The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-03-12
4 SIMPLER CHARTER
Mayor Phelps Asks Council Il
Provide For 1t.
CARRYING OUT HIS PLEDGES
The Administration, Having Reduced
City Expenses. Takes Up Its Next
Important Duty.

lowing message TO the board of aldermen
calling attention TO the bill recently
passed by the legislature in reference 10
amending the city charter and the desire
of the municipal league for conference
with the city authorities on the subject
matter.
After City Clerk Stewart had read the
document there was a discussion as 10
whether the conference should be by spe-
ciaf committee or the board of aldermen
as committee OF the whole. Finally
motion by elise to the effect that the
board in Its entirety meet the municipal
league tomorrow afternoon at the city
hall was adopted and a communication
was Immediately sent to the house OF
delegates asking X to join in the meeting.
The matter was Immediately disposed of
In the house by an acceptance of the In
yitation.
ITO the Honorable the City Council of the
City OF Seattle.
'Gentlemen:-The present administra-
ton, with the exception of small mfnor-
ity of your honorable body (Which minor
ity. however. has been part of a unani-
nous majority in all matters relating TO
the public good was elected upon a plat
form which distinctly pledged IL to con-
duet the affairs of this city upon business
principles. with strictest economy and to
reduce taxes to the lowest point possible
to pay the necessary expenses of an ecoh-
omic administration, that all unnecessary
expenses be cut of, and that the list of
officials be reduced 10 the lowest possible
number consistent with efficient, econom-
icaI government.
This platform also pledged us to a
simple scheme of government for the city
of eSattie. having the whole responsibility
of the executive department vested In
mayor to be elected each two years by
the people. and a legislative department
vested I'm a representative common coun-
ell. the terms of Office OF one-third of
whom shall expire each year. thus af-
fording the people an opportunity to pass
| Judgment upon the conduct of city affairs
each year, and at the same time securing
stability therein.
THE popular vote by which this adj
| ministration was given management of
the city's affairs is evidence that the
principles ennnciated by our party in con-
vention assembled. and to which we were
solemnly pledged, had the approval of the
people.
THE first of these pledges. namely. that
we would conduct the affairs of the city
upon business principles. and that we
, would practice the strictest economy con-
sistent with efficient administration, and
that taxes be reduced to the lowest point
possible. has been kept This administra-
ton tin which / wish to include the cr-
tire city council, without respect to parity
mas striven from the outset to give the
taxpayers an economical and efficient
management of affairs. II has not only
striven TO do this. but has succeeded
Coming into power after nearly three
, months of the year had expired without
any attempt at economy. reforms were
| inaugurated which resulted I'm remark
able decrease in the operating expenses OF
the government. During the year 1853,
the operating expenses of the city of Sc
attic amounted to $i93. G9i.l9. BY iudicious
economy during the year 1894 Cor rather
during the last nine months of the YEAR,
| the operating expenses were reduced 10
! 1856, 1902, thus placing to the credit of this
administration and making a saving to
| the taxpayers of Sl2S 063. 81 in the matter
OF operating expenses alone, decrease
! or 70 per cent Our tax levy for the cur
rent year shows a decrease In favor of
| the taxpayers of Is per cent: that Is TO
| say, taxpayer who last year paid 800
| will this year pay but So. This is aside
| from the great saving effected by the
! adoption of business methods In the mat
| ter OF constructing sewers. extending the
water system. and carrying on stree. inn
! provements and other public works. The
/ incubus OF a heavy public debt tthe leg
| acy of former Administrations could not
| be shaken on: on the contrary our inter-
est charges were increase $500 by the
/ sale OF bonds In 1898. upon which the first
| interest payments were due in 1894
Il assert and / think your honorable
/ body and all taxpayers who are familiar
| with the facts will sustain me in this
statement that we have sustained our
/ pledge 10 give the people az economical
| a government as Is consistent with effi-
| cheney. and that we have succeeded IN
! disproving the failacy that all the Ills of
! which taxpayers have complained are
| due 10 the organic law under which we
| are compelled to operate.
! But there can be no Disgusting the fact
! that our charter is I'm some respects very
! cumbersome, and that simpler scheme
! OF government would give greater sa It's
/ faction TO the people of this city. This
! important matter of charter revision. 90
which We stand pledged, has not been
lost sight OF while we were engaged In
/ the task Of cutting our coat TO the cloth
! furnished us. 1T has often been the sub
iect OF consideration and discussion By
| your honorable body and by the execu-
| tive departments.
/ Article Xxx Of the city charter. as
| amended AZ the last municipal election.
| provides two means for revision of the
| charter The first provision Is TO the
| effect that ar amendment or amend
| rnents 10 the present charter may be pro-
posed i'm either house ~ the city council
! ana II the same St3u bS agreed to hV a
| majority OF all the members Of each
| house such proposed amendment or
| amendments shall be submitted 70 the
electors ot the city for their ratification
! or rejection at the next general election
| when II any such amendment shall be
ratified by a si0rity OF the qualified
electors voting thereon, the same shall
become = part Of the charter of the city
OF Seattle. I know IL 10 have been the
express atid unanimous intention Of your
honorable body 10 avail yourselves OF
this prov sSisa az our charter ard %
thoroughly revise ard simplify our or
Eanic act In time 20 submit the work Of
your experience and Judgment 20 the
| electors OF this city a. the next rruatctpal
| <k provides another means for placing
! an amendment before the people for ;heig
! ratification or rejection. refer 10 the
! referendum clause. wh!ch IS 20 the esfec,
! shat whenever = per cent. os the quail
/ Fed voters ~ the city shall present 70 the
I city council a proposition for an amend.
] reent IL the city charter. IL shall be ths
duty Of the city council To submit ths
/ same a. the next general election. While
! perhaps the large percentage OF voters
/ required 10 bring IN amendment hegore
/ tlss people i1 this way makes this pre-
| vision atfftcali rasAnS OF retieG. yea.
selieve thar II your honorable body fAilst
| - Erspays such amendments as the peo
PIE demand. il would he mere than prob
WNsR That Ia Qualities