The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-09
SEATTLE. THURSDAY, JAN. o.
THE NEW CITY COUNCIL.

The charter commission has shown con-
sistency In Its policy until II arrived at the
point where IL had TO deal with the con-
stitution OF the city council. Many OF its
amendments are highly meritorious: some
are OF such a character that their virtue
can only be determined By actual expert
ence. The prospect IS not very bright as
20 their success. but IL the people Will 1t
that they are to be tried that settles the
matter for the time. There IS an incon-
sistency about the city council apportion-
ment which carries with IL a degree of
unfairness. The commission has almost
unanimously agreed. after thorough dis
cussion. that the city's interests viii best
be served by not changing all the men,
beers at one time, so that the incoming
council will have the benefit OF the expert
ence OF the followers. Yet they leghsiate
out OF office the four present followers
and VIII throw upon the new council all
the disadvantages of inexperience. We
could see good reasons for this II the hold
overs constituted majority OF the coun-
Gil. but they do not. They will be In a
minority. there being only four out OF the
nine. They were elected for four years.
and although they have no right TO the
Office which need be considered by the
commission. it would ea only treating
them fairly by permitting them TO serve
out the term. particularly as that will be
doing what the commission has declared
to be the best public policy.
We suggest for the consideration OF the
commission a slight alteration. too. In the
number of members. When the Demo
Gratis were elected four years ago they had
nine members the FUN board. Two years
later the people overwhelmingly decided
that another party should he in control.
the result was the election OF Republicans
60 all the vacant offices. Yet the will of
the people was thwarted because the board
OF aldermen was left in control OF the
Democrats by I'VE 10 four. II is To the
credit Of the Eve Demonstration Jordan
although now counted Popullst. was
elected on the Democratic ticket that
they have offered no merely party antas-
onism: bat they had the power, and Il
there IS 70 Dc only ore chamber that
power VIII be much greater.
The policy OF the people cannot he fol
lowed with two-year elections II = major
iiy OF the council IS 20 remain Ia Oyice for
four years. We suggest. therefore. that
the council consist OF eleven members.
one from each ward and two az large.
BY elecCng the two az large every Two
years tn incoming administration viii
always have majority. Thus. st one
election four warjgmon ana two at large
would be elected. and az the next election
nve war smen and two az large. On the
other hand. vita nine members. q the
Republicans had Eve they would control
fer four years. although the Populists
might elect the mayor and four aldermen.
BY che plan proposed. she present four
members "a minority-couia give the reyv
five cor seven. II two at large are elected
the henent Ok their experience without
being able 70 aSec, TIE policy OF the IN
coming administration. And thereafter
the people would be abs 20 control the
majority every two years. instead % hav-
ms - wait four years. This. while obvi-
sting all The Inconvenience and DELAY cc-
cszioncd ~ AZ entire change. would bring
the council directly under ths coutsol 81
the people every two years.