The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-06-15
Tho Government OF Seattle.

THE constitution of the state of
Washington, which was admitted to the
union Nov. II, 1890, provides that cities
having population of over 10000 may
frame their own charter, through a
commission of fifteen freeholders elect
ed by the voters Of such city" With
this Introduction to his paper on the
Municipal Condition of Seattle" Ed
ward o. Graves explained that the pro-
vision was taken advantage of by his
city, which elected it's charter-makers
May 81, 1891, the commission of fifteen
being composed of distinguished citi-
zens chosen unanimously without re-
gard to party. This was at the time
of boom" tendencies in western Wash
ington, and the demand was for char
ter suited to great city, and 1t was the
general belief that complex form OF
government, to secure division of re-
sponsibility and prevent 'centraliza-
tion" of power was needed. A cum
brous. costly and irresponsible system
was the result. the charter of 10000
words being divided into go articles and
260 sections. The modern tendency
towards simplicity and concentration
of authority was ignored by both peo-
pie and charter trainers.
Mr.. Graves then gave a most eX-
haustive presentation of, the compost
tion of the thirteen departments of the
government. in addition to the board
of aldermen and house of delegates,
Zone member of each house being elect
ed from each warD; the aldermanic
term being four years, and that of the
dole tac TTn1pr tho pri o.
al charter the board of public works
was the chief center of jobbery and
intrigue. A recent amendment has,
however, rendered the department more
efficient and free from scandal. The
fire department has likewise been a
theater of intrigue, and at the present
time one of the commissioners is on
trial before the mayor on charges which
the latter himself preferred.
The police board has also suffered
from the complexity of conditions for
its government, and there have been
collisions without number between
the mayor and the commissioners par
ticularly regarding the chief of police.
While the charter makes the police
commission appointive and non-parti-
san, the fire commission Is elective and
therefore partisan. Under ruling of
the courts that members of commits
sions cannot be removed without a
trial, mayors have had to adopt the
farcial proceeding of preferring charges
and then being themselves both judge
and jury on the trial; and while then
they have been able to remove the
inmical officials. even this subterfuge
is now being tested in the courts. and
altogether affairs are in state of con-
slant upheaval In spite of the man
ner, which repeated examples show, OF
the way the mayor Is hedged about by
restrictions and hampered by the legls-
lative bodies of the city, the people
charge him with responsibility and
make small allowances for the manner
| in which he is handicapped by the
| charter.
Nothing could show more strlkingly
than Mr.. Graves presentment, the evil
effects of pretty nearly all the vicious
features of municipal administration
of which reformers are trying to get
rid. For he presents examples of gov
ernment by commissions, appointive
and elective, partisan and bipartisan,
confirmation by one or both branches
| of the city government, the tying of the
mayors hands at every turn, and all
of which have borne their natural fruit
| of inetficiency, dissension and political
| jobbery.