The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-10-20

THE WATER SYSTEM

TIE mayor has vetoed the ordinance
providing for the extension OF the water
service 20 as TO include the Cedar river
gravity system. lie bases It upon the
legal opinion of Corporation Counsel Scott.
and without going too deeply into the ar
gument Il may be accepted as a fair prop
osition that no step involving the city in a
large debt should be taken without the
authority OF the people. The constitution
has endeavored TO protect tax payers
against unlimited Indebtedness. and IL an
obligation OF si.250.0OO may DO incurred
by the city council without first submit
ting it TO the people. the splendid purpose
OF the constitution is defeated. the gates
are flung open, and all safeguards are
thrown down. IL all that Is necessary IN
order TO avoid submitting such question
to the people is to make the Indebtedness
payable out OF a special fund. then there
Ia hardly limit 20 the councils powers.
ono thing Is absolutely certain. What
ever form ingenuity may weave about the
proposed debt. however specious the
phraseology in which tho obligation is
the money IN the end. We may squirm
out OF constitutional barricade. but we
cannot svade liability for the obligation
we incur.
For the past three years all have
xroanod about the Indebtedness already
Incurred. The city has an Indebtedness OF
g., sol. 900. in addition 70 the school debt
- -
debt. Now Il Is proposed 10 incur another
:i.25000o whose benefits. 81 Is admitted.
we win not need for several years yet.
That IS. We viii have TO pay interest at
the rate OF $4,000 year for four or FIVE
years soone- than we viii probably need
10.
Alderman elise says the revenue viii
pay for it. and that the interest on the
present debt must not be paid out OF the
water receipts. bat by general taxation.
Well. that Is one ot the mistakes we have
made In the past. II the interest charge
is 10 be shifted 20 the suffering taxpayers
IN order that we may he able to pay the
$3.50 q year additional interest an extra
levy OF 81 mills must be added 10 the
mills Is made now. but by making the
water system paw its own way. the money
derived from the 50 mills has been avail
able for general purposes. II Is aii that
has saved the city from issuing warrants.
and preserved its xood name through the
most trying ordeal city was ever sub
yected to. The result IS that we stand In
The reason Is this. The law required the
tax levy 70 % made last November for the
expenses Of this year. The law does not
allow margins: - requires tina; the levy
shall only be sufficient 20 meet the est.
mated expenses After this had been
done. IN March the legislature changed
the method Of collecting taxes - that only
half was available In the early part OF the
year, but the ether half IS rot due tn
November when four-sixths o. ii VIII have
already been expended in psyraen; or the
necessary monthly bills Besides thss. 9
very large percentage % taxes has 10,
been paid az all,
Keeping strictly within ,he law. sut sp-
plying cornnon-senss business principles
and exercising good Judgment tire city
administration has done is best TO over
come einculty. and has succeeded n
keeping the city OF a cash basis.
The people VIII - course exercise their
prerogative. eut they are eutitie1 % know
that the adoption OF the nsw GET; asss
u and does rot supersc3s the ol3 debt.
ard - Juggling Of awures, no clubbing
with legal technioantiss. wih serve % save
the people paying principal ana istsrest ga
every dollar OF Indebtedness tbs city tn
ours
The city council knows tAis. but +. was
carried away by a rush or excitement. Il
Is Rot = popular thing - advise against