The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-02-01
The Legislative Department.


The Legislative Department.
Section 1. All legislative power OF the
City OF Seattle shall be vested in a mayor
Sec. z. Except az otherwise in this
charter provided. the city council shall con-
sist OF one member from each ward OF the
city aid four members elected from the
See g. Subdivision a At the general
municipal election In the year ls9S and at
each general municipal election thereafter.
there shall be elected by the electors OF each
ward CT the city one councilman who shall
hold office for a period OF two years, and
by the electors OF the city at large two
councilmen-at-iarge. each OF whom shall
hold office for period OF four years.
Subdivision II. Until the election In the
year 1898. 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 he composed as follows: The
nine men who are elected members of the
house of delegates at the general NUM-
cipai election In the year 1896 shall be MEM
bers OF the city council created by this
charter, and each shall serve for period
OF two years. and OF the five persons who
are elected al the general municipal cleo
ton In the year 1896 members OF the board
OF aldermen. the four who respectively re-
ceive 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 a period of two
years. In case OF tie vote. the outgoing
council shall In joint convention determine
the election or length OF tenn 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
n 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 exercise the powers granted II by the
charter OF the city OF Seattle which was In
force on the first day Of January. 1896
Subdivision c. 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 be made from the salary OF each
member who shall be absent from any reg
uiar meeting OF the city council.
Sec. T. Except as 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 a resident and elector 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 to the above requirements. he
shall have been a resident OF the ward from
which he Is elected and freehoider of the
city for at least two years next prior TO
fis election.
Sec. 3. A majority OF all members elect
ed shall constitute quorum. but a less
"
till 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 courcil shall
Ffrst-Annually. and also whenever a
vacancy occurs, choose from its members
it's president. who shall perform the usual
Functions OF presiding officer. and may
he removed by the affirmative vote of not
less than two-thirds OF all the members.
ia
ings.
Thlrd-Keep a Journal OF IT'S proceed
tngs and allow the proceedings TO be pub
lished. and take the yeas and nays on any
question on demand OF any two members
and enter the same In the journal
Fourth-Have authority TO punish its
members and others for disorderiy or 9TH
erwise contemptuous behavior I'm its pres
ence, and to tEpel for such behavior In it's
presence any member by the affirmative
vote OF not less than two-thirds of it's mem
hers. specifying in the order OF expulsion
the cause thereof.
Fifth-Have authority 20 create and use
committees of its members. in order 10
facilitate the discharge OF It's 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
otherwise expressly provided In this char
ter
OF witnesses as well as production OF pa
pera and things pertinent 10 business be-
fore IL or any OF It's committees
Sec. :. The city council shall have power
10 and shall appoint from Its members
committee. consisting OF three or more. to
be tienouinnted 'tflnanca committee. and
90 flil all vacancies in said committee. Such
committee snail have power 20 inv tigate
the transactions and accounts OF all Of
ficcrs having the collection custody and
disbursement OF public money. or having
the power TO approve. allow or audit de-
mands on the treasury. - shall have free
access 20 any records, books and papers in
all public Offices: and shall have power 20
administer oaths or sfTirmRtous. and TO
examine witnesses aud compel attendance
before IL 10y subpoena. Said committee
may visit any OF the I1hlic offices, when
and as often as IL thinks proper. and make
tts examinations and Investigations therein
without hindraucc. Ii shall De the duty ~
such committee as often as once IN every
six months 70 examine the official bonds
az all city Officers and repositories OF the
city funds. and inquire into and tnveSii-
gate the sufficfency ana soivency Of The
Surettes thereon and report the facts 20 the
MAYER. Such report shall spec ~ each bond
with the surOttes and the amount for which
each surety Is bound. and state whether
or not they are deemed sufficient and S0l-
vent Upon such report the mayor shah
act 50 as 90 protect the city. aud may re
Guf-e new bonds When necessary. ana ne
may suspend the officer Untfi sufficient
hcna IS fled ans approved. In the exer-
elise % SIS functions, concurrence Of a
ma toTtty Of tire members or said committee
shall be deemed sufficient said commit
tee shall keep a rccoTa 81 its proceedings
nftA The names OF the witnesses examined.
ana A substantial statement of the svi-
aenco takcn. IL frum the examination
faa e ky said committee 4 shall appear that
A Y,sizzfe.Bs.nor In office or a defAtcasion
has been committed % any officer. slid
COMMITTEES shRN Immediately report 10 the
rEavor. who. II re approve such report,
shall forthwith susrsna SUCH oittceT, and
take the proper steps an3eF this charter 20
remove Aim or 20 cause his removal ANY
poiict Officer SHAH execute the process and
orders OF said committee.
Sec The finance committee shah TIM
Yu,sliatsfys upon It's anpoiBtn1en, Sna semi
annually make a thorough examination %
All the books OF the city treasurer and city
sornIsf roller and report the result OF such
Investigations 10 the city COUNCIL.
See :. The council shall meet upon the
fi~St MONDAY 81 each month. o. X fhaf DAY
b. a legal holiday. then upon The ntNt oay
not a h0lklay thereafter. sna al It's sss-
Sons shah Re pUhllc. and u shall not eG-
sourrs 10 any ether place than SIS TeE4saT
felace az meeting rat the niSFnr. or IN hts
absence or disability the president % t1e
council or any three co8nSsluian. may eAll
A srssclal meeting % IRE council
Sec 10 EveEy legislative act or s&ss
city shall be by osaInAacs. Every oFSA-