The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-02-04
ARTICLE w.
The Legislative Department.

The Legislative Department.
Section I. All legislative power OF the
City OF Seattle shall be vested In mayor
and city council
Sec. 2 Except "a Otherwise IN TINS
charter provided, the city council snail CON
sist OF one member from each ward OF the
city aid four members elected from the
city at large.
municipal election ia the year ls9S and at
each general municipal election thereafter,
there shall be elected by the electors OF each
ward OF the city one councilman who shall
by the electors OF the city at large two
councilmen-at-large, each OF whom shah
hold Office for period OF four years.
Subdivision y. Until the election In the
year issS. 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-
cipal election in the year 1896 shall be men,
bers OF the city council created by this
charter. and each shall serve for a period
o. two years. and OF the five persons who
elected at the general municipal cleo
IN In the year 1896 members OF the board
aldermen. the four who respectively re-
1--WE 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 period OF two
years In case OF a tie vote, the outgoing
council shall In joint convention determine
the election or length OF term tby loD. The
qualifications OF the members elected In
1896 shall be such as prescribed for them
respectively by the charter which Is super
seeded hereby. Until the organization Of
the city council under the foregoing pro-
visions Of this Subdivision, the city coun-
Gil shall be constituted and composed as
it Is constituted and composed at the time
OF the adoption OF this charter, and each
house OF II shall be governed by and have
and an exercise The powers granted Il by the
force on the first day OF January. 1886.
subdivision Each member OF the city
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
uiar meeting OF the city council
Sec. 4. Except as otherwise provided in
Section 8 or this Article. no person shall
be eligible for councilman unless he shall
have been a citizen OF the United States
and a resident and elector of the city for
at least four years next prior 20 his cleo
ton. and no person shall he eligible for
election by the electors OF any ward unless,
IN addition TO the above requirements, he
ehali 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
his election.
See s. a majority OF all members eleot-
ed shall constitute a quorum. but a less
number may adjourn from DAY 10 day. or
till the time OF the next regular meeting.
and may compel the attendance OF alb
cent members in such manner and under
such penalties as the council shall pre-
scribe
Sec. 6. The city council shall
First-Annually. and also whenever q
vacancy occurs. choose from its members
It's president, who shall perform the usual
functions q presiaing officer. and may
less than two-thir1s OF all the members.
Seeond-Estahlish rules for its proceed
ings.
Third-Keep a Journal OF its proceed
ings and allow the proceedings 10 be pub
lishea and take the yeas and nays on any
question on demand OF any two members
and enter the same I'm the Journal
Fourth-Have authority TO punish SIS
members and others for disorderly or 9TH
erwise contenptuous behavior in its pres
once, and 10 expel for such behavior ia Its
presence any member by the afftrma tive
vote OF not less than two-thirds OF its mem
bers. specifying IN the order OF expulsion
the cause thereof.
committees Of its members. in order &c
facilitate the discharge OF its legislative
functions provided. that no committee OF
the council and no part OF any COMMITTEES
and no member shall have or exercise ex-
ecsttive or administrative power. except rs
otherwise expressly provided in this char
Ter.
SiNth-Have power to compel attendance
Of witnesses as well a production Of pa
pora and things pertinent 10 business be-
fore It or any Of its committees.
Sec. Z. The city council shall have power
70 and shah appoint from its members a
committee. consisting OF three or more. e
be denominated finance committee" and
10 nm all vacancies in said committee. Such
committee shall have power TO tnvcstigst q
the transactions and accounts OF all Of.
ficers having the collection. custody and
disbursement or public money. or having
the power 20 approve. allow or audit de
IN have fras
access 80 any records. books and papers II
eli public offices. and shall have power x
administer oaths or aairmations, and e
essmine witnesses and compel attendance
before IL by subpoena. said committee
may visit any OF the public offices. whef
and as often Il thinks proper. and make
its examinations ana investigations there II
without hindrRnce. IL shall be the duty a
such committee as often as once ia ever,
six months 20 examine the official bonds
OF all city Officers and repositories OF th,
city funds. and inquire into and investi
gate the sufficiency and solvonCy OF ths
sureties thereon and report the facts to th'
mayor. such report shall specify each bone
with the sureties ana the amount for which
each surety Is bound. and state whether
or not they are deemed sufficient and sol
vent. Upon such report the mayor shall
act SO as 70 protect the city. and may re
outre new bonds when necessary. and ~
may suspend the ofticcr unSfl a suTicien
bond IS flied and approved In the exer
else OF SIS functioss. a concurrence OF
majority ~ the members OF said commfite,
shalt be deemed sufficient. said commit
tee shall keep a record % Its Proceedings
with the names % TIE witnesses examined
ard a substantial statement OF the eNi
dsnee taken. II from the exam nation
made hx said committee Il shah appear TIA
a rnlsaefnesn0r IN Office or a defaicatiol
HAS been committed ~ any Officer, saa
COMMITTEES snail Immediately report 70 tn
fsssvor who. T. ne approve such report
shall forthwith scspend such onicev. an,
take the proper step aOaer this charter {,
remove him or - cause IS removal An
Y,,llce officer shall eNecUts aaa process al.
erserS 81 said committee
Sa~ \ The finance committee shan I'm
rnesftateiY upon It's appointment AMI SCENT
anunally make a thorough eXanagna ton .
ali the books OF the city treasurer ana cig'
c0uptrQiler. and report Tho result % sacl
tpxesffgatfous to TIRE city council
sec. = The council shall meet upon a.
sfst Mardav ~ each month. OF X tAAi Ga,
fA a lewai holiday. then upon the next Ca
not a holiday thtrcattey. and al 4ts seS
ssans shah be Gsthstc. and - snah not al
sourn % any other place than ats reg0l2
Ylare OF meeting euS me mayor OF "a hi
ABSENCE or disability the pres3dent % a,
council or any three counciiEaen, may cal
a stsss.ial meeting of the council
&c. 10 Every legislative at OF SAsl
city sAaa es ~ ordinances. Livery eEdl