The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-12-27
HOW LARGE A BOARD
Public Works Department Oc-
cupies the Commission.
SOME WANT TT ABOLISHED,
Charter Trainers Cracking . Hard Nut
-Appointive or Elective on
cers-The Salaries.


10 crack, and most OF the time al the
meeting yesterday was taken UP in dis
cussion OF the subject. The commission,
while wanting 10 follow the general idea
OF abolishing all the boards and commits
sions possible. recognizes the fact that
some provision will have 10 be made for
carrying On IN an efficient manner the
large amount Of business now transacted
by the present board II is q foregone
conclusion that the board, as at present
constituted, viii be abolished, but what
shall take its place is the question 10 be
decided.
The committee TO which IL was referred
made a majority and a minority report
The first recommended that the board OF
public works be increased In membership
from three 10 i've, consisting OF the super
intendent of streets, the superintendent OF
the water works, the city engineer, the
presiding officer of the city council, pro-
yided he be not the mayer. and the chair
man OF the council finance committee; the
Offices of superintendent OF streets and
superintendent Of bridges. buildings and
wharves 10 be consolidated. The minority
report provides that the work OF the board
be done by committees OF the council, and
that the board. as such. be abolished.
Objections were offered TO both reports,
and other plans suggested. the one which
seems TO be considered as a solution Of the
problem being suggested by Mr. winsor.
sist of the mayor. comptroller and city
engineer.
All Sorts of Opinions.
Crane said he had given some time TO an
examination Of the board of public works
and the city engineers Office, had talked
with the present incumbents. and they be-
Eeyed that the Offices of superintendent OF
streets and superintendent OF buildings.
ETC., should be united. City Engineer
Thomson had told him that the present
charter contemplated that the city engi-
neers office and that of the superintend-
ent of the water works should be one but
they had been separated. He suggested
this for consideration in the reconstruc-
ton of the board.
Tremper could not regard either the ma
jOrity or minority reports with much
favor. The board. as at present consti-
tuted, was composed OF three men who
had been appointed for their technical
knowledge, and he thought that the addi-
ton Of two members OF the council would
not help the efficiency OF the board, be-
cause they would not be elected to the
council on account OF fitness for the board
of public works. He did not believe the
board should consist OF five members:
more effective work could be done by
keeping IL down TO three men.
A Lawyer Draws a Parallel.
Andrews said the board as at present
constituted is an amendment of the origl-
nal provision of the charter. One CT the
powers of the board is the Appointment OF
one OF its members TO be superintendent OF
streets. another superintendent Of water
works, etc, and when they met as a board
of course each mans work was approved
by the others. 1t was like the territorial
supreme court, when judges OF the dis
trict court were competent to sit in the
rehearing of their cases in the supreme
he VS. al 10 he
lieve any errors had been committed in
those cases. The one case he remem-
bered or district decision being
reversed was when Judge Jacobs
had been taken from the supreme
bench and sent 10 congress. after
which a case had been reversed. The city
needed an independent board. He intro
duced the resolution 10 do away with the
board with great difHdence. II might be
mistake to do away with 1t, but he
thought IL was best to wipe the board out
and put these duties where they belonged
with the mayor and the council.
Allen did not agree with Andrews in the
idea OF having the board consist oe men,
bers OF the council. There were too many
duties TO be performed. and II member
OF the council was only paid $500 a year,
he would not feel Ike devoting all the
time that would be necessary to the
boards business. BY having the super
and three members OF the council there
would be a combination OF the mechanical
skill and knowledge and the financial aoil-
ity required.
Middleton was opposed to the board as
~ present The superintendent OF the
departments should hold office at the pleas
ure OF the mayor, and the board should
consist OF five members
No Divided Responsibility.
his mind. and that was frat there should
ne no divided responsibility between cleo
tive and appointiye officers. II the board
was constituted of two outsiders and
three members OF the council, the rep
resentatives OF the people would be with
out authority, because they would be at
the mercy or the three members OF the
council II the mayor should appoint
three members OF the board, then the
mayor would be the board OF works. II
the council should elect three outsiders as
members OF the board OF five. the council
would give rs authority away TO the out
siders He was in favor OF postponlng the
matter for further consideration
Wnsor wanted 70 eliminate, as far rs
nossshle. all superuumerary bodies OF the
city government. II the board should be
retained II should hs an independent and
responsible body. lie agreed with An
drews that 4 the board was SO constituted
that the members could say 70 each osner,
You tickle me and I'll tickle you" there
was every opportunity for what might
be called innocent COLLISION, but which
might grow into something more serious.
The board should be- independent. and the
creative power OF the board should have
no voice with H. He thought the board
should be constituted OF the mayor, the
COMPTROLLER and the city engineer. re-
sponslble directly 20 the people.
The discussion ended with i motion by
Andrews 10 make the matter special or
der FOR today's session. which was done.
when the Sunday closing proposition OF
the Anti-Saloon League came up, Crane
announced that those interested wanted II
put over untA Monday. and Il was so or
d=-ed.
Appointive or Elective.
Harl.u's alternative propositions" pro-
viiinx for submitting 10 the pe5-
ME the question as 20 whether
The several offices should - ep-
rointive or elective came up. and the qses-
ION vas raised that "a might % beyond
the power OF the commission 10 submit al
Tentative prop-os tons to the people X
was suggested that the lax contsmplates
that the comm sston should submit "A COM
ole1e charter 70 the people FOR adoption or
rejection Il was referred 10 tie com
m.ttee on powers
Crane presented a communicate ton from
some u the plumbers % the city, sugga~,-
try that there ~ a provision IN the char
ter for a plum hiug inspector, Wh0 should
- the sever Inspector and sanitary Of
acer. referred
Andrews resolution fxiag the salaries q
CITY officials came up FOR discussion. an1
tns question vas raised - 70 tia POKER
q ths commission Ia tx salaries An
49, - .Ta "a