The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-03-16

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thousands OF dollars. The house o. esie-
gates rfll probably BE- the council cham
Der, and the room, Of the board OF Aldermen
gill be available for committee mees4nss-
the slate: meeting 81 the board OF psNN
WORKS the civil service EXAMINATIONS al
similar meetings.
This whole plsr a. win be seen. VIII IT,
cezzta;e very few changes m the huli1.aDs
b@ycnd the removal of board paTue.o,s-;
and Mr. Van BTocklin estimates 'ne 'o.i
! eoa a. SIS The plan has not been iof-
rnaIlv sfoo,ed end - subject 70 change
hs, 20 those familiar with tire citEs oasi-
| ness Il IS held to be as satisfactory a. any
that can BE- devised.
Good Work of Past Administrator
Mayor Phelps shows no regret al orop-
| ping the relns OF power. In fact there was
a smile Of satisfaction on his lace as ne
stood on Pioneer Place Saturday morn
ing and watched the mer sweeping ,le ne"
brick pavement The necessity OF SUN
pavement was one OF the first matters re
drew 10 the attention Of the city COUNCIL
he hammered away at the subject. even
obtained specimens Of BRICK from FaIioas
points. encouraged the making OF sOen ofle
here and al length carried bis po-nt. ana
last as his administration closes he has the
satisfaction Of knowing that the Important
Improvement for which he fought 50 nara,
and the Carrying out Of which ne so care
fully supervised day by day. Is completed
and the work well done TIE paving o.
First avenue Second avenue and Fike
street will now compare with that Of any
large city. II remains for the new coun-
Gil 70 lake UP ara continue this necessary
Improvement, as tine and money permits
until all the principal streets are paved
Here we had a number Of buildings
said the mayor Saturday morning as
fine and large as you viii find any =" mere
These we're impressive TO visitors. or
would have been but for the rotten plank
roadway which jolted those riding ana
spiashed tlose walking.
Mayor Phelps had particular dimcuity
In pressing this Improvement. as tunes
were then exceedingly depressed. ana IN
der the amended charter the cost OF re-
pianking or paving could not be charged
70 the general expense account OF the city,
but must be a charge against abuttlng
property holders, and must be done on
their petition. He had TO force the prop
cry owners 10 make such permanent i'm
proyements. and II was his vigorous &C
ton. backed by the city council, that has
given Us the splendid new pavement. He
himself inspected the work every day. and
being a practical mechanic. his sugges-
lions were OF value
Mayor Phelps has devoted his whole time
10 the duties OF his office. averaging eight
hours a day and often working in the ey-
cnings. He attended nearly every council
meeting. IN order TO hear discussed mat
ters OF legislation that would come before
him for approval. and also to keep in touch
with the members OF the council. but he
steadily refralned from any interference
with their l. gislaiive functions. lie made
a practice Of visiting every department
and watching It's operations. and has paid
close attention 20 the finances Of the city
and the auditing OF It's bills. He has paid
particular attention also 10 the ERE and
police departments. and In regard TO the
latter he has. as In regard 10 the paving
and other Improvements endeavored 20
eliminate such features 81 frontier town
iife as dives. dance halls and gambling
places.
An Impartial Criticism.
He was elected In 1894 By abou, 500 plur-
ality. making q change Of over 500 votes
over two years before that. +. o. Graves.
president or the Washington National
bank. who In politics Is a Democrat. In an
impartial but critical paper that he wrote
for the good city government convention
on The Municipal Condition Of Seattle
60 b. found in the published report, page
81. concludes with these words.
In spite OF the Elaring ahsurdi,y Of
some Of the provisions OF the charter and
of the scandal and confusion they have
caused II may b. said In conclusion that
The municipal condition OF the city is
good
The present administration IS sconom-
ieal. honest and efficient The mayer is a
man Of high character and thememlers Of
the council. as a rule. are men OF excellent
standing In the community. The moral
tone OF the city IS good the lower element
Is not IN control Of any department Of the
government nor Is its influence shown in
tho administration ~ the city'S sna,rs.
Despite the demorllzing Influences Of the
commissions controlling them. The polite
and IRE departments furnish siF rier.t scr
vice. The debt Is not excessive. the inter
est is promptly met. Expenses are paid
from cure NJ revenues Whom
the improvements universally de-
uaudod IN the charter have beet,
brought about. ~ * believed :hat
tho muncipal condition Of Seattle win
boar comparison with that Of any ci.y IN
tho Union
Mayor Phelps has been seven consecu-
tive years in public office Iie was first
deputy county Treasurer. then county
treasurer. then reelected and then MAYOR
IL has not announced what h. wiIl do after
hts retirement. further than 10 saw tina, il
VIII ." necessary FOR him 10 do something
immediately II Is said hy his friends that
Mr. Phelps leaves the Office Of mayor sew
er3l thousand dollars poorer than whom r..
entered A. lie has paid the salary of AIS
private secretary out Of mis- own poc<ct
and has given away probably 90 per cent
ot his salary IN neciful charity During
hla fsst year ihcre was great distress
among the working classes. and whom .b.y
hcsnnght him for Eork, ana there was M
work 60 he had they Gld not "a s,ysv .,nn-
tN-hauded HIS Predecessor Mr. neo,l1
ha3 hfiii up 2 large Law business arf ,s.