The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-12-17
Charter Revisers TO Consider
Sweeping Measures.
THE POLICE COMMISSION FIRST.
II Il Made special Order for Thurs
day Morning A Plan for Cur
falling Expenses.

/ Thursday. and as an entering wedge into
the charter made a resolution 10 apohsh
the police commission a special order Tor
that day. a resolution by Stein was also
adopted. inviting citizens 10 suggest
amendments 10 the charter. There were
present Allen, Andrews, Crane. Denny,
! De Wolfe Fenwick. Hamlin. JOsiin, Koch
Ter, Middleton, Stein, Tremper. Wnsor.
Preston chairman; absent, Bausman.
Joslin. OF the committee 10 secure infor-
nation. reported that there were available
the charters Of the following cities: Lin
coin, Neb.. Portland Or. 1893: Spokane
1871: New Bedford, Mass. 1851: Grand
Rapids Mich. 1874: Nashville, Tenn, 1891;
Pawtucket r. l., 1893. North Yakima, NJ;
Birmingham. Ala, 1890; Evansville, IND,
ISq3, Dallas, Tex 1883; Worcester, Mass,
1893. There were also reported TO be IN
the office of cry Clerk Stewart various
municipal reports and in the office Of Cay
Comptroller Parry other reports that could
ne used by the commission.
The commission acknowledged the cour-
tesy of the comptroller by passing him a
vote of thanks. on invitation he spoke
briefly, saying that his office was at present
unable TO be as attentive TO the commits
sion as ordinarily because the entire force
OF the Office was engaged on the annual
reports. difficulty was presented from
the fact that the report for 1894. which had
been elaborate. had not been printed owing
10 the city treasury being low Mr.. Parry
also announced that each member OF the
commission could obtain copy Of the char
ter and ordinances Of the city, which were
al hand ready for distribution.
The standing Committees.
Mr. Preston announced his standing
committees, and on motion was made a
member ex officio. of each. They are.
Legislative epartment-Andrews, JOS
lin Allen.
Executive Observation-Disclosures, Crane,
Winsor.
PoIice-Josln. Denny, Koehler.
Public works-AIlen. Middleton. Hamlin.
Finance-De Wolfe, Denny, Fenwick.
Fire and water-Crane. Stein, Hamlin.
Law and judiciary-Winsor. Bausman.
Tremper.
ProJo sails to Aboltsl Boards.
Resolutions relative to the charter were
then introduced in the following order
BY Andrews-That in the opinion of this
commission the board OF park commits
sioners should be discontinued, and that
the duties of such board, so far as eXpe-
dent, be made a part of the duties of the
mayor: referred TO committee on public
T works. with instructions to report such
substitutes and amendments to article
XIII. of the present charter as will carry
this resolution into effect.
BY Andrews-That the board of public
works be abolished. and that the powers
executive in nature be vested in the
mayor and all other powers in the city
council or a committee thereof; commit
tee on public works. with instructions.
BY Andrews-To abolish the office OF
| comptroller; finance.
BY Winsor-To abolish the police COM
| mission. and to vest powers in the mayor
| and chief OF police: police.
/ BY Winsor-To discontinue fire commits
I sion. and TO vest powers in the mayor and
/ chief of the fire department; fire and
/ water.
The Rules of Procedure.
| The rules adopted are twenty-five in
| number. 1t is provided that the officers
! consist of a chairman and clerk, as al
! ready chosen. and such committee clerks
! as may be thought necessary, each COM
| mittee, whenever authorized, to appoint
| its own clerks. The committees are to
| report within three days from date of ref
erence unless further time be granted
| but no committee shall sit during the ses-
! sion of the commission, unless by special
leave. In the absence of the chairman the
| commission may choose one OF its mem
bers as chairman pro tenn on the final
/ passage OF any question. the ayes and
/ nays shall be called, and the ayes and NAYS
shall be taken on any question If three
/ members desire it. Other rules in full are
as follows:
10, Every member of the commission
i shall cast his vote on every question TO be
! decided by the commission. unless ex-
! cused, after making a brief statement Of
| the reasons for such request to be ex-
| cused.
| H. \ majority Of all the members elected
| TO the commission shall be necessary TO
! constitute a quorum TO do business, and
| the propositions to be embodied into the
! charter shall require a majority of the
votes Of the members elected to the COM
| mission.
y. After the roll cali and the journal all
| the business shall be disposed Of in the
| following order: First. petitions and re-
monSfances; second. reports Of commit
/ tess; third. propositions and motions.
fourth. second reading Of articles and
! propositions. NTH, articles and PROPOSE
tons on third reading: sixth. business w
l trG on The table. seventh. special order OF
the commission. eighth. other business OF
The commission All questions referring
/ 70 the priority OF business shall be deridad
. without debate.
- When "a question is postponed tndea-
/ Htieiy u shall not be acted upon again
during the SESSION, unless taken I'D bv a
tN1-fa-rIS vote.
D. Every article or question 70 he In
serted IN The charter saaU have three Ssy-
eral readings before IL shall be aHoDte5
! and the last TWO readings shall not be on
/ ,3e same day.
D. As soon as the entire proposition
! per ding before the commission IS aIopfed
s--A proposition shan be referred to A
4. nM1tte7 on revision. which committee
j Sss. Dr. appointed Hy the chairman o- The
/ commission. - be hy that committee en-
/ bodied ia the charter The committee
Sa3t- pave t3. power % revise the Ian
I SaHEe useI In the various PROPOSITIONS
/ ani arrange tha same 50 as N n. -Ie.riy
/ express We ot the sense OF the commission
ani y make Che instrument complete
81 t1a "onrltfe" on revision having
completed rs revision as provided in the