The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-01-03
THE FUTURE OF wHArcox.
Summary Of the Address Of Mayor
Black to the CouncsI.

IHk EUICBE OF WHAIcO2e
Summary Of the Address Of Mayor
Black to the CouncsI.
whatcona. Jan. 2-Speciai-The prfn-
cipal feature of the first meeting os the
new council last evening was the busi-
ssess-like address OF Mayor Black, setting
before the council in the ciearest possi-
bic manner the present condition OK the
city and embodying his views as to the
policy the council should pursue In man.
aging its affairs. II Mayor Black were
not also president Of the Board OF Trade
one might expect to hear some members
OF that body git up In useetins " and in
weigh against him for having the teaner-
isy TO publicly state so many wholesome
truths. and not unlikely a committee
might be appointed TO wait upon him TO
demonstrate with him and lie possible
fathom his deep and dark designs. Com
corning the financial condition OF the
city the mayor says: I'VE have a bond
ed indebtedness of $4,000. an indebted
ness Of warrants of s77.Io0Js. and de-
fauitered interest indebtedness of si5.tea.
all or this interest-bearing. Up to date
IL has been steadily increasing In 1888
the amount spent By the city reached the
sum of SOS. i2722 In 1894 the city defaultei
In its interest on the bonded indebtec-
ness. and had that interest been paid
the amount expended during the year
would have reached the sum of Slso, 765. Il.
Gentleman, continuation OF this means
ruin. It must stop. and stop at once.
We are here for that purpose and we viii
act. We must and will do these things:
First-Restore the credit of this city at
home. Seeorid-Restore the credit OF this
city abroad. Third-Reduce our expen-
ditures TO business basis and to point
within our income"
This Is the kind of talk that has been
needed in the council room for long
tine. They are cold facts, perhaps. but the
mayor has shown that he knows how TO
warm them up and serve them in proper
shape. And as evidence that he proposes
TO act as we'll as talk. he told the council,
as already reported In the Post-InteIli-
gencer. that he has arranged TO have all
warrants issued by tho new adminlstra-
ton cashed at at least two Of the banks
at 30 cents on the dollar, Instead OF being
hawksd about at 15c., and also that he is
In correspondence with the bondholders
and expects soon to be able 10 lay before
the council "a plan to remove from the
city the stain OF being defanitess In in
terest. He advises that expenditures
for other than interest charges be limited
to 5000 month and urges the council to
pass resolution that no bills be allowed
unless the material or labor for which
they are rendered be first ordered by the
council in open session He recommends
that some provision for lighting me city
be made before the expiration of the pres
ent contract and that the expenditure for
that purpose be not permitted to exceed
$3.50 a month. He commends the efficiency
OF the fire department and urges tina. an
effort be made to effect an amicabie set
Element with the holders of special street
Improvement warrants aggregating sl7o.-
CO., which he believes ara not a legal la
bility, though Ito a certain extent the
honor OF the city is involved"
Referring to the excess OF in
debtedness above the legal limit.
the mayor says: Should We be able TO
realize upon all OF the city tax rolls and
the Isensee fund within the year we.
could pay the current interest. expense
charges and defaulted interest, and re-
duce the floating Indebtedness OF this city
to 5000 and be within the limit OF in
debtedness authorized by law for cities
Of this class. With this state OF affairs
known to our citizens says the mayor,
they have elected US to re-estahlish the
city's credit. We will not betray the
confidence our fellow citizens have shown
In US. We Will restore the credit of this
city at home and abroad and demon
strate that the yigor and economy with
which our municipal affairs are managed
are drawing card TO the prospective In
weston and home seeker. To do this we
must and wifi act together as one man
for the best interests OF the city, srhe
entire population are with us They VIII
assist US and we WIN succeed"
1t Is believed that most OF the men,
bers OF the new council are In entire ac-
cord with the mayor and that they VIII
accomplish what they have set out 10 do.
The policy indicated is 50 different from
the ostrich idea that has hitherto con-
troaed and has made many citizens sun
ersenzitive on the subject of the clty,s
finances. that 1t merits special ana com
neniatory mention. The first step In the
line OF retrenchment taken by the new
council Is in combining the offices of
superintendent Of water works and
street commissioner. AMI abo.Ishlng for
the time being the offices % auditor and
engineer. A E. Jones was elected water
superintendent and street commissioner
last evening a. a salary OF SO a month.