The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-12-21
FOR CIVIL SERVICE.
Charter Commission Almost
Unanimous Upon 1t.
SINGLE OR DOUBLE COUNCIL.
Move TO Abolish Library and Health
Boards and Merge Clerks and
ComptrolIer's Offices.
SINGLE OR DOUBLE COUNCIL.

The charter commission yesterday made
a decisive step in the revision of the ~ es-
ent charter by declaring in favor OF ap-
plying civil service reform TO municipal
affairs. A number Of new resolutions were
introduced and referred TO committee, and
q system OF numbering resolutions was
adopted at the suggestion OF Chairman
Preston.
The resolutions introduced were as fol-
lows:
BY Andrews-To abolish the library COM
mission ami put the library in charge OF
a librarian appointed by the mayor ard
city council II was passed over until next
meeting.
BY Andrews-To abolish the board OF
health, and that a health officer he ap-
pointed BY the mayor and city council !.
passed over.
BY Andrews-Providing that no employ 81
of the police or fire departments shall IA
removed for any political reason or other
wise than for disability, willful violauon1
of the regulations or bad conduct, GEM
nlittee OF grievances, composed of threeI
members OF the city council 10 entertainI
all such charges, except those preferred
against the chiefs OF the two departments
IL was referred TO a special committed
composed OF Joslin. Crane and DeWolfe.
BY DeWolfe-Providing that all legisla-
and city council, which shall consist oi1
one house; the city council to consist c 1
as many members as there are wards iny
the city and four members at large. half "a
whom. as determined by lot, are to servej
four years and the other half two years j
salary TO be IS per month until the cityI
reaches 10000 population, when il shall 81
increased to $50 An eligible candidate musa
be a freebooter. q citizen of the United
States and a resident of Seattle five years
before election; referred to committee onl
legislation.
BY Stein-To strike the word freehold
err from the charter: passed for discus
sion.
BY Hamlin-To abolish the board OF!
health: passed for discussion.
BY Allen-Providing the substitution ofj
a health officer for the board Of health, n
be also city physician, look after the SAM
itary condition Of the city. visit the schools !
quarterly, have the right TO condamnl
buildings in an unsanitary condition, have
charge OF infectious diseases and make n
monthly report sections to 9. article .0l
OF the present charter. prescribing the du4 I
'ties OF the health officer, to be adopte
without amendment. 1t was referred 10
the executive committee.
The resolutions on the table were Their
taken up for discussion. Andrews pro-
posal to abolish the office of comptrolle
was referred TO a special committee com
posed OF Tremper. Denny, koehler. Fen
wick and Joslin, along with Aliens mot!ol
10 merge the city clerks into the compG
trollers Office. City Clerk Stewart wal
called in and Intercepted by the COM
mission as to the duties of his office, sn
asked 10 prepare shggestions TO facilitat
the merging OF the two offices.
The subject OF civil service reform wa
next entered upon. and Joslin. who ia
been appointed to investigate. gave a re
port on the system and its applicability. II Z
said that the most important feature O
the system was that IL takes all city Of
fees from election influences. al officer
and clerks In the municipal employ "a
ing appointed or removed only after a
examination by a permanent commits
sion. The commission itself being permal
nent would not come under political n
fluence. A vote was taken on the quSs
ton, Are we in favor OF the principles Q
civil service REFORM" and all voted in IA
affirmative except Allen.
In the afternoon the subject was re
sumed, and resolutions proposed by Josln
Crane and Andrews embodying the pr1
posal were referred to a committee com
posed of Joslin, Devote and Crane. TO ID
port an amendment
A resolution prepared by J. J. McGilvr
and presented by Andrews providing 20
the requirement and control by the "a
OF the water works, was referred 70 IA
legislative committee.
The preamble TO the resolution introil ~
by Allen which stated that the people De-
manded a more simple form OF govern
ment and gave reasons for the abohG9
of the dual council. was struck out AZ ~ I
suggestion of Tremper as being an ~
necessary reflection on the ADMINISTRATIVE
ability OF the city council. The resol1tl0s
proper which is in favor Of a single house
was adopted by unanimous vote.
Considerable discussion resulted from "a l.
reading of Cranes resolution that all ran
ufactories employing FIVE men or over b +
released from taxation on their plants o =
raw materials for ten years, not inclIdinl
the ground occupied nor the finished man
ufactured goods carried in stock. IN
opinion was expressed that such a rcso h
luton would be contrary to the cOnsutu +
ton. and after lengthy debate II was re
ferred to a committee OF three, Joslin, An
drews and WinsoT. all lawyers, which va
Instructed to look up the law.
The commission then adjourned until mex
Monday al o'clock.