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

The Legislative Department.
Section /. All legislative power OF the
City OF Seattle shall be vested In a mayor
Sec. Z 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.
municipal election in the year 1888 and at
each general municipal election thereafter,
there shall be elected by the electors OF each
ward Of the city one councilman who shall
hold office for period of two years, and
by the electors OF the city at large two
councilmen-at-large, each OF whom Ehau
hold office for period Of four years.
Subdivision Il. Until the election in the
year 1855, 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 OF delegates at the general NUM-
clpal election in the year 1896 shall be MEM
bers of 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 1886 members of the board
Of aldermen, the four who respectively re-
ceive the highest vote shall be the other
four 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 a period OF two
years. In case OF a tie vote, the outgoing
council shall I'm joint convention determine
the election or length OF term (by LOTT. The
qualifications Of the members elected In
1896 shall be such as prescribed for them
respectively by the charter which Is super.
the city council under the foregoing pro-
visions OF this Subdivision. the city coun-
Gil shall be constituted and composed as
n IL constituted and composed at the time
OF the adoption OF this charter. and each
house of Il shall be governed by and have
cha Of the eT ~ % ws + Wy shs
force on the first day of January. 1896.
Subdivision c. Each member OF the city
council shall receive an annual salary OF
three hundred dollars, payable monthly. A
deduction OF five dollars for each absence
shall be made from the salary OF each
member who shall be absent from any reg
ular 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
have been citizen Of tho United States
and q 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 a resident OF the ward from
which he is elected and freeholder OF the
city for at least two years next prior to
fis election.
See 5. majority of all members elect
cd shail constitute quorum. but a less
number may adjourn from day to day, or
TIL the time or the next regular meeting.
and may compel the attendance OF alb
sent members In such manner and under
such penalties as the council shall pre-
scribe,
Ffrst-Annuaiiy, and also whenever a
vacancy occurs, choose from its members
its president. who shall perform the usual
functions Of presiding officer. and may
be removed by the affirfna tive vote OF not
less than two thirds OF all the members.
Seeond-Establsh rules for it's proceed
inEs.
tngs and allow the proceedings 20 be pub
ished, 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 disorderly or 9TH
erwfse contemptuous behavior in its pres
ence. and to eNpel for such behavior in It's
presence any member by the affirmative
vote of not less than two-thirds OF its mem
hars specifying IN the order OF expulsion
the cause thereof.
Ftfth-Ifave authority 10 create and nee
committees Of It's members. IN order 20
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
OF witnesses as we'll as production OF pa
pers and things pertinent TO business be-
fore IL or any OF It's committees.
Sec ? The city council shall have pover
60 and shall appoint from its members
committee. consisting OF three or more. TO
he denomiuated finance committee" and
20 fili all vacancies in said committees Such
committee shall have power to investigate
the transactions and accounts OF all Of
ncers having the collection, custody and
disbursement OF public money or having
the power 20 approve. allow or audit de-
mands on the treasury "a shall have free
access 70 any records. books and papers In
oil public offices, and shall have power 90
administer oaths or afIiruStions. and 10
eN9mlne witnesses and compel attendance
before 70 by subpoena. said committee
NAV visit any OF the public Offices, when
and as often as ~ thinks proper and make
It's examinations and fnVest cations therein
without hindrance. Il shall be the duty ~
such committee as often as once in every
six months 10 examine the official bonds
Cf all city officers and repositories 81 the
city funds and inquire into and investi-
gate tie suniclency and solvency % the
suTFties thereon and report tire facts 70 the
mayor. such report shasl SPECIFY each bond
with the surcttes and the amount for which
each surety IS bound. and state whether
or rot they are deemed sufficient and SOL
vent. lpon such report tae mayor shall
act 80 as 20 protect ths city. and may re-
cuf-e new bonds W hen necessary. ard he
may suspeDd the officer until a sufficient
bond = Hiest aud approved. In the sxer-
else Of 81 functions, a concurrence Of q
majority OF the members % said committee
shall be deemed sufficient. said commit
t. shall keep - record 81 It's proceeatnes
Nth the names Of The witnesses examined
and substantial statement 81 the evi-
made ~ sssd committee q shall appsar that
q nisdoraesnor IN ONCE or q dufalcafion
has been cogurnitfei by any officer said
committee snail Immediately refsovt 70 The
mayor. who. Il ne approve Sgch report
shan forthwith suspend Such oGicer. and
take the proper stsns under this charter 10
remove him c. TO cause ets removal Any
rolire officer shall eNecuts The process and
orders OF said committee.
see : Tns finance committee shall I'm
raesitateiy upon ats appointment and semi
annually make a thorough examination Of
al thn h0oks 81 the city treasurer aad city
,otunfroller, ard report tno result % such
Investigations "a the city couDcl.
se, g The council shall meet upon TIE
s-sf Monday OF each month. or Y thAs iav
he a legal holiday. then upoH the next aay
NOT a holiday thereafter. an3 al SIS ssS-
sfans shaA re psielic. and Il shah uoE aG-
sosrn 10 any other place than is regular
Slaee 81 meeting. hGk the mayer. ~ ia hlS
Absence or disability the president q tae
council. or ans three coancsiaaen. may cali
n Ss,essiAi meeting of the Council
Sex, 10 Every legislative at OF sad
city shall 10 sy es1inAAes- SNsFf ssSl-