The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-06-17

O. rs being an Implied power Affects neither
is validity or its effectiveness.
but while believe the county or the
city has full rover to do this work. yet I
peaieve IL would De impogific and inexpedi-
ent Tor either 20 undertake il alone The
principle Of paternallsm as applied 70 gov
eminent IN such matters Is. in nv iudg-
menf, radically nnsound. To bear burdens
according TO benefits received is the
souncer and more Logical doctrine. II the
Dement'S are general. the rule OF assessment
and taxation is the correct rule. bu: II
special benefits are received by a portion OF
the community and not received by sthers.
they ought 70 pay accordingly. Hence I
conclude that IL would be snequitahie. and
therefore impoiltic. for either the city or
the county to assume alone the burden Of
snis necessary work. but both ought TO
contribute literally. and one AZ least
oaghl 20 nave the management and con-
trol Of the work.
nave said that either the city or county
had ample power to do the proposed
work III this conclusion rested on my
Judgment alone / should hesitate before
making its public announcement. The
power OF the county in this regard was
ialiy and exhaustingly examined into by
COMMITTEES appointed By the Chamber OF
Lommeree Of this city over a year ago.
nat COMMITTEES was composed Of some OF
the ablest lawyers of this city. After
careful investigation they reported that
me county's power in that regard was
plenary. Upon that opinion / can safely
rest, and while do NOT intend to argue
the question. suffer brief illustration.
road Is 10 be built across iow. wet and
mlry land IL may be trestled and
paanked, dirt embankment may be put
ih' or IL cheaper or more practical, a ditch
may be dug and the land thoroughly
drained so that the surface OF the land
may be the roadbed and endless and costly
repairs by the county saved Here We
have given public duty; the ways have
mentioned are the means for the discharge
Of that duty. To limit the eouaty in the
means TO be employed. provided they are
fit and germane, has no foundation in rea-
son or law.
As TO the city, the late clear and able
opinion Of the corporation counsel fully
vindicates the ample power Of the city in
this regard. That opinion not only de-
clares the law correctly, but 10 the nom
professional reader il is the embodiment
OF common sense as well. Here also is a
public duty. and the relation Of means TO
that duty, upon which all the reasoning
rests. 1t is the duty of the city to furnish
its inhabitants pure water, abundant in
quantity and at the lowest possible price
All the means fit or necessary for the per-
formance Of that duty are clearly given by
implication. The city has already ex-
pended considerable sum of money in
preliminary surveys TO test the practical
biiity OF obtaining such water from Cedar
river by what IS known as the gravity sys-
TEN. The expenditure of several millions
more will be necessary 10 secure the
contemplated result. Open up the
canal, lower Lake Washington, and
permit the water of Cedar river
or portion of it to flow into
the lake and your gravity system is sub
staniialiy completed and your supply Of
pure. clear cold water abundant. All ron
have 10 do TO keep il pure is to so adjust
the sewer system as 10 drain into the canal
and the Sound. The saving to the city
would be great; equaling one-haif IL not
two-thirds of the contemplated expsndi-
ture. work fraught with so many bene-
fetal results, both direct and indirect,
ought not 10 be delayed. Then let us
know it's probable cost, and let that cost
be so adjusted that farmers benefited,
business men, the county and the city
shall each bear its just proportion. and all
viii be well. o. JACOBS.