The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-02-27
IT'S MERITS AND DEFECTS.
The Proposed New Charter Before the
Ministers.

Mini>tefS-
The adoption of the new city charter
was discussed with considerable warmth
at a special meeting OF the ministers held
in Y. VI. G. a. hall yesterday afternoon.
The ministers were there for enlghten-
ment. and w. ID. Wood. j j. McGilvra
and Or. II. +. Titus. all in favor of the
new charter. were present to make its good
features clear Judging from the attitude
taken on the question by Rev. G.. II. Lee
and J. y. Smith, they failed.
The opposition was represented in a most
able manner by A. S. Allen and Assistant
City Engineer G.. f. Cotterill, who picked
TO pieces the articles submitted as a sub
stitute for the old charter, and subjected
each fragment to analysis clear and
searching.
Rev. r. F. Powell was elected chairman
on motion of Rev d. b. Bagley. and 4 S.
Allen was appointed secretary. Holding in
his hand 4 book containing the charters
OF 1894 and 1895 and the new one, pasted to-
gether in such a manner that rapid COM
parsons were possible. Judge Wood spoke
of the proposed new charter. Its chief
merit he considered the civil service pro-
vision, which would take the offices OF the
municipality out of politics During a
residence OF thirteen years in this city, he
had never seen a convention that was not
riot, with the exception of the last Re
publican meeting. The consolidation OF the
OF the police and fire commissioners, he
thought were in the line OF pubic demand.
The temperance article, which was natur-
ally an issue OF chief importance to the
ministers contained but few changes from
the provisions of the present charter. and
they were in the right direction.
A s. Allen. who is a warm temperance
advocate could see no benefit to be derived
from the adoption OF the substitute. and said
he was of the firm conviction that the
gold cure" had been instrumental in de-
feating the alternative proposition. He
gave a history of the operations Of the COM
mission on the Sunday-closing act, dissected
the charter as IL stands 70 show that all the
so-called improvements on the present
charter are either rendered imperative by
multiplying clauses or are really not changes
a, all.
Or. II. r. Titus advocated the new char
ter. speaking of Il as a whole. He hoped
the temperance advocates would not op-
pose the passing of a measure that was a
long stride in the direction OF future good
government because OF feeling Of bitter
ness against its trainers. The civil serv-
ice article itself was. in his opinion, suffi-
cient to commend the adoption Of the char
ter as whole, despite the defects that had
crept in.
O. r Cotterill took the floor and held
the attention OF those present for fully
an hour with minute exposition OF the
Weaknesses OF the revised charter. His
speech showed careful and conprehen-
sfve study OF the subieoE He took MP
various points. making particular refer
ence 70 the claim Of economy. He showed
that more offices had been created under
the new charter than had been abolished,
and mentioned the division OF opinion as
20 whether the reduction OF the salaries
Of the mayor and treasurer was good poll
tcy He said the policy taken on the
water question alone was sufficient TO con-
denim the entire proposition as far as he
was concerned. The clauses regarding rail-
road franchises and the provisions reiat-
ing 20 stree: improvements we're also gone
over. and many reasons given 70 show
their irnperfectfous. He spoke OF the ahil-
icy with which the corporation interests
had been looked after ~ Charter Commits
sionar BRusman. vino as chairman OF the
revision committee. had bv the insertion
% unnot8ced clauses rendered all action
antaEOnis7ic % the interests Of street rail-
way companies void The matter OF ar
httration In the settlement OF labor di1i-
cu}fies which, he said. was reason Tor
many laborinE men Who had not read me
article on that subject carefully. support
ing the new charter ne siignaatized as o1Fi-
connie. showing BY the reaiiag II the pas
saRes thar they really. IN hls opinion.
amounted % uothiug The e3gny-hotIr DAY
labor tdea ne also demonstrated az mop
erative. since Il SAYS no man shall o re-
au3rea'' 30 LABOR more than eiEat hours
bat. he SAD. "a the contractors paying
s. - pr day could cut II - kl.@ TOT me
eight hours the lanorar wota.G ask 70 De
allowed 10 work a few hours LONGER ~ or
der . gat enough 10 support hiS family
Judge :. J. AlcGAyya replied 10 Soaesg-