The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-03-17

have Little difficulty In meeting our inter-
est debt and paying the necessary mu-
nicspal expenses. economically admins
istered. We have at this time, however
No positive assurance that even a
fair percentage of these taxes Will be c3l-
iected this year. II We must Judge from
the payments made 70 this date. ard that
IS the only safe basis for present judg-
merit. il Will be doubtless observed
from the figures above given that less
than ~ per cent. OF the taxes are to be
applied - current expenses. nearly 30
per cent being levied for payment Of in
terest. and the balance for the liquida-
ton Of Old debts. Therefore, Il we col
lsct but 50 per cent. of the tax roll we
shall have barely enough to pay interest
on our bonds. which must be promptly
met If We are to maintain the nigh credit
Of our city. Our other resources are de-
iinquent taxes. from which little income
may be expected this year. and the rev
enue from the water plant and from
f1nes, licenses and fees The situation
calls for rigid economy and prudent man
agement. / do not doubt but that the
legislative department viii prove itself
equal to the emergency and all measures
which have for their aim the uainte-
nance Of the present high standard of the
credit Of the city will have the hearty
support OF the executive.
"A plan by which the city can be kept
upon a cash basis by the anticipation of
It's revenues has Decn formulated by the
comptroller and received the approval OF
The finance committee OF the recent eoun-
Gil This plan Will be laid before your
honorable body and viii doubtless receive
due consideration by you
These are the only matters concerning
which | feel called upon TO address your
honorable body at this time. Not doubt
ing that the relations between the legIs-
tive and executive branches will al all
tunes be pleasant and characterized by
irankness and candor On the part of each.
ana that either VII follow that harmony
of action which is always so necessary
TO the most efficient exercise of the func
tons Of both. and that We shall thereby
JUSTIFY the confidence reposed in US by
the people. / am, respectfully yours.
FRANK d. BLACK. Mayor"
The Mayors Appointments.
After listening to this conservative docu-
ment and straining its point according to
the color of the prejudice through which
they viewed ii. the crowd was treated
TO the announcement OF the mayors first
appointment. which was that OF r. II.
Thomson for city engineer and president of
the board OF public works. and there was
some cheering. James moved that the APP
poiniment he confirmed. and as soon as 1t
was seconded McArdle moved that il be
laid over for one week James said that
ordinarily that would be the best plan. but
he thought that. in this case. for several
reasons * would ae best to confirm the
nomination. However. it rested with the
majority Of the house. McArdle made no
explanation of his motion. and his amend
ment was put TO the vote. 1t was carried
Dy to T. the latter being James. Chapman,
D0dds and ellison.
The next communication from Mayor
Black was the appointment of Luther r.
Young as superintendent OF lighting and
water works. which is really a reappOini-
ment, as he is now a member OF the board
of public works. James. in this case.
marched in advance of the opposition and
moved that this appointment take the same
course the previous one. and be laid over
for "A week. All the appointments after
This were treated in the same way. no Oh
lection being raised after the first vote.
The appointments were. NJ Dishon as su-
perintendent of streets. sewers and parks;
Martin c. Jensen as port warden. reap
pointment. and the following as the library
commission; Charles a. Taylor. Alex F.
McEwan. George Donworth. Charles E.
Shepard and Austin +. Burwell. This con-
cluded the messages from Mayor Black.
The new council next took UP two assess
ment rolls, one for the Improvement OF
Caller street and the other for the improve
ment Of East Columbia street. against
neither of which mad objections been filed.
No objections were rahjed TO them. and
they were accepted and confirmed.
Council Blu No. /.
Hurd then introduced council bill No.
L. which was for the necessary changes in
the city hall building az described in the
P0st-Intelligencer yesterday Hurd eX-
planned the necessity. stating the cost at
about 500. and the bill passed
President Crichton then said that the
standing committees would be appointed
later after there had been time 10 study
out the best selections 10 be made but
Hurd saw no reason why committee on
rules and the order of business should not
be appointed at once. The president there
upon appointed as such committee James.
McArdle, Hurd, Rudy and Chapman
The council then adjourned until next
Monday evening.