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

The Legislative Department.
Section I. All legislative power OF the
City OF Seattle sh4iI be vested in a mayor
and q city council
sec. z Except az otherwise in this
charter provided the city council shall con-
sisf OF one member from each ward OF the
city and four members elected from the
city at large.
Sec. g. Subdivision A. At the general
municipal election IN the year 1s3s aEe 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 Tor a period OF two years. and
By tie electors OF the city at large two
counciimen-at-i2rgs each OF whom shall
hold office for period Of four years
Subdivision r. Until the election IN the
year 1875 and the organization OF the city
council thereup0E In pursuance Of the.pro-
visions OF Subdivision A OF this Section.
The city council shah consist OF thirteen
members and be composed as follows: The
niue men who are elected members OF the
house OF delegates al the general NUM-
efpaI election IN the year las shall BE- mem
hers OF the city council created by this
charter. and each shall serve for a period
OF two years. and OF the five persons who
e elected at the general municipal cleo
! gn III the year 1855 members Of the board
{ aldermen. the four who respectively re-
esiys the highest vote shall be the other
four members Of the city council created
b. 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 tie vote, the outgoing
council shall in joint convention determine
tho election or length OF term tby lott. The
Qualifications OF the members elected in
1895 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-
ell shall be constituted and composed as
IL is constituted and composed at the time
OF the adoption Of this charter. and each
house OF IL shall be governed by and have
and exercise the powers granted IL by the
charter OF the city OF Seattle which was Ia
force on the first day OF January. 1so6.
Subdivision G. 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 De made from the salary OF each
member who shall be absent from any reg
Clar meeting OF the city council.
Sec. T. Except SIS otherwise provided in
Section OF this Article. no person shall
be eligible for councilman unless he shall
have been citizen Of the United States
and resident and elsctor 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 10 the above requirements. he
shall have been a resident OF the ward from
which he Is elected and a freebooter OF the
CITY for at least two years next prior TO
lis election
Sec. s. a majority OF all members elect-
ed shall constitute a quorum. but a less
number may adjourn from day 10 day. or
TIL the time OF 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.
sec G. The city council shall
Ffrst-Annualiy, and also whenever a
vacancy occurs. choose from its members
its president. who shah perform the usual
functions Of a presiding officer. and may
be removed by the efTirTna tive vote OF not
less than two-thirds OF all the members.
second-Establish rules for it's proceed
ings.
Thsrd-Keep a Journal OF its proceed
fngs and allow the proceedings 10 be pub
ifshee. and take The yeas and nays on any
and enter tho same In the journal
Fourth--Have authority 20 punish It's
members and others for disorderly or 9th
erwise contemptGous behavior IN IS pres
presence any member by the affirma tive
vote OF not less than two-fhirds OF It's men,
beers. specifying in the order OF expulsion
the cause thereof.
Fifth-TIave authority 10 create ana Use
committees OF ITS members. IN order 10
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
Sixfh-Have power to compel attendance
OF witnesses as well as production Of pa
r,ers and things pertinent To business be-
fore 70 or any OF Its committees.
Sec Z The city council shall have power
20 and shall appoint from its members a
committee. consisting or three or more. to
b. Demonstrated finance committee" ana
10 MI all vacancies IN said COMMITTEES Such
the transactions and accounts OF all Of
fcers having abe collection. custody and
disbursement Of public money. or having
man6S on the treasury II shall have free
access % any records. books and papers in
all public Offices: and shall have power 10
administer oaths or antrmaticns. and 10
exnrnine witnesses and compel attendance
before it by subpoena. Said committee
may visit any OF the public offices, when
and as often as it thinks proper, and make
Cts examinations ana invest cations therein
without hindrance. II shall be the duty 81
such committee As often as once In every
six months 20 examine the official bonds
cf all city officers and repositories % the
city funds. and inquire into and inyestt-
gate the sufgiciencY and solvency 81 tae
suretles thereon ana report the facts - tho
mayor. Such report shall specify each bond
with the sarctteS and the amount for which
each surety - bound. and state whether
or not they are deemed sufficient and sol
Vent. Upon such report tia mayor shall
act SO as 70 protect the city. ard NAV re-
auiye new bonds y ben necessary. and De
may suspend the officer OuQl A sufficient
bond IS fi.,d and approved. In the exer-
else OF It's functions. a concurrence o. a
majority 81 TIE members ~ said COMMITTEES
lee shall keep a record Of ITS Yrncee,iiu srs
with the M mes 81 xhs witnesses examined
ana A substantial statement OF the svi.
arnce taken. IL from the examination
made ~ said committee Il shall appear that
a unisSfeuaeA nor in office or aefalcaEt
haS been committed BY any off5cer. sal
COMMITTEES shah Immediately report 10 fhs
f,savor. who. q re approve sGch report
shall forthwith suspassd such oIirer. an
take the proper step antcr fhis charter q
remove him or 10 cause as removal Ans
f1afice officer shall execute The process ans
orders % said committee
So THE finance Gem s1itfee shan frr,
rse48tatsly upon It's appointment and sent
annually make thorough examination %
eli tha hssokS OF the city treasurer ana city
.-orstpfrolier, and reFsart the result 60 such
tnVesttsa tions 10 the city council.
See g. The council shall meet upon TIE
erss Monday of each month. % X that day
,, a LEGAL holiday. then upon tire next Gas
not a holiday thereafter, and all its SEES
Ff0nS shall 30 rfsA,tc. and i shah not &c'
sotrf 10 any other place than tlS regular
i,lsee % meeting. hut the MAYER, - IN rs
ABSENCE or disability the president ~ tAs
sas,F,~fl or any three cSuncttmeu. may caA
: sfessiai meeting of tse council
S.~s. 10 Every legislative act 81 81 Z
city shall IL ~ ordnance livery osSs-