The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-12-21
CREIGHTON Charges DELAY.
Wants the City to Award Cedar
River Contract.
Ne Is TOLD TO INVESTIGATE.
epeesal Csmmiftee Presents IN Ordi-
nance IscyeasinE Salaries In Fire
and Police Department.. but De-
manA That All City Salaries BE
Advanced Causes . Postpone ment
Of Acfion-Charfer Amendments.


Owing very largely 10 the fact that
counciinuen Navin and ellison had on their
speecil-rnakIng clothes the weekly meeting
OF the city council last night, which con-
yensa at 7.gs O'Clock did not adjourn until
after II. Between those hours some i'm
portan; business was transacted There
was a row over the Cedar river water
question. President Cr!ehton brought 1t on
by making a speech, in which he said It
was common talk On the streets that the
city council il INDUCING In unnecessary
delay In giving the city the proposed plant.
Navia and others delivered speeches. The
speeches came after q motion had been
made to refer report which City Comp
trolier Parry submitted relative TO the
financial condition OF the water scheme.
McArdle. who was in the chair and VINO
Is admitted to be good parliamentarian.
allowed the spaech-ma king 20 so on, but
after II was over stated that the whole
thing was out Of order and had nothing
whatever TO do with the motion before
the council.
The repor. was finally referred to one
committee and Crichton. Navin, Chapman
and Herman were named as a special
committee TO investigate and report as 70
whether matters In connection with the
water scheme have progressed so far as
TO permit OF the present city government
letting the contract for the work. AS
matter Of fact, James, who made the mo-
tion creating the committee. and the 9TH
err mefpbers OF the council, who support
cd II. DO not believe that Il viii be possi-
Bile for the present administration 10 let
the contract, but desire that Criehton and
others. who are not satisfied I'm their own
minds as to what the present state OF at
fairs Is. shall investigate for themselves.
Among the other matters before the
council was an ordinance introduced by
iiurd. Herman, James Rude and Taylor,
increasing salaries In the police and fire
departments. There was long wrangle
as To whether or not Ii would be advisable
for the city council to advance salaries OF
all city employees. and not only those of
the fire and police departments.
Gilsdn and Raymond were added To this
committee. The ordinance introduced by
the original committee relating To salaries
in the fire and police departments Was re-
ferred 10 the committee for further
consideration. II having been stated that it
was the desire 10 make certain changes
In II,
The petition for the regarding of First
avenue, north of Pike. was read and re-
fsrred 10 n committee which Will report
at the next meeting. Several proposed
charter amendments were introduced One
fixes the annual license Of wholesale !tquor
dealers Of the city at 500. another COM
pels properiy-ownsrs 90 pay for certain
extensions Of water mains: a third gives
The city the right at any time TO improve
sidewalks. streets etc. and allow the cost
70 become "A first Hen against the abutting
property; another relates to the granting
Of city franchises. They will all be con-
sidered by the council In committee Of
the whole.
When the council convened city Comp
iroller Parry made a report showing that
up 20 December I. 1877. s19fiosI has been
expended I'm connection with the Cedar
river water scheme. Corporation Counsel
Brown made short statement. explain
'ng the legal difficulties that had been en-
cauntered.
Cedar River.
Ardle 90 the chair and addressed She coun-
Sii on the Cedar river water plant lie be-
HeSed, no said, that there was too much
delay IN the matter. Il seemed 10 aim
that too much time was being lost Time
was lying. and very soon new men would
tie In the city council They may be favor
able ~ the Cedar river plant and they may
not. There may be men at work in this
eity today who wish 10 defeat the scheme
and TIE city council should settle the mat
ter. the president said. once and for all
The people, 10y good sized vote, said they
wanted the Cedar river plant. ard there
Is reason Ia believe that they desired the
CITY government TO move rapidly with the
work
The speaker said ne did not wish 10 Grill
else any city official because of tho delay
II may be that the corporation counsel
ot'sce wes 20 blame. may be the city engi-
heer. and nav be the city council l. may
he that no one Is 10 blame. Bu, il is GER
taia that future movements should 10
prompt II the corporation counsel or the
city ensineer wants additional help. Presi-
dent crichton said he believed the council
would be willing 20 give f.
As far as ! am concerned" he sail
= want Il understood that an, I'm favor
81 pushing this matter and letting the con-
tFaci x The earliest possible date This
council is familiar With The details. II has
followed carefully each and every mova
At@"@ towards t1e construction OF the
plant and Il IS In the hes, position 10 let
the contract and thus bring about the ac-
comeltshmeHt 81 The great scheme"
SsNin was willing that the Cedar river
plant should be given careful corsldera-
zion; willing that the city engineer and ~.
corporation counsel should take their tiYue
and see that every detail receives the most
careful consideration; willing that II 4erez-
cary, the matter 81 letting the cer,trae,
should 50 over and Re the work OF the new
council "
The men," sAl4 <svin .'who are efee.ns
next March viii ~ compelled % vnta =,
further RE Cedar river plant. There Is 70
aonof ahcuf that. ard. a SAY gn slow
with The plan. ara {: the new council Is 10
award sAs contract. al right"
Nsv'n IN the course Of hts re.y-s~lu xy~.,,
81 the fact that in the pas. Mavnr Iln,usa
had eeea opposed 10 the Cedar river
echera
1srnes SAID Re knew that Nswo- rrf,.,ee
IL new IS strongly ir favor % sha s~axss-
river Plan e. any other member ~ ~.
cisv government. James tuAcrprs Wa,
Nssin said as 10 proceeding SLOWLY Hs
oesir-a that this contract should be- let =.
the earliest possible data bat he believe,
thar II was the euty 90 ths couacn -
wAsrAt every rroyes weigh y vel an.
when s.sr was takan know TIA, u u-fl
20 srer In tire Interests 90 the cftv So;
TIRE Cestar river schema
ellison delivered a sp~ech urging esrfv
action He roasted Navia, ard tnsistes
that 'jf the Per. should spt 81 n.xt
March" they woui3 spend rot 81 40 IN,
So @se m the eonssructson oe the rsrx
r8snt. Ths coctras: would ~ set ir, &c.
tic-s. ard there wou!s DC 800 rops ln each
sectic=.