The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-27
THE NEW CHARTER.
Summary of the Work Com
pleted by the Commission.
THE DUAL COUNCIL ABOLISHED.
CITY TO Own Water and Light Plants
Commissions Done Away With
The Eight-Hour Day.

The new charter has been practically
framed and is now in the hands of the re-
vision committee 10 touch up its phrase
oiogy, pare the rough edges which warm
debate has left, and prepare il for submits
sion TO the commission before il goes TO
the printer. As IT will be presented the
charter can scarcely be classsd as new
one. for few Of the radical changes one ell
ement Of the commission worked hard 10
secure find a place IN it. II has 10 De
called a revised charter. and regarded in
this respect the work OF the commission
cannot be too highly commended One OF
the more conservative members remarked
on Saturday: I'VE found less changes
necessary than we expected TO find" This
vas particularly the case in regard 10
economics. The commission found that
salaries and municipal expenses generally
had been cut TO the lowest notch TWO years
ago. and ii was only after long discussion
that any further saving could be made
without a loss to the public service.
City To own Water and Light.
The radical reforms sought were on the
line of the recent vote on the water ques-
ton. This decied that the city should OWN
its water works. and inferentially, its
light plant and sell the power TO be OBJ
tanned by the gravity system 10 nlanufac-
tories. This is provided for in the char
ter. The commission passed a bill that the
city should also own the street railroads,
but this was not included in the charter,
and is TO be offered al the next election
"a an alternative proposition for the people
TO vote upon. The liquor question is also
made an alternative proposition. The laws
affecting liquor licenses in the charter it,
SELF are not materially changed, but an al
tentative proposition is offered that all
licenses expire on the same date tfat all
saloons shall be closed from II 80 until
the next morning. and be closed the whole
OF Sunday.
The first really radical change provided
for In the new charter is in regard TO the
city council, doing away with the board OF
aldermen and the house of delegates. which
nave nine members each, and in their places
having one body. called the city council,
composed Of one representative from each
ward and four councilmen 10 be elected at
large. The salary of members remains the
same, $500 year, but there will be thir-
teen members instead of eighteen drawing
that salary.
Election of Counciimen.
The new charter will be presented for
adoption at the next general election, and
the candidates at that election will neces-
sarily be voted for under the old charter.
In order 10 avoid any legal quibble the new
charter provides that of the five aldermen
10 be elected under the old charter two Of
them having the highest vote shall be the
councimen al large for four years and the
two having the next highest number Of
votes shall be the councilmen at large for
two years, so there will be no election for
councilmen at large until 1s9S. and then
there Will be only two vacancies.
Under the old charter there never could
be more than twelve wards until the pop
ulation reached 2i0.000 but under the new
there can never be less than nine wards,
81 .rg- h4a raflf
four years on basis Of 1000 OF population
to A ward.
There have been many discussions as to
the qualification 'freeholder.' and event
ually this was compromised so that the
mayor and the four councilmen at large are
exempt from it. it being held that candi-
date may be a citizen I'm good standing.
well qualified to perform the duties of the
office to which he aspires. and yet not hap
pen TO be a property holder
The mayors salary is cut down from
S. coo 10 1850, which is the amount that
the neighboring state of Oregon pays its
governor. The Comptroller's salary is 10
be S2eo9. which is an increase Of 500 be-
cause he has more work and more respon-
sibllity thrown upon him. The office of city
clerk for instance, is abolished, and the
next city council being only one body in
stead Of two win save the salary of one
clerk The office of comptroller is made an
Cumbersome Boards Abolished.
The board Of police commissioners is
abolished the mayor appointing a chief Of
police who shall report 10 the city coun-
ell. The board Of public works is retained,
with the change that the city engineer is
10 he president, with the superintendent
Of streets and the superintendent Of water
works as the other members. These re-
ceiVe no compensation as commissioners.
- *
constituted of three members as before,
but without compensation. except for
u-oViso for a small per diem allowance I'M
der certain circumstances.
The fire commission is abolished and the
DEPARTMENT is 70 be in charge OF n chief
appointed by the mayor. The proposed
library commission is practically as before,
except that the commission may not issue
bonds and the librarian 10 be appointed by
the mayor shall not distribute the apprO-
pri1tions. hut shall only make purchases
and pay bills on the recommendation of the
city council The law department IS re-
t7Ined without change. although there
! were supporters In the commission Of
car in the salary OF corporation counsel
and others who urged in favor OF higher
salary.
The Civil service.
The most radical departure under the
( new charter rs the provision Tor civil SER
vice rules The mayor is 10 appoint
board Of iive members, who are 10 serve
without compeu sation. and all applicants
fer the police and fire departments and for
clerkships VIII have 30 pass an eNamjna-
tom before this body. After passing such
examination and entering upan his service
he canuot he removed by the head Of his
department without the consent OF the civil
service board and he holds his office dur
ing good behavior. The idea % this Is 70
remove from all the employees Of the city
tha hazard of party po' tes
In addition TO the civil service reform
rules that We're placed in the new charter.
( there WAS a clause that eight hours should
constitute a days work on all city con-
tracts. AMI Middleton. who introduced this
measure hai difficulty in securing its pass
age. IL being argued that the working men
Of tire city did not desire such q restriction
upon their hours OF labor.