The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-12-24
STILL Talking AMENDMENTS.
CITY COUNCIL MEETS As COMMIT.
TEE OF THE WHOLE.
Chapman's Proposed Amendment Re-
ducfsg the Number Of the Council
and Giving the President 4I 700 .
Year Killed by Unanimous Vote.

The members Of the city council III COM
unIttee of the whole last night killed DIR.
Chapmans proposed amendment TO the
city charter providing that the council
should consist Of one member from each
Of The nine wards Of the city and one
councilman at large. The proposed
.,afudment was discussed in detail. and
the members were unanimous in saying
that II was not good one. Even DR..
CHAPMAN did not cast an affirmative vote.
He had explained at the outset that he
amply submitted the amendment because
he believed that II would cure some pres
ent defects. but If the council did not
think so he was willing that they should
report unfavorabiy upon it. The amend
meut provided that the member at large
elected at the coming election should be
president Of the city council, Chairman
Of the board Of public works. and
that ne should receive a salary Of
800 per year. DR.. Chapman ex-
planned that his reason for cutting
Gown the councilmen-at-iarge from four
members to one was due to the fact that
Il would destroy what is now a great in
Justice 10 certain wards OF the city. He
insisted that the councilmen-at-large are
always elected IN the downtown wards,
and that as a result outside wards were
not given the representation In the coun-
ci. to which. by reason OF their large In
terests. they are entitled.
The members OF the council offered va
rious objections to the amendment Hurd
did not believe that the charter relating
to the board OF public works as II now
exists should be changed for another two
years There has been much hard work
done In bringing about satisfactory ar
rangement Of details In the board, he said,
tY.arn be. rfal 1z4u
tons to II. The people are evidently salts
fed with the arrangement or they would
come In and ask for change.
James was opposed to the idea OF re-
ducing the council. He said that he had
favored the old system of having two
houses because 1t created a greater safe
guard for the peoples money. During the
next two years the city will spend thou
sands OF dollars. and James said he
thought II advisable to keep up the plan
of having thirteen counciimen. Herman
spoke against the proposed amendment.
and 1t was finally decided to kill II.
Another matter which came up for dis
cussion and which was quickly disposed
Of involved James proposed amendment
that hereafter corporations asking for
railroad franchises should be compelled
10 pay to the city a certain percentage of
their gross earnings. Judge Burke ap-
peareG before the council with the sug-
gestion that the amendment be changed
20 as not TO include transcontinental rail-
roads. The change was made. It having
been Mr.. James idea from the start that
the amendment should refer only to stree,
railway companies.
Probably the most serious matter which
received consideration from the coun-
Gil. and because Of Its Importance went
over until future meeting. relates 10 CITY
Engineer Thomson Within few months
his exclusive time will necessarily be re-
quired In looking after the work In con.
necfion with the construction of the Cedar
river water plant. II viii be impossible
Tor him to give any of his time to the
! duties OF chairman OF the board OF pub
lie works which the present charter Inn
poses upon him. He will be out of the city
I'VE and six days and sometimes seven
and eight at time. Every detail in con-
nect!cn with the construction will have TO
receive his personal attention lie has been
four years in preparing himself TO take
charge of what is conceded to be one OF
Inc greatest bits of engineering In the his
tory OF the country.
In view OF these facts n will ia peees
fsry to relieve him OF the duties OF chair
man OF the board of public works. None
OF the eouncslmen seemed willing to as
sumo the responsibility OF an amendment
bringing about the change. They feel GER
tain that Il must come. but as Mr. James
said IL All he necessary To go slow. Many
suggestions were made. Mr. Rudy thought
u would he a good idea to create the Of
Zee OF superintendent of buildings. bridges.
WharFes. parks and houlavards II was
aiso suggested that Er Thomson's chief
assistant he empowered 10 act as chair
man IN tho absence OF the city engineer.
another councilman believed that Mr..
thomson might he made constructing en-
9lheer, having exclusive charge of the pro-
posed plant. and that the mayor be left
'o name city engineer. There were GER
IAN things about this suggestion which
hsae II fatal and In the end a committee
VIZ appointed to weigh the matter ana
MAKE n report n: an early meeting.
" was decided TO take IN the civil serv-
~ matter later. Dr. Chapman smoke
ofisi'r upon the subject az submitting an
amendment providing for The abolition OF
si'l service lie urged that the people
- MOI desire IT, and expressed the belief
~" ms proposed amendment. providing
.Vi us abolition. should he submitted 10 the
NepleA next March Mr.. James pointed
.et me Tact that the present city charter
- pefheated with civil service ideas and
, s' Il wa be necessary 10 have the mat
vi carefully considered ard an amendment
nVPaFed by the corporation counsel II
as agreed that the matter should he
saAen on AZ another meeting