The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-09-16
WERE NOT ON HAND.
County and School Board Men,
bers Absent Last Night
eaoM RETRENCHMENT MEETING
Ctr asd Chamber of Commerce Menu
beers VIII Wait for Them Next
Tuesday Night.

Ths meeting OF the Joint retreachmens
eou,n1ittee last night was q disapposnt-
mort In that the representatives ~ The
x.hool board and Of the county failed 10
cut In an appearance. There were pres
ant Mayor wood. Comptroller Parry and
prex!den; Of the City Council cricnton,
.n the part OF The city. and from the
chamber Of Commerce President Graves
and Nessrs. Thomas ". Prosch. Joseph
sh.Doan and Lawrence CoInFan. After
discussing what they deemed the trus
objects ard scope Of the committee, they
adjourned until Ssxt Tuesday night
meantime instruct!ug the secretary 20
Communicate with the Uher members OF
the committee.
There was a general expression OF re-
grei Al what appeared TO be q with
drawal Of the county and school board
members from cooperation In the psr-
poses Of the committee. Chairman Graves.
on calling the committee TO order, said.
/ Il think Il is important that we ahoald
have a clear understanding as 10 the ma
tirs Of the committees work and The
force Of It's conclusions. II has appeared 10
me that each OF TIE four bodies repre-
rented IN the committee Was morally
bound 20 abide by its conclusions as far
as practicable II the committee is a mere
debating society, Il can accomplish moth
INK. Unless It's conclusions are 10 exercise
some weight with those participating IN
It's deliberations We might as well ad-
!ogrn here and now"
il Mr. Graves continued by saying that he
Thought It highly impor ant that the p1b-
lo should understand the true condition
OF affairs lie did not think that the poo-
pie Of the city and county generally real
ted The gravity Of the situation. He re-
fsrrec IN the fast that tne present city
debt Is fully II per cent. OF the assessed
valuation or property. In which statement
he was corroborated by Comptroller
Parry Add TO this" said Mr. Graves.
the Indebtedness for special improve
ments. and the situation calls FOR serious
Consideration. regret 10 see tina, to-
night when We have met 10 consider posi-
bis retrenchments there are present only
representatives. OF the Chamber If Conn
merce and the city government"
Mayor Wood followed In much the same
strain. except that he did no. go quite 50
Tar "a tho chairman in holding that tho
acton OF thu committee was Of binding
force. he argued that all retrcnchmeuts
we're accomplished slowly and against
great pressure and opposition. He held
that one Of tho chief results az the com
mitteo's celebrations Was to let the pub
hc understand the situation thoroughly
hongh he thought Il extremely desirable
that all the members Of the committee
should AXE part IN SIS proceedings
Chairman Graves at thu point read q
resolution adopted during the afternoon
ty the trustees OF the Chamber Of Com
meree. expressing II the sense Of that
body that the governing bodies taking
part In the committee were morally bound
20 abide by It's conclusions. The resoIu-
lion will be found IN fan In the BRO.
seedin@s of the trustees ia another coli
Hrmu.
Mr. Shipper stated the objects Of tina
committee as he understood them. a,vtng
fhai while It was generally conceded thar
is conclusions were OF no legal force, YET
Ithey we're morally binding. and Vet ho
regretted that tbe school board had dem
onsirated that g he'd those conclusions
\ IN very light esteem. RI" agreed with tho
caaF and With Mayor Wood IN thinking
mat an Incidental benefit Of the procs Cd
irgS would be 10 inform the public GEN
"a.ly concerning the true state OF affairs.
snd thought that stiil further benefit
would possibly come In the shape OF
Ifeport from the committee which might
'e lat before the King county delega-
ton To the next legislature s.s,rwesfins
Necessary or desirable legislation He
moved to adjourn until Friday. with
view to securing the presence Of absent
members Of the committee.
i hr. Crchton spoke IN support Of tho
motion. and after resfafing the purposes
sni aims OF the committee said that the
representatives OF the city were present
20 invite criticism or the city govern
'nent and 10 hear gladly any suxgs stinns
s % a possible diruinutiun or expenses
IN The city government. I'VE want you 70
eritelse oar work" he said. we want
You 20 crltcise Il sharply and openly.
AMI II there IS any curtalment possible
further than that ~ have already made
Ne want 20 know IT," Al the same time
- 'honEhi Il was folly 20 waste time n
Isfiting e conclusions 10 which no a.
Sfsnton Whatever would De paid lie
tAoaght Il possible that retrcnchment was
uiessiele 'u the school board IN the citv
HsoFernmcnt aHd ia the county. ant ~
hought the representative % each Of Tho
'areo moiaiv bound 20 cooperate wlth
me committee.
Pending the matter ~ adjournment
II aairman Graves read The following ex-
tract frum report Of font committee
|ot ihe Chamber - commerce ana the
iizers' Municlpsl League. spr0tnfc,. In
Il siAf. iNtA - investigate the county, ee-
fenssS tle retd s. ho said. SIMPLY ia
'taef to show thtf thc same grennt had
Teen gone over before. Use committee
\ 'aHsiS5'aE ~ Herman Chansu. r. -
m,ANes. J J Mo-. lvra. } II El8er, T.
~. fro~h and samuel Ramsey urirr
oa'~ 81 May y. 1874 suhnHgcd a reror,
W; o. ehch is as follows
~ examining the system OF county Al
.HRisfat3on. we have been Impressed bv
we TACT thar che legislative ana executive
iaariions - thr county are exercised hv
single hc,iy-tac county commissioners
fF levy the taNns. make he aprraprla-
N'hs' an 70 large extent control tha
'Npsh INJURIES There ia no fixed llnit 20
re amount which thev may spend II
!" ca.h revenues Fan saor, there Is al
II p