The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-22
THAT KALEIDOSCOPE.
The Shifting and Shifting of
the Charity Commission.
Mr.. sAUsMAN FOR THE DEFENSE
The Sunday Closing Bugaboo Again
MateriaIizes-The Snarled Red Tape
About the Next Election.

The charter commission spent most Of
smart about the hold-overs in the present
council and the election OF new body I'M
der the new charter, and IN doing SO tied
many new knots. and eventually had to
refer the whole matter 70 a special COM
mittee, consisting OF Bausman, Andrews
and winsor, who had tried so hard To talk
out the knots and kinks.
The Council Ag I'm.
The hall OF discussion was started rolling
by Chairman Preston. He suggested that
the city council. under the new charter,
should be selected from those who would
be elected TO the council under the existing
charter at the coming election.
Bausman objected 10 this on the ground
that IL was probably Illegal under the state
law. which requires that the mayor ap-
point the new officers under the new char
ter. and that his appointees hold Office UNI
til the next municipal election under the
new charter. He maintained that as the
council had been changed from two houses
10 one, the counciimen under the new
charter would be new and different officers
from what they would be under the old
charter, and hence the mayor would have
the right 10 fll these offices, unless the
commission provided for fresh election
to fill them. Accordingly, Bausman ar
gued that they should submit the charter
to a vote OF the people few days ahead
OF the coming municipal election on March
30 under the present charter: then, If the
new charter were adopted. the election I'M
der the present charter would not be held,
hut the nominees could stand over until a
later date. which the new charter itself
would prescribe as the first municipal cleo
ton.
In this way no legal difficulties would be
encountered. Some additional expenses
would be entailed, probably from 81 600 to
1880 by reason of holding two elections
instead or one, but, on the other hand,
there would be no danger at all OF the
mayor having the appointing power for
two years, as there might be under Chair
man Preston's scheme.
This was argued against because of the
month that must eiapse between the two
elections and the apparent necessity there
would be on the part Of the political par
ties 10 nominate two sets of candidates.
Andrews thought they could afford to
take chances on that. although, as the
chairman interposed. they would have two
sets of nominees, perhaps, and only one
set Of Offices. Bausman again explained
the legal aspects of the vexing situation,
and in reply TO Tremper as to whether,
under the primary law, the nominees of
the March 80 election would be the nomi-
nees OF the election proposed to be held in
April. he said they would If so ordained by
the convention, and this could be easily
arranged.
After some further talk Andrews crys-
tallized the various suggestions into the
following resolution: THAT IL is the sense
OF this commission that we should proceed
in framing this charter on the theory that
IL will be submitted few days prior 10 the
general election in March. to be held at
some time later than March"
Winsor said there was nothing to fear
from the party that had already made
nominations. He did not think that affect
. Ill TN.
did not desire the commission to swerve
one hairs breadth with any reference 10
the candidates already in the field. If the
idea OF a second election was carried he
thought * would be a good plan to hold II
on the same date as Tacoma held her cleo
ton, so that heelers and repeaters could
not 20 from the one election to the other.
There followed number OF questions,
and at length the proposition that the
charter should he submitted at the March
election, and that the nine councimen
elected, with thu four hold-over members
OF the present body to be the councrimen
at large, was voted upon and was lest by
eight to four.
Bausrnan again asked what there was
against his plan Of submitting the charter
three days before the election, and II II
carried holding the election n month after.
II the charter was not adopted then the
election would 60 on under the old charter.
Joslin said the objection was that the gen.
tlemen nominated would naturally seek to
defeat the new charter. As 10 the fear OF
the mayor filing the vaca ncies he thought
they might risk that. In the end Baus-
mans proposition put IN the general terms
OF Andrews resolution. was adopted
The chairman suggested that some plan
should be proposed TO get the troublesome
thing IN shape, and on the motion Of An
drews a special committee OF three was
appointed. To report today Bausman.
committee.
winsor closed the debate on the vexing
question by moving that the biennial cleo
lions he held on the same day as those Of
Tacoma, for reasons already mentioned,
and no objection was raised TO this.
The Liquor Question.
Then the ghost OF the liquor bugaboo
again materialized. and discussion en-
sued that was as lively as any that have
already been made on the subject II came
up on n bill introduced by Bausman, as
follows:
IAN acts heretofore passed requiring the
closing OF drinking houses or saloons on
Sunday. or at a particular hour OF any
day. are hereby repealed, SIS well as ell
acts submitting said regulations in the al
tentative"
De Wolfe said this was one OF the ques-
lions upon which they had marched up the
hill and then marched down again. II
looked very natural and reasonable thing
20 do 20 submit this proposition to the
popular vote. bat when one came 70 exam
me the effect of a vote az this sort Il would
be seen that II would be injurious and
probably fatal 70 the charter. They had
changed the provisions of the charter and
then made this alternate proposition. Sup
rose the latter should Re ratified and the
charter voted DOWN. He then referred TO
the political activity Of the liquor dealers.
NOT that he feared IL. but he thought II un-
wise. for matter az such doubtful utility,
10 endanger the charter.
Andrews said Bausman must have BEEN
told nv interested parties that the saloon
interest would KIN the alternative and the
charter but he did not imagine he had any
idea Of attempting 70 overave the on1rnis-
sio7 by such statements Now. he didn't
IKE 10 be driven out OF his manhood. and
~ he voted 20 repeal the statute they Rad
passe4 he would be ashamed FOR the rest
az his ne The position taken by the
Honor dealers was an insult 20 the frteg-
INV and manhood ov every one there.
JosWn wondered whether there had ever
t,a4, as shifting a body as this one. No
one was more sorry than he 70 have such
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