The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-03-08
MUNICIPAL OFFICES.
Those to Which the Mayor Can
Appoint.
THOSE UNDER CIVIL SERVICE.
Where the New Charter Seemed TO
Operate Cufatriy-The New
Administration.
THOSE UNDER CIVIL sERvIc

The new charter has worked an IN ius-
tice for which its trainers cannot be aeii
responsible. as they We're unable 10 foresee
II. II provides that the city council shall
b. composed Of nine oouncilmen one from
each ward. and four counciirnsn-at-IaF=se.
That The candidates elected under the
Old charter should he treated as fairly as
possible il was provided that of the FIVE
aldermen elected under it, the two having
the highest number of votes should be
couaciimen- at-large for four years. and
the two others having the next highest
number Of votes should be counc.ilors-s5-
large for two years. This seems as fair as
it could be. and yet under its operation
McArdle becomes a member of the coun-
Gil for four years. MeArdie only re-
ceivsd - per cent. of the votes OF his
constituency. while Hiram G. GIN, elect
81 as alderman from the Third ward gets
left, although he polled s3 per cent. of mis-
constituency. In fact. of the FIVE candi-
dates Of the First. Third. Fourth. Fifth
and Sixth wards respectively. Mr. GIL
received the highest percentage of votes.
with rhe single exception OF Mr. James, IN
the Fourth ward.
The mayor-elect was not particularly
occupied with applicants for ONCE yest~r-
day. as II is beginning to be underst ocd
that under the new chatter ne has not SO
many rich plums in his giving. He has,
OF course. the sppoin iment of Ave park
committeeman. who are TO act as an adj
visory boa.d OF the superintendent of
parks. and are 10 be appointed for terms
of from one to five years, but the appii-
cants FOR these offices 10 not by their num-
Der seriously interfere with the business
OF the mayor. one who was more Of a
politician than a newspaper reader lad
the temerity TO ask what the salary was
He passed sadly out. without leaving his
name. and the clerk in the Seattle Hard
ware Company busy shipping ALASKA
picks and shovels, overheard him MUIR
muir; And what is honor but a name.
a sound that lulls 10 sleeps
The mayor-elect also has the appoint
ment OF i've library commissioners under
the same plan and a, the same salary as
the park advisory board. and for these
positions there also seems 10 be few hun
CRY.
But for the three members OF the civil
service board there are a number who
willing to sacrifice their personal in
terests fer the honor-and 800 a year. The
mayor-eleci is devoting great care and
study TO The selection of three men 70 fill
these positions. as he deems il OF the graf
est importance that the first trial of The
civil service rules in the city should be
made under the most favorable auspices
and circumstances. The men he hopes 70
secure. he says. VIII be such "a the pubic
VIII nave the utmost commence IN TIC
might have adde J. and such as could thin
selves pass rigid examination, 10Y This
prOviso would rid him. probably. Of some
OF those coveting the honor-and the 500
a year.
Mr. Black has also In his appointments
a city engineer, who shall be chairman #
the board OF public works. for a term ex-
piring December 81. 1896; a superintende Mt
OF streets sewers and parks. for a term
nirfr bNr n
tendent OF lighting and water works for
a term expiring December 81. 1895 He can
also appoint port warden. and after this
his appointments Of librarian, chief Of po-
lice and chief OF fire department are SUD-
tect to civil service examinations.
The corporation counsel has the ap-
pointment of assistant corporation coun-
sci. city attorney and clerk. Mr. Brown
has been sick for two days with \ severe
cold so seekers for these appointments
have not been able to see him.
The comptroller has the appointment OF
A chief clerk without the interference OF
civil service rules. The comptroller under
the new charter is also city clerk, and
Mr. Parry's ac; In selecting r. +. Stewart
as his chief clerk seems but a matter Of
Justice In view of the fact that Mr. Stew
art was elected 10 the office of city clerk
under the odd charter. by a very large
vote. The rest OF the compiroller's clerks
coma under civil service rules. those re-
tanned being under the necessity of pass
Ing an examination during the ensuing
six months.
The city treasurer appoints all his clerks
without reference to civil service rules
The board Of public works selects its own
clerk. hut under>Sivil service rules. The
board Of health appoints a health officer
without reference 10 civil service rules.
and a sanitary Inspector after a civil ser
vice examination. The civil service board
itself has some patronage, as II appoint
tho commissioner OF labor, who will also
be The secretary of the board
The now municipal government VIII be
inaugurated next Monday week. March
| IL. and probably none 81 the mayors ap-
pointments will be announced before that
date.