The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-03-28
COUNCIL WILL REVISE
1t Decides to Prepare a New
Charter for the City.
Resolutions 10 Carry Out Election
Pledges Cau-tlc Remarks About
Voluntary Advisers

Eleven members OF the city council held
= SPECIAL meeting n E1e house - dele
gsceK c1sT-b e~g a. c5cy ball yesterday Az
ernOCn ant "a c7muEtse % E1ls Eaois DE-
cided Hot % cali a special election for the
purpose Of elect3ng fTesa5l9ers % draft
nsw city charter. bag that t1e council
ahoui1 d Ihe work ltseIf aid submit
Wazs ara deemed 70 - taa necessary
anseadmez-s ID The voters a. tae uext
regular election l. Vas the almost una--
nous opinion OF the members present
ttaat 81 was tae5F duty as pgoltc officials
and IN sne with the pledges they gave tns
people wa8 elected them 70 personally pas
forth every efTo-t 20 give the city sim
pier and betser charter and rot turn the
matter over 20 freeslolders. The council
expressed the strongest desire % coop
crate with the people % the city IN pre-
pairing the amendments and wElI give
them every opportunity 20 be heard One
very important reason wrhy Il VAS deemed
best nog 10 hold the special election 5s
the great cost whleh would - avoaFisd.
DR.. Crichton. Of the house OF delegates,
male the statement that n had given
the matter some nvestigstion and that
he was satisfied that q special election
would cost the city in the neigh5orhOo-d
Of xi0f.a He further said that a prom
inent senator had told him thai Il vas
common talk on the floor Or the senate.
when the new bill relating 70 charters
was Up for discussion, that IL was uacon-
stitutional and that IL would never stand
In the supreme court.
The meeting vas called TO order AZ 30
o'clock. the mem eTs present being Dele
gates James. NOigt, Kistler. Little. Glee-
son, Hur1. Chapman and Crichtc1 and
Aldermen Sweeney, Lovejoy and elise.
The lobby was crowded. Lo.eioy an
nounced Ghat Miller was III and could not
Hn- h.
new president be elected. On James mo-
hon Sweeney took the chair ard James
a. once introduced the following rssolu-
ton. which formed the subject for q
lengthy discussion and were finally adopt
81. culy one member voting against them
Sweeney was opposed 10 them. but did
not vote and Crlchton. the only member
who cast his vote against them. said ne
really favored them, with one or tao
slight notifications:
"A Charter by the Council.''
Whereas. The platforms OF the several
political parties OF the city Of Seattle al
the last general election we're united il
pledging retrenchment and economy IN
the admiaistrati ton OF municipal affairs
and slmpliacatien and revision OF the
present CITY charter. and.
Whereas. The present city council has
reduced the expenses of the city 10 the
lowest point consistent with efficiency.
and has been and now Is preparing for
submission 10 the people Of the city
amendments 10 the charter in the manner
and Al the time prescribed by the char
Ter and the constitution OF the state. and
as contemplated by the platforms Of the
several political parties. and has been
and Is IN every way possible redeeming
ali % It's pledges made. and.
Whereas. Various political and CON-
merCial organizations and citizens OF the
cary OF Seattle have recently appeared be
fore this council and asked a revision Of
the charter under a bill recently passed
} she legislature OF this state. and have
asked that such revision he made al once;
and
Where's. The ideas advanced by such
political and commercial organizations
and citizens are greatly al variance one
with another and present no definite ideas
upon what lines and ia What manner the
charter should be revised. showing that
public opinion IS unsettled upon she course
- be pursued and the changes. 20 be
made. and
Whereas, The city council is familiar
With the city charter. and from careful
observation and study viii be able 20 sup
ply such defects and eliminate such fea-
lures Of the present charter as operate
aEalns, a simple and economical city gov
eminent. and
Whereas. Il believes that the best in
terests OF the city viii be suhserved BY
tle submission TO the electors Of amend
ments prepared ny the council in the man
ner prov lded by the charter and the con-
stitation OF the state. and.
Whereas. The important work OF char
t. revision and amendment. IN order 20
me efficient and economical. should not Q
hastily considered. and
haTFaS \af moro IA r.a- -
che tax levy on the roll OF 1895 for the
current expenses Of the city for the wear
lS'5 has been collected and the CoIlee ton
~ the remaining taxes has been greatly
retarded by reason OF the law passed BY
the last legislature extending the time OF
co3Iec;ioa or one-half OF the roll u No
veulher 81. which. together with the re-
ductiou OF penalty and interest OF deIin-
quenc3es. makes certain a very large de-
rclency 81 the revenue OF the cfty: and.
Whereas. The holding 81 TWO elections
made necessary by the act OF the legisla-
ture providing for a charter comm isSion
would g. This time involve greater cost
than tae amour, tha, could be possibly
saved % the taxpayers by the revision OF
tl3e charter ard.
Whereas Members o. the rltv council
have reason 20 believe that a majority
Of their constituents ana a ma ioritv OF
the taxpayers Of said city deem il unwlse
and irpr7lft ~. as they themselves 10. 70
tocnr any unnecessary expense agaiust
sait Extraordinarily since grave doubts
have been expressed as - the corszttu-
tionality 81 the law recently PASSED ny
the legislature. under which they are
asked to got, now. therefore. be Z
Resolves. By sire city cnun~il tu com
w3ttes II she wslole assembled. that u IS
unNise ani !mpruden' 70 call an eleetfcrl
for t7teAo}iers a. this time. and pc Il