The Daily Republican. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 18??-189?, 1896-02-26
ARTICLE ".
The Legislative Department.

ARTICLE ".
The Legislative Department.
Section l. All legislative power of the
City of Seattle shall be vested in a mayor
and city council.
Sec. 2. Except as otherwise in this
charter provided, the city council shall con-
sist of one member from each ward of the
city and four members elected from the
city at large.
Sec. 3. Subdivision A. At the general
municipal election in the year 1898 and at
each general municipal election thereafter
there shall be elected by the electors of each
ward Ct the city one councilman who shall
mold office for period of two years, and
by the electors of the city at large two
councilmen-at-iarge each Of whom shall
hold office for a period of four years.
Subdivision u. Until the election in the
year 1898, and the organization of the city
council thereupon in pursuance of the pro-
visions Of Subdivision A of this Section,
the city council shall consist of thirteen
members and be composed as follows: The
nine men who are elected members of the
house Ct delegates at the general NUM-
clpal'eiecaon in the year 1896 shall be men,
perS "a the city council created by this
charter, and each shall serve for period
OF two years, and of the five persons who
are elected at the general municipal cleo
ton IN the year 1896 members Of the board
of aldermen, the four who respectively re-
ceive the highest vote shall be the other
Jour members of the city council created
by this charter, and the two OF them who
respectively receive the highest vote shall
serve for the period of four years, and the
other two shall serve for period of two
years. In case of tie vote, the outgoing
council shall in joint convention determine
the election or length Of term (by lOt. The
qualifications of the members elected in
1896 shall be such as prescribed for them
respectively by the charter which is super
seeded hereby. Until the organization of
the city council under the foregoing pro-
visions of this Subdivision, the city cOun-
Gil shall be constituted and composed as
1T is constituted and composed at the time
Of the adoption of this charter, and each
house of it shall bf governed by and have
charter of the citE1z Seattle which was in
e5 SSsSfvi mum M. - -.TS g.
deductios5IUe 'ul ssISllars for each absence
shall pees made from the salary of each
member who shall be absent from any reg
ulS4r meeting of the city council.
sec. 4. Except as otherwise provided in
Section ; of this Article no person shall
be eligible for councilman unless he shall
nave been citizen of the United States
ana resident and elector of the city for
at least four years next prior to his cleo
ton; and no person shall be eligible for
election by the electors OF any ward unless
IN addition to the above requirements he
shall have been resident of the ward from
Which he is elected and a freebooter of the
city Tor at least two years next prior to
his election.
Sec. 5. A majority Of all members elect
ed shall constitute a quorum, but a less
number may adjourn from day to day, or
till the time of the next regular meeting
and may compel,~t attendance Of abb
sent members IN such manner and under
scribe.
Sec. 6. The city council shall
First-Annually,. and also whenever a
vacancy occurs, choose from it's members
its president who shall perform the usual
functions of a presiding officer, and may
be removed by the affirmative vote of not
less than two-thir1s of all the members.
Second-Establish rules for it's proceed
ings.
Third--Keep a journal of its proceed
1ngs ana allow the proceedings to be pub
hshed, and take the yeas and nays on any
question on demand of any two members
and enter the same in the journal
Fourth-Have authority to punish its
members and others for disOrderIy or 9TH
erWise contemptuous behavior in its pres
ence, and TO eXpel for such behavior in its
presence any member by the affirmative
vote Of not less tlan two-thirds of it's mem
bers, specifying in the order of expulsion
the cause thereof.
Fifth-Have authority to create and use
committees of its members, in order to
facilitate the discharge of its legislative
functions; provided, that no committee of
the council and no part of any committee
and no member shall have or exercise eX-
ecutive or administrative power except as
otherwise expressly provided in this char
Ter.
SiXth-HaVe power to compel attendance
or witnesses as well as production of pa
perS and things pertinent to business be-
fore 1t or any of its committees.
Sec. z. The city council shall have power
to and shall appoint from its members
committee consisting Of three Or more, to
be denominated finance committee" and
to fill all vacancies in said committed Such
committee shall have power to invcsticate
the transactions and accounts of all Of
f1cers having the collection, custody and
disbursement of public money, or having
the power to approve, allow or audit de-
mands on the treasury; it shall have free
access to any records, books and papers in
all public offices; and shall have power to
administer oaths or affirmations, and to
examine witnesses and compel attendance
before it by subpoena. Said committee
may visit any of the public offices, when
and as often as it thinks proper, and make
its examinations anc Investigations therein
without hindrance. It shall be the duty of
such committee as often as once in every
six months to examine the official bonds
Of all city officers and repositories of the
city funds, and inquire into and investi-
gate the sufficiency and solvency of the
suretieS thereon and report the facts 70 fhe
mayor. Such report shall specify each bond
With the suretieS and the amount for which
each surety is bound, and state whether
or not they are deemed sufficient ana SOL
vent. Upon such report the mayor SHAH
act so as to protect the city, and may re-
qui-e new bonds when necessary and he
may suspend the officer until a sufficient
bond is filed and approved. In the eXer-
else of its functions, a concurrence of a
majority of the members of said COMMITTEES
shall be deemed sufficient. Said commit
tee shall keep a record of it's proceedings
VIII The names of the witnesses examined
anG substantial statement of the evil
dencs. = zen. If from the examination
made l., ia committee it shall appear that
a misder nor in office or a defalcafion
has been co., rnitted by any officer. said
committee sns Immediately report TO fha
mayor, who, i. approve such report
elIell forthwith Sd nd such officer. and
take thq proper step nder this charter 70
remove him or to caus. is removal Anv
police officer shall execute, he process and
orders of said committee.
Sec. s. The finance committee shall i'm
mediately upon its appointment and semi
annually make thorough examination of |
all the books of the city treasurer and civ
comptroller, and report the result of such |
investigations to the city council
Sec. 9. The council shall meet upon the |
first Monday of each month or if that day
be legal holiday, then upon The next day
not a holiday thereafter and all its SEES |
sions shall be public, and it shall not ad- |
journ to any other place than its regular !
place of meeting; but the mayor or in his
absence or disability the president of the
council, or any three councilmen. may call
a special meeting of the council.
Sec. 1G. Every legislative act of said
city shall be by ordinance. Every ordi-