The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-03-02

by the city at large nearly sSssss for the
TasVIng II the Intersections on Pike street.
First and Second avenues ard Pioueer
Place II cannot he claimed that the resi-
deElcs districts receive more than tire pro-
portion OF benefits for taxes paid. If this
proposed change t. effected their munfci-
pal Advantage wfII BE- confined largely TO
payment OF taxes. Progress In street inn
provements brings with II development all
slonE the Inc. Water. lower insurance
rates. sewerage. street lights. etc, are the
natural and usual results II there were
delingaeTeteS or insecurity OF any character
demanding this check TO progress. the
charge might be desirabls But under the
present amended charter the city has es-
tabliahed routine Of procedure safe be-
yond al question. or the total cost Of forty
three improvements on the scrip or war
rant system. made since the charter amend
rnents OF iss2, less than 8 ooo remains ur-
collected Contrast this with the rs m
provenents made prior TO 1892 upon which
there are still $685. 90 OF delinquent assess
fnents. Considering that about $500 has
been pad Out for labor andSnatersals during
the past two years for street grading alone.
* viii be seen that the stoppage OF work
OF this kind VIII have It's effect on labor
and business as well as development Of the
city. When the property holders who pay
the bills refuse 10 sign further petitions.
then Il viii be time enough to call halt
About the middle OF the last paragraph
OF the same subdivision Is the second im-
portant change This goes 10 the opposite
extreme from the last named change and
authorizes the grading and assessment for
a street without any petition from tna
abuttEng owners. provided IL be done by
unanimous vote Of all the members present
at council meeting. IN other words. a
bare quorum OF the city council. seven
members. could force an expensive street
grade upon abuttinz owners without any
F4s4fH rtah ia M sra
the present charter.
The third important change e I'm sub
division OF section 10. Article VIII. This
changes the plan OF instaliment bond
heretofore used under the state law. Con-
sldsriag that a market has been establish
ed. that about 81 GO OF these bonds are
now outstanding. the plan Of which has
been approved by the best lawyers OF the
city. Il would seem that another plan Of
bond under the same state Law, would
lead 10 confusion and litigation, If moth
iag worse This ten-year insfsllment plan
has practically superseded all other forms
OF assess nent. II has made possible the
permanent pavsHaeutS laid the past year.
The proposed change OF plan OF bond
makes the bonds less saiable. as Interest,"
is not paid annually. but allowed 10 ac-
crue on each installment until Its re-
demption. Where a bond on the present
plan IS worth par. the proposed bond VIII
he worth only - Il is easy 10 see that
the property holder wilt pay the difference
In increased cost of the work
pass over the half dozen minor errors
81 construction or omission IN the street
Improvement sections They are unlm-
portant, except as they Increase confusion
and AFFORD an opportunity for obstructive
litigation.
Repositories of City Money.
The entire subject Of designation OF de-
posifories Of city money and the require
ment that such repositories should pay in
;erest al the rate OF 3 per cent, per annum
on monthly balances. as found in the pres
snt charter Is omitted from the proposed
charter. Comment Is unnecessary.
Treasurer'~ Bond.
The present charter fxes si0o.oo9 as the
amount 81 the city freasurer's bond. The
proposed chareer names no sum. leaving Il
20 the city council 20 Ak. Let the indie
rar.geff voters OF Seattle recall The treat
ment OF Farmer Maple by the county COM
misssoners year ago. and decide u This
omission is 10 be commended and ratified
eorporation Counsel Department.
The present charter requires but two
LEGAL advisors for the ctty--thc corporation
counsel and city attorney The proposed
charter includes also m assistant corpora
ton counsel. such an Office IS now in eS-
istence by special ordinance Tor special
work II deemed wise the city council can
~ any time dispense with that Office. The
new charter wou!G prevent such economy
even II q were most advisable
'rhe present charter requires the coTpor-
alton counsel In have bis office where the
city provides and devote rs whole time
~ the duties Of his Office TIE rev char
sa- ar,,itz fllis wse provision. and simply
nfaces up0n him the responsibility Tor ne
uti-atlon 81 she city and sucA ether cu-
tics as She city council may IMPOSE II
as,oses the city viii have three salaries
- nav charter officials who wia oe Tree TO
accent outside employment
Cfvl service.
Ybzs Intended 70 thoroughly review the
r{,.F service. article. bat this cofnmunica-
,tor fs already hevond proper hounca
most certainly approve me intent OF to.
,r,,,,fsior. hut some ~ the dstalis are most
st,t...tf.,.abie Take the manner or 70
= commissioners laid Down in sec
-, : s.,,,tthont right 20 trial. hearing or
,.rssl II is unjust and un-Amertcan
80 ,,-,,.ley,re 10 place three men. - b
"a only 500 Per year. in charge or WoFk
,rri~n properly attended "a. VIII tRke
-, ,,,-tgen 81 their time. with unlimited
4N' - t,,-.,,r expenses which IN their
ss....t IA necessary for their Work
1000 The article en- its operation as 10
-tst5,-g isf.,r in hard times such as we
- row passirg through DOES " hot
,--,,-, mare beneficial 10 the community N
tpses tlrr,es % have lHa men work yen Hass
ra~M ahaw fhAf ftN NlHRA F.fN''--
s,- c.-N- The list - exceptions when
-.,s-,-.~s shows the raukest form of IS
--t,,,s-etfen and personal legislation. Bat
must pass or
Roller inspection
-r,,ss ts such = transparent hunouE thst
,.ss o-Iv mention 80. The article starts
e,,t VEL. bit Scr'e revtSer So IN ah eNes,
ton clause which minutes t'Vis '-i'''r-
= v,s~thiass and harmless
Hours of Labor.
,s- Al. .r,tte~ provision aimed for
-.s,,tf hs.t wor6cd 50 as - utterly
~ sNnr. OF e. The weakness Hes III The
-. .,-n.,,,t~a.a's in the sixth line
@k.t~y~n~ - SO 81 -