The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-12-22

Last nights meeting Of the city council
would have been almost devoid OF especial
interest had not the fight occurred on the
passage OF the electrician BILL The bill
was fought by minority led by James and
McArdls. who showed themselves adopts
81 parliamentary usage and STAYED OF tn
evitaoie defeat for q long time on teclnic-
al points. Had they been SO disposed. she
e!Ii could have been aung UP al night. IL
was finally passed as originally introduced.
by a vote CT 10 3, the nays being Dodds,
McArtils and Nayin. James voted aye on
the Bill AFTER having fought il from the
start. In offering MS vote McArdle de-
clared re would vote mo because the
bin was ''concoeted scheme to legisiate
one man out or Office and put another IN
None of those who had been supporting
the bill answered.
There were the two bIIls-the original or
dinaTce creating the position of inspect
or o. electricity and lighting and fixing
the compensation thereof at $50 per
month and abolishing the position OF
superintendent OF fire alarm telegraph;
and the substitute ordinance providing for
the appointing and removing the super
intendent OF the FIRE alarm telegraph by
the board OF public works in the manner
provided by article 16 of the city charter.
The substitute had been introduced at
the previous meeting by James, and had
been tabled, the substitute carrying the
original bill with t. Raymond moved that
the original bill be taken from the table
and put on its final passage. This could
not be done without first disposing of the
substitute.
Raymond moved that the substitute be
referred 10 the committee on sewers. This
was intended as a Jest. but Raymonds
motion was quickly seconded by James.
Raymond was astonished. He asked for
Information whether the referring of the
substitute would carry with IL the orig
inal. This was found TO be the case, and
Raymond withdrew his motion. James
said ii would favor his side If the bills
went to the sewer committee. but in order
10 have the matter decided he would with
draw his motion.
There was no other way than TO first
vote down the substitute bill. This was
done by TO S. Those in favor Of il
were Dodds. Hurd, James. McArdie and
Navin. Before the original bill could be
put on It's final passage, McArdle called
attention to section 10. article 4. of the city
charter, which declared that no ban should
have more than two objects expressed in
It's title. As the original ordinance showed
the intention of creating a new Office,
fixing the salary and aboiishing another
office, McArdfe moved that the ordinance
be referred TO Corporation Counsel Brown
for an opinion on that point. Opposing
members of the council agreed to this If
the counsel would report back the same
night but as he refused 10 do this. want
ing more time, McArdle's motion was
lost The bill was read the second and
third time.
Before voting Chapman said since ac-
cusations of political tobbery had been
made. he wished it understood that he
was supporting the bill on its merits, and
not because he had a political debt TO pay.
Moreover, he wanted IL understood that
an accuse ton OF jobbery applied to any
member OF the council was a criminal Of
Tense.
Navin replied that he was the fellow
who had made the accusations at the
last meeting. and had since become more
than ever convinced that he was right,
since the supporters Of the original bill
would not accept the substitute. Ii was
common street talk, Navin said. and he
had even heard who concocted the
scheme and where 1t was done.
No reply was made TO this, and the
voting proceeded. The bill carried by 5
TO 3. McArdle changed his vote from
may" 20 yea" and then. as he had
voted for the bin. gave notice that at
the next regular meeting he would caH
for a reconsideration. This was stun
ner TO the opposition. which saw another
weeks wait In prospect. Finally the re-
consideration was effected tho same
night. and after an Understandable mtx-up
composed Of motions amendments and
counter motions. tho bill was passed
second time. Electrician Pinckney, who.
Il IS claimed. will be thrown out by tho
ordinance, was present.
The board OF public works submitted a
contract form 70 be entered into with the
receiver OF the Seattle City Railway Com
pany. the city agreeing 20 open the street
and the railway company agreeing to pay
the city $3.50 and remove the dirt placed on
the south side OF the track, the whole
being conditioned on the REIMBURSEMENT
Of the suits OF the city against the en-
ployes Of the company. Couneilnan RucY
offered "A resolution that the contract be
entered Into. This was adopted. Subse-
cuently an ordinance was passed author
izing the board OF public works to build
a slusce 20 move the earth on HesieF way
between Fifth ard Seventh avenues, and
arFropriaJiug S20o
The comuittee report on the estimate Of