The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-05-10

Seattle nay - considered 20 have - a.
most IDEAL form Of government IL the prfn-
csples laid down By Franklin Mcveagh. the
great authority On municipal reform. are
TO bs accepted a. correct. 1t has been re-
cssved In recent years as a fundamental
proposition that. In order 10 have pure cleo
lions. they must Be held with the Austria
lisn ballot; THAI primary elections should
be held under the regular and rigid control
arats city elections should be held. An
these things has Seattle done- Home rule
b one Of tho safeguards sst up By Mr.. Nc
yeagh: It In established In this city even
more completely than he has suggested.
becanss while hs advocates . charter
granted under the corporation law OF the
state. the principle Of having charter sub
mttsd to the people subjects II even more
directly TO their scrutiny. This also gives
II almost the force of the Initiative and the
referendum, which the most advanced re-
formers consider the highest form Of local
self-goyernment- As 10 his other require
ments. We have fulfilled them ell. namely,
limits OF taxation made by the state con-
sfifution and strict general laws Of the
state: . constitutional prohibition Of special
Iegissation: no appointments OF city officials
made by any state authority.
The same system Of municipal reform
calls for application OF the civil service. or.
as Mcyeagh calls II. n merit system. which
embraces all appointees and employees ex-
cept the elective officers and a few APP
pointive officers. who are wisely excepted.
franklin Mcveagh IL not very compli-
msntary TO the legislative branch OF mu-
nlcipal government. and thinks that the
council chiefly should be reconstructed.
II n, he says, the seat Of the serious cor
ruption and the occasion Of the serious evils
Of the situation. After declaring that re-
form Of the city council Ia more Imperative
by far than anything else, and that exist
ing evils OF city legislation are by far the
most prime evils Of city government. no In
dicstes certain general laws Of reform Tho
first Of these IL that all executive power
and authority should be taken away from
the council" The city OF Seattle Is subject
10 this principle except as 10 confirming
certain oflicials: and II is not all good citi-
Gems who will agree that this retention Of
power h entirely disadvantage. We are
inclined 10 impose upon the mayor entire
responsibility for his acts. which would pre-
won't him shielding himself behind an ad-
verso vote on the part Of the council or en-
a. 4. 49, tab
Of all his friends by sending to the council
in numbered rotation names he thought
would be rejected. reservlng the name Of
the man agreed upon until the last
THE right OF power to initiate the grant
ting Of franchises should be taken away
from the council" The power must rest
somewhere. and II Is well enough in the
hands az the council under such regulations
as have formed part OF the Seattle charter
for several years
mo power should reside IN the council
20 Increase assessments for taxation or tho
rate OF taxation. nor to authorize or create
debt. except within strict limits laid down
by the constitution and general laws OF
the state" The city Of Seattle conforms
strictly 10 this rule.
Common sense rules governing councils
20 prevent hasty and unconsidered actions
should be Incorporated IN the general laws
OF tho state Clearly good results are OBJ
tained by tho provision In our charter that
no ordinance shall be passed al the same
session At which II Is introduced. and no
ordinance granting a franchise shall be
passed within thirty days
The number Of members OF councils
shaii be carefully limited" Mr.. Mcyesgh
makes no suggestions as to the consiaera-
tons which are TO govern such limitation.
but we may suggest that the city Of Seat
tie has lived NJ to the Injunction.
Members should be elected for two
years. cne-haif At a time on general tick
cts" This. too. has been followed In tho
spirit ana with what w consider even an
improvement upon his plan.
IONS house is enouSh-to say the least
There Is very much to be ssia in favor OF
tsc houses. hut with fairly representa-
tive body. composed OF good citizens. and
with rules which serve 20 check hssty leg
issstion. one house Is probably AL tina, Is
needed by mes; municipalities.
Members should have reasonable and
adequate salarses-sni should not BE OK
pee,ea ,e steal them Mr.. Mcvoaxh b.
longs to ,As, class % reso-mers who wouh
not TAXA upon themselves ere a-auous
tasie. Of q city councilman. but does not
se-gpie to irsiuuzte thA: because a man Is
| willing 60 g. q, he mast ~ dishonest Sc
attic hiss recognized ,has The services o.
her cogeciiraen deserve recomperxe ana Z.
In oniy due 60 the strinEeney OF Tire times
| tina; they were rot awarded by the charter
commissioners larger salary than they
receive.
Mr. McVcaEh sar-enfcrs the idsa ones
heii ~ municipal rvserrers o, ncn-parss-
sAnship n civti government, ara l. com
ing sreapt 10 the view that party resroz-
sshliity - = better safeguard than author
ity without responsibility. ne make. ens
suEEcStsen Which = much rnore r-ac,ics-
| I've. when ne declares that TIRE remedy Fer
| evils IN lecal government; Is not sr1srene.
| eat PARTIES IN municipal Affairs. but inar-
pendent voting IA rnurselpsi affairs.
| n VII te seen. ther~sor~ TIA; ts1ss. h
a.. rules izis down ~ ere 81 TIE mos.
eminent authorities 90 the snet,e, IN,
people - the city 90 Seattle have thcaxA,
cut plaza q, government; which Ass ths
highest sneogesioAl sanrstcn. II there srs
| ssi ssiis IN spite - az tssso p-so.atscrs.
I; will proAShly he foaaa tia; tAsy ars
e1e 90 Tia fact tAas 10 tAsory AZ govern.