The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-11
ALLARE FOR ECONOMY
WHAT WILL THE COUNCIL poq
Little by Little the Commissioners
Take Away Their Prestige, Pow.
or and Responsibility.

To make counciinen strictly honest by
framing a charter that would give them 10
temptation or opportunity TO be otherwise
was again the leading endeav0r Of the
charter commission In its session of yes
terday, and II was only switched from this
purpose by first one member and then an
other calling 10 the memory OF the men,
bers that the first and leading principle Up
on which they were elected was TO re-
oodffy the municipal laws and regulations
so that the people would have less taxes to
pay. Hard times, said Andrews, had led
the people to insist upon economy, and they
must cur somewhere.
On this principle he proposed during the
course OF the day TO have one clerk do the
work of two, and although every member
undoubtedly feels himself pledged to this
principle of economy. yet this trivial re-
6uction OF the city's expense was debated
and redeoated at great length and with
great wisdom. for the security of the peo-
pie from dishonest representatives and en-
ployes had TO be considered in connection
with the reduction of force. This reduction
OF the municipal working force had also in
the discussion some reference to the city
ownership OF its water works, electric Light
and power. and street railroads. which
would require q still larger force than at
present.
Sharp Debate.
On the street railroad question Bausman
brought in a bill to repeal Andrews bill,
giving the council power 10 purchase street
railroads. which passed few days ago, and
this led TO brisk interchange OF arguments
between these two members, who are IN
doubtedly the ablest debaters in the COM
mission. Andrews bill had somehow man
aged TO escape a motion for reconsidera-
ton, but IL had not entirely escaped the
meshes of legal expedlents, whose IN
tricate threads Bausman seems 10 have
such a command of. Therefore instead or
bringing in a motion TO reconsider. ne
brought in a new bill. that, as 1t was too
late TO reconsider, being his only course.
The bone of contention was eleverly
tossed backward and forward by the TWO
ready speakers. first on technical grounds
and then on the merits of the point In qaes-
tIon, both growing warm and excited ocea-
sionally ana making the discussion exceed
ingly interesting. Bausman was against
the city's ownership OF street railroads,
principally because there was no precedent
for H. which cuts very little figure IN the
commissions deliberations, and in the see
ond place because it opened the doors 1or
corruption. He worsted his opponent On
the technical grounds, IL being ruled that
his bill was in order. and he managed 10
get IL read second time, when Andrews
interposed an amendment that It be referred
to the committee on legislation, and this
was carried. Andrews, Ike many other
progressive men, believes municipalities
should control not only water and lighting,
but transportation within its limits, anu
that the city should have the pronts on al
such public enterprises as need franchises.
and he made an able speech in support OF
this.
The Question or Light.
fzy~x ard n
new proposition to restrict the powers OF
the city council and protect them from cor
rupt influence and favoritism; also 10 re-
iieye their shoulders Of another responsible
ity. He proposed that the location ana inc
distribution of lights should be delegated To
the board of public works instead or me
council. HIS best argument was a per-
sonal one. He desired to take this question
out of the local interests OF the reIresenta-
tives OF the wards. and argued that in his
neighborhood there were two arc lights On
one block and not one In the next ten
blocks, and that his domicile was between
the devil and the deep sea in the matter or
lighting, being between two wards, and
that the Hight there was not as good as
healthy lightning bug would make. Josilh
seconded this on the ground that II proper
~ came within the scope Of the public
works department, and the matter Was
passed TO the committee on revision.
Thus. little by little, is the city council OF
nine members only -shorn OF its prestige and
power, and protected, not only from cor
ruption emanating from wealthy corpora
tons, but from the ''inaooenee' OF the phi
mary magnates.
Dividing the Clerks Services.
Almost in the same direction was an ef-
fort made by Andrews 10 give the city
council only one-half OF a clerk. His propo-
~Etv ala n
be clerk OF public works. and he pushed II
strenuousiy on the ground Of economy.
President Preston moved TO amend this by
having a clerk from the comptrollers office
do the work. with such extra pay az the
council should decide. The argument on
the point was lengthy, and at times heated
Preston's point was that il was desirable TO
have one system OF bookkeeping, and this
could he done by having one OF the comp
troller's clerks take charge OF the books CT
the board Of public works. Winsor second
ed this on the ground that the department
OF public works had no need for accounts;
that their acquisitions and orders were suf-
fcfent for reference, and that al they
needed was a clerk OF record.
Hamltn pointed out that the clerk Of the
board OF public works was the purchasing
agent OF the city, and 70 dishonest comp
froller one OF hts clerks in that position
would DE- worth SsSoso year 10 the comp
trouer. He had no, IN mind any reference
10 the present comptroller. WinsOr inter-
posed that such clerk ought not 20 have
any such executive powers. and would not
have II the board did not shlrk its duty.
Temper argued that the clerk had To De r
competent and honorable man, and Baus-
man was also OF opinion that the board
would need an independent clerk at al
times. There was, OF course, a strong de-
sire for economy. bat this would be a cut
tn the wrong direction.
Joslin did not believe any OF the munich
nal clerks were soldering" but that the
clerical force OF tbs city was already cut
70 the lowest notch. Crane favored re-
trenchment, bat dl1 not think the accounts
81 the board should come into the comp
fro}Ier's Office, as Il would take away the
check on those accounts which now exists.
Windsor inttmated thai the keeping OF ac-
counts by the board Of public works was
entirely unnecessary, and that II was tbs
perpetuati0n o. system % give Jobs.
Joslin said one OF the clerks IN the comp
trogler's Office lived in the same hOlse with
him. and he knew that not only did that
-ssrl< mt IN A hard days work but often
worked late az night. Andrews said Il was
ALWAYS the case when al economy was at
TEMPTED that the man singled out and
e,-erv other Officer was worked 20 death.
There was = Tot q this discussion. some
aasulfory. some partt-personal. and some
containing interesting facts IL space could
De Afforded them. In the end. Preston :
saa,st!tuta MAS put and not a single member
voted ave" Then Andrews aueu trnent
sasefling the Office a. secretary % the board
OF public works upon the city clerk was
nut ard this was also lest.