The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-24
ONLY ONE ELECTION.
The New Charter to Be Sub
mitted on March 3.
MAYOR PHELPS SETTLES n.
To Avoid Legal Quibbles He Promises
to Appoint the councilmen
Elected.

TIE charter commission yesterday un-}
raysied the Ekein % legal targfes tnr1
which Il had worked itself on The mode a
having the charter adopted and made ef !
tectsvs Ia very simple and seemingly sat \
isfaerory manner, tbs perpiexities OF thal
question Of the necessity of holding twuI
elections or having the charter adopted A Il
the general election and running the riss
OF the mayor filing ali the oftices. eIectiya]
and sppointive. under the law OF lisa: as I'D
revised charters. n
The special committee was delegated I'd
report a bill on the one-slection propositions n
and the very simple plan "a
putting hypothetical case be-
fore Mayor Phelps suggested Itself.
The mayor was invited before the commits
sion. and the vexsti5us situation was ex-l
planned TO him BY Chairman Preston.
The Mayors Views.
Mayer Phelps said there was a difTersncal
Of opinion as 10 the construction OF thAt
state law, and he believed that the power'
OF the mayor granted by Il 10 appoint Of
fcers under the new charter had refer
enee only TO the appointive officers, and not
TO the elective officers. However this,
might be, he was pleased 20 assure the
gentlemen OF the commission that so far
as he was concerned, they would have
nothing 20 fear. In order 10 avoid any
question Of fllesality hereaftc-. he pledged
those who were elected. with such speci-
flcations as the new charter should pro-
vide, without reference to party or other
prejudice.
The >kein Untangied-
The mayors frank statement was re-
ceived with great pleasure, and cordial
vote 81 thanks was Immediately extended
10 him. Then Winsor of the snecial com
mittee reported the bin bsck With the rec
4.
ing reason: The mayer OF this city. who.
in the opinion OF your committee. would
have the appointment Of officers TO iii new
offices created by this charter, If such
power is conferred by the act OF 1896, pro-
yiding for frsehoiders comm issions-this
mayor has 10 this commission stated that
TO save the expense Of a second election.
he would appoint the persons as council
men who shall De elected under the pro-
visions of said BILL and thereby remove
any question as 20 the legality OF their
election or possibility Of litigation as TO
the legality Of the acts OF the council S.
constituted" This was adopted and the
bill passed.
It is therefore decided that the new char
ter shall be submitted for approval at the
general election of March g. There win be
five candidates for aldermen and nine for
delegates under the old charter. IL the
charter is not approved they viii hold the
positions as elected II the c1drter Is ap-
proved they will frnmedia tely come under
IT'S operation. The nine delegates elected
VIII be nine of the members OF the new
council: the two aldermen receiving the
highest number OF votes viii be councilmen
at large for four years. the two aldermen
having the next highest number Of votes
VIII be the other two councilmen al large
for two years. and the remaining alderman
elected viii be legislated out Of his office
and title before be has had time 20 be
sworn in.
This yexing question being settled. the
charter commission will undoubtedly make
rapid Roadway. Every point has been thor
oughly discussed. and beyond the few snags
that Will be struck in the revision there
will be no call for argument. The COM
mission hopes 10 conclude its lahors during
the next seven days so as 10 be able TO get
the new charter published for thirty days
before the election. as provided by law.
''Freehoider'' Retained.
At the afternoon session yesterday the
commission had Comptroller Parry before
1t and went carefully over the duties aDd
responsibilities Of the ONCE If comptroller.
without. however, suggesting any radical
changes. The word freeholdeF again
hohbed up. this time in connection with
the eligibility OF the mayor. and again IL
was retained in the new charter.