The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-03-14


raaEfty Of > pesitIon With ALI respect
sAy thae IL you 10 nor carry car rhs
wishes of the pevc5e you nnmsg 1f NJ
eessiyy oissfruzf the general deniaFasfS sha'
have gore forth- Yes fsssss call tssss cleo
f4ess .
w r. Waite called at.emtson 90 ths
mayors message 20 the council which,
be satd. seemed 20 bin 20 be q method
srlang grates1 20 prevent the naeesng % tfs
Gfteeu fre~boidsrs Mr. White urged uscE
the council 70 aet al once sn che usattes
ard take aiyies b the wishes OF the
people
NJ White became offensive by predict
Tax Tia, the council would aes in toe mat
ter 80 as 10 postpone the rzztfer 20 ihe
next general election
Mr.. james Answers Attacks.
Tnts brought Delegate James 70 BITS feet,
vino egtisd Mr.. White 10 order for his re-
feetiofls CT the council White said he
had 10 intention o< being personal.
As AsGsivra ard White appeared TO hs
doing naost az glse taking IL the Interest,"
cf the Municipal League. some ems zgg-
ge~ted thas they give fhs soor u others.
Ex.SgpsrtnfsnaeFst Of the Water Depart
men; " r Wilson. for fne Referendum
Club. said that Il was wiling 10 abide
by fas action % the Muhicipal Lsange,
The Mayor Answers McSiivFa-
Mayor Phelps said there must certain
~ have been some misunderstanding be-
tween Mr. MciligTa, Mr.. White and him
self. He reviewed his action following the
call made on him by the committee Of the
Municipal League. and denied any at
tempt 20 evade the question or defer the
calling Of an election. The call. made by
the Municipal League WAS from that one
body alone. and ne thought be would
broaden their demand and sec who else
wanted II, ard instead OF rushing forth
into call for an immediate election. wait
and see and give others a chance 10 cah
for the Earuc thing. He admitted that
the present city government was cumber-
some. but a new charter would not REM
edy ali tho existing evils. He had. how
ever. never attempted 20 throw any OBJ
stacle In the way OF securing another
election. and did not propose 20 do so
now.
Answering the Critics.
DIR. Ramsey, for the Chamber OF Com
mcrce. In a humorous introduction COM
mented on the buildozing methods
adopted by White aud AcGilvra In their
remarks TO the council. A municipality.
he said. ought to be made up of business
men. He comptimeuted the mayor on his
vlsing the council. but In pointing out
the different ways for the people 10
amend their charter. The present char
ter, he said. was TOO cumbersome ard
too expensive. IL was created at time
when boom times prevailed. when high
salaries we're paid and provisions were
high. Today one dollar would buy as
many provisions for a family as So did
several years ago. He urged the council
TO order the selection of the fifteen free
holders, and not defer the election 10 the
end of their present term OF Office. but
order II at once.
John Bushell said that from all remarks
made by the speakers 1t was TO be in
feFred that both houses were opposed TO
calling an election. He did not agree
with them. The mayors call was just
one and should not be attacked without
a hearing. Ii was not politicians alone
who would approve II. The question was
one that should be considered from all
sides, and not from one side alone. The
question OF expanding $4,000, which the
proposed election would cost. should also
be considered. There was even now a
question as TO the constitutionaIity of
the very act last passed, and Ii II was
unconstitutional the cost of this now
loudly called for election would then be
tpSt, Tie DttStftt ksldfteT NdHtta EtNiS-
ion: there was no question about 1t. but
1t should be done after mature refiec-
ton and after hearing of everybody
having a voice in the matter.
Moves for Immediate Actien.
Alderman Jordan said the people evil
IDENTIFY desired new caarter: the fact
was patent and the council had no OPP
ton in the matter. lie would therefore
move that the request of the people be
granted.
Delegate Crichton said that he was
ready to second the motion II some one
would show him where a nickel could be
saved by remodellipg the present charter.
The Mayor Has Done Nobly.
NJ. J. Carkeek said he came fully de-
termined 10 ask for r. new charter. but
since listening 10 the gentlemen, he was
not so much In favor of Ii as he was.
The council and the mayor had done
nobly under the present charter and the
Municipal league had approved their ac-
ton. The question now was whether IL
was advisable TO demand an election at
once. or wait until the coming election.
lie said:
There IL no complaint that am aware
of against the present city councils man.
agement of affairs from tho standpoint
OF economy. | believe 1t to- be the con-
trary and that the opinion is general that
the council has done well. especially so
In view OF the difficulties under which
the present charter puts the members. I
doubt IL any member OF the committee
present is so Well informed In reference
10 the need OF a change in our city char
ter as tho members of the present city
council
The Cost To he Considered.
Delegate Soigt said he came only TO
listen. hut as the remarks were so point
ed towards the councilmen. he thought
that many OF the talks were made TO
catch votes. The charter, he said. needed
amendments, hut people who were the
leudest In calling for Il did net know
what they were talking about as TO the
cost, II cannot be done and save money
The question now was who wanted the
election Of fifteen freehoidets. The Mu-
nictras league was here 70 demand IT,
bu, did IL represent The proper majority
az the people? SUPPOSE the council order
ed this election at once and Ii did rot
meet the wish Of the requires! majority.
who would he held responsible for the ex-
pense incurred Why. the council that
ordered IL and would he censured for Il.
The present taxation. he said. vas Ia
mills and of that and a fraction was for
Interest alone. SO there remains siz for
All purposes. ana tue ttaiFO that this
should now he cut In two was ridiculous.
If the Tax could he brought down to S
mills for general purposes. II would he
equal 70 the average lowest tax. Besides
these the water rates have already been
reduced from - 70 20 per cent. down 20
actual cost, SO that the property holder
had his taxes virtually reduced 20 that
extent.
Advises Against Haste.
T., .. Graves, for the Chamber OF Com
rherce said ne WAS not here In bslliger-