe are some OF the positions indicated
"nien scarcely come under the Jurisdiction O.
tAe council, but tina, will not. or ought no, 10
re any barrier 10 their supreme will / may Just
So ior taelE information that at least one "test
WI. soon % without q m.iker The county
commissioners require the services OF q superin-
seacsai TO The new county hospital, 60 ths, one