The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-08-16
COUNTY OF SEATTLE.
A Plan Whereby the City Will
Go 1t Alone.
TO SEPARATE FROM KING.
The City Furnishes Is Per Cent of the
Funds to Run the County - An
Immense Saving Of Money.

County politics. and particularly that
kind OF county politics thar appeals 20 all
classes. Irrespective OF party affiliations.
will receive an infusion % sentiment this
fail that win characteFixe an entirely new
departure and xhich viii throw down the
old political land marks. 50 far as the
interests OF the city Of Seattle are con-
eeTned. and serve more than any other
measure 20 bring out the old Seattle spirit
OF Seattle first, last and always. II Will
revive the feeling OF local pride that has
made this city the wonder OF the North
west. and the despair OF her enemies and
cheap rivals The Intervention OF no out
side corporations viii be required to bring
about the promised result, and the move
ment will appeal 10 every class OF citizens
an! 10 all colors and stripes OF political
belief.
The plans OF the projectors OF the scheme
that promises so much have been thor
oughly canvasssd, and the first movement
IN the direction OF local supremacy viii be
circular addressed 10 each Of the three
party conventions Of King county, recon-
amending ami asking that two county COM
missioners be named and elected from the
city and one from The country. instead OF
in the inverse order that has become a
custom from precedent. When the full i'm
portance Of the movement IS appreciated
there IS little doubt that each conVen ton.
IN is wisdom. or in the quality that passes
for wisdom, viii heed the advice that will
be contained in the circular and name the
two commissioners from the city. Whether
the conventions act In accordance with the
recommendations or not win make no DIFF
ference in the campaign that will furnish
some new issues. and which must logically
bring about the organization of the city
and county of Seattle
The entire idea is embodied in the state
ment that Seattle has outgrown King
county. Behind the statement is an array
of figures that demonstrate the wisdom
OF the scheme of reorganization. and in
the columns of figures representing only
dollars and cents will appear the excuse
for asking the county conventions to name
two commissioners from the city and one
from the country.
When the figures exhibit the fact that
the city OF Seattle furnishes Is per cent
OF the funds necessary to run the county
in all its branches and Subdivisions. the
justice OF having representation amount
ing 10 IS 90 per cent. of the voting and
disbursing power in the board OF county
commissioners becomes apparent. Behind
the movement is the proposition 10 organ
ize within the corporate limits of the city
a new county, and the only features neces-
sary to bring such an organization about
would be a vote of the people or King
county, of which Seattle casts over rs per
cent, an application for organization and
the subsequent legislative action.
OF all the county property within the city
limits, rs per cent. of ii belongs 10 the
city, and the same proportion OF outside
property, the titles of which are al present
in King county. Apropos of new or
ganzation. the code of the state of Wash
ington. section of article II, under the
head of organization of new boundaries.
says:
There shall be no territory stricken
from any county unless majority of the
voters living in such territory shall petition
therefor and and then only under such
other conditions as may be prescribed by
a general law applicable TO the whole
state. Every county which shall be en-
larged or created from territory taken
from any other county or counties shall
be liable, etc"
The term petition. is is believed, means
an expression Of popular feeling, which
might be conveyed in vote the same as
would appear by petition. Section l OF
IAN act In relation 10 the organization OF
new counties and the changes In county
lines" Session Laws OF Washington. vol.
", 1S71-ISSS, says: When 1t is Intended
to apply 10 the legislature Tor the passage
OF an act 10 create a new county, notice
of such intention shall be published four
successive weeks in some weekly news
paper having general circulation, pub
Nshed in the county or counties from which
a portion OF the new county Is to be taken,
and II none is published In said county
or counties. notice thereof shall be posted
at the front door OF the court house
at least thirty days before the ap-
plication Is made. which notice shall set
forth the names OF the counties out OF
which the new county Is to be formed,
the metes and bounds proposed for the
new county. and the place at which IT is
proposed TO locate the county seat"
The only organization under the above
quoted acts and laws was that OF Okla
hogan county. an act for which was APP
proved February 2. 1888. The process OF
future organization. TO remain in opera
ton until the next general election. Is
the appointing by the legislature Of three
county commissioners, who shall name
the other county officers. who shall hold
Office until the next general election, when
their successors shall be duly elected.
A number Of instances are named where
the municipal and county affairs are con-
Quoted jointly 10 the advantage OF both,
the conspicuous instance on the Pacihc
coast being that OF San Francisco. The
idea would commend itself on account OF
its economy. and particularly AT the pres
snt time while measures of rigorous re-
trenchment are confronting all branches
OF city and county government. The fig
uFeS which nave hTUdEut ABOUT a canvass
OF the deslrahihty Of the new organiza-
ton have been prepared in the city hall
end are offered by the adherents OF the
scheme as a convincing argument in its
favor They were based upon the tax
levy Of 1876, and were made up from the
funds as applied 10 city. county. state
and school purposes. The total assessed
valuation inside the city of Seattle Is
$50 81. SIS. total assessed valuation outside
the city. t12 go 3s5. and the grand total
is placed Al s4s cas- 2os. OF this sum the
clty's proportion Is set down as - per
cent. the outside proportion at = per
cent
Under the head OF purposes 10 which
tie tax is applied. upon 4 valuation of
SIS OBS 2eG amount Of the tax levy and the
city property owners proportions are
given as follows:
County-Rate. 4o71; amount OF levy.
SIT. rs -: city property owners proper
ton. Stzs.I--.S5
County bond Underestimate. 80: amount
Of levy Sl5sIas4 city property owners
proportion. 81 p2i5
Road ana brsaEe-Rate. ?; amount OF
tax levy. Ss6.SGI2. city roperty owners
share. SOL 95755
soldiers reltef-Rate. u. amount OF
levy S.s1e 81. city property owners share.
s19s7So
General school-Rate, AN: amount az
levy So. -: city property owners share.
/ SsSS4
s;ate-Rate. ssgs, amount. slss.7se; city
property owners share. So ~ q
state bond interest and redemption
fun4-Rate. .; amount, $ 50 q: city prop
cTty owners share. s. Is =
Miitary-Eate. p. amount s. SO u. CITY