The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-03-08
TO AMEND THE CITY CHARTER.
Municipal League Pepares to Set the
Machinery I'm Motion.

At the meeting of the Municipal League
ut the rooms of the Chamber OF Com
merce last night. the committee OF three.
j. J. McGilvra. Dexter Horton and w. +.
Boone, appointed at the last meeting 10
devise ways and means to reduce the ex-
penses OF the city reported that IL had
procured the passage and approval of the
bill recommended and Endorsed by the
league and Chamber of Commerce author
icing cities of the first class TO amend or
repeal their respective charters. The re-
port said:
'"rhe said act. among other things, pro-
vides that upon petition of one-fourth of
the qualified electors of any city of the
first class the city council of said city
shall. and without such petition the city
council In joint session may, cause an
election 70 be held. at which election there
shall he chosen by the qualified electors
OF said city fifteen freeholderT thereof,
who shall prepare a new charter for said
city by altering. changing. revising, add
ing TO or repeating their existing charter.
together with any amendments thereto,
ara file the same with the city clerk
Provision Is made for submitting the
said new charter TO the legal voters OF
said city for ratification. and If SO rati-
fed. II Is TO become the charter of said
city.
I'm view OF the fact that time and ex-
nenSe will be saved IL the city council
should order the election of freehoiders 30
frame such charter without petition, we
suggest that a committee of. say fve, he
appointed so present the matter 70 the
city council Of the city OF Seattle. TO as
certain their will in the premises, and al
so. II II become necessary, TO prepare and
circulate the necessary petition. fer the
order OF such election"
Mr. McGuvra stated that the sentiment
at Olympia was unanimous in favor OF
changing the charters OF Seattle. Tacoma
and Spokane. lie hoped the city council
win order an election without delay.
Some one would no doubt test the con-
x,ltu,tonaiity- Of the act but he was
thoroughly satisfied that IL would hold
w. q. Armstrong asked 1t IL would NOT
re better to have the city council appoint
frceholaers. or trainers, instead Of order
Ing az election. He thought that by ap-
pointing them better men could he had
than nv electing them.
W II White said he knew that every
man that helped In forming the present
charter thought II altogether TOO cuInher-
some and contained provisions for too
many Offices. He said the suggestion OF
Mr. Armstrong was out of the question
entirely. as the legislature enacted that
the voters should name the freehoiders.
no, the council Mr. White said: IT am not
ia favor OF allowing the council 20 name
the trainers They would BE- in favor Of
ysespeIuatiug themselves In Office. The
onjy objection see 70 the report is that
the mayor should start the bah rolling
and present the hill 70 the council and
cyer tho following amendment 20 the re-
port: That the mayor he advised by the
committee az FIVE. provided fer by the
report. "a lay fhts hili before the council
with the request that ne call the atteY1-
ton Of that body 20 the matter On re-
fgsal % the mayor 20 act. that the COM
suitte@ Law the matter before the council
and on the refusal or neglect Of the roun-
ell 30 at. that the committee prepare and
circulate the petition mentioned In the
aet, and when the same Is perfected they
are directed 80 hay thA same before the
council for immediate action. as provided
"a the act
The amendment was adopted ana the
following were appointed on the commit
tee: J. J. McGsiivra- Dexter Horton. w.
g Armstrong. NJ. J. CArkeek. n. H. Iatt-
saer. w H. White and J. II. Klnnear.