Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1897-10-08
COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS.
Confederate important Business
Was Done.

Considerable important Business
Was Done.
Council met in regular session Mon
day night-Wilson absent.
Bills for current expenses read, APP
proved and ordered paid.
The committee on Streets, Wharves
and Bridges reported completion of
the Twelfth street work.
The committee on Franchises,
License and Sewerage reported favor
ably on the application of G. Noschka
for liquor license, and the same was
approved.
On motion OF Councilman Murphy,
supported by Forbes, Chas. NJ. Dial
was appointed Police Justice for the
remainder OF the current term.
Petition from Olympia Light and
Power Company for privilege of sus-
pending operation of the gas plant for
the period of two years was read, to
gethcr with a protest against granting
such petition, submitted by Olympia
Lodge /. 0. o. F. Referred to COM
mittee on Judiciary.
Mayor Byrne returned his veto on
the ordinance passed at the last meet
ing, prohibiting the breaking of win
dow lights, etc. The Mayor was in
sympathy with the purposes of the
ordinance, but thought it not suf-
ficiently explicit in its terms to pre-
vent abuses in its enforcement. The
ordinance was read and some of its
defects pointed out to the satisfaction
of the Council. The Mayor was sus-
tanned in his veto by "a vote of three to
two.
A communication from Hazard
Stevens suggested compromise of his
taxes due the city, on basis of his
payment of the tax, together with six
per cent interest, and actual disburse-
ments of the city in the litigation of
the controversy. He urged that his
had been a test case, and he deemed it
unfair that he be denied the benefits
of the rebates on delinquent taxes al
lowed by the legislature. He said
he was advised that he had the right
to settle his taxes on the six per cent.
basis, without penalty and costs, but
he suggested this as a means to avoid
further litigation and delay.
He also suggested settlement of the
street grade taxes levied against Mrs.
Margaret L. Stevens for $25 and the
city's actual costs.
City Attorney Troy gave "Jack
Bunsby" opinion regarding the status
OF the proceedings in the test case
made by the city, in which the lean
ing seemed to favor the views of the
majority of the Council, whose opin-
ions in the protracted litigation in this
case have become very generally
known.
Councilman Savage moved a rejec-
ton of the compromise offered by Gen.
Stevens, and Councilman Murphy re-
sisted the motion.
Mayor Byrne counseled against any
show OF vindictiveness toward former
litigant against the city and Alder
man Murphy urged the acceptance of
the prefer of the delinquent taxpayer.
He thought it would be sound bust
ness policy so accept the several hun
dred dollars proffered than to wait
year or more and run the risk of still
further delay. He counseled a spirit
OF federation towards citizens who had
public spirit in local affairs. Coun-
Gilman Scofield moved an accept
ance of the compromise suggested
by Gen. Stevens, provided he would
make payment of the statutory costs
instead OF actual disbursements, and
make settlement by 6 o'clock Tuesday
evening, October 9Th. This was finally
adopted by full vote of the Council.
In the matter of demand of T. N.
Allen for reassessments to make good
liens for street grade warrants, by re-
assessing abutting property, City At
torney stated that on much of the
work done in 1891, wherein the
statute of limitation had run prior to
the passage of the law of 1895, ex-
tending the statute Limitation from
two to ten years the assessments had
been illegal. He said the city is
trustee, or in that relation. The STU
preme Court has never passed directly
upon the liability of the city wherein
the city may have failed to use every
means within its power to collect for
the payment Of special grade fund
warrants. The assessment, if illegal,
is the same as though no assessment
has been made. The duty then is to
reassess.
Schofield moved that the city pro-
coed to reassess all streets wherein as
sessment was illegal, but his motion
was voted down.
On motion of Mr.. Scofield the sum
of $25 was appropriated to pay the
Chief of Police for extra labor in col
lecting the dog tax, Murphy voting
no.
Another communication from Gen.
Stevens recited his grading and beau
tifying Maple Park ON contract with
the city, his receipt of the city's por-
ton of payment for that work, and
contributory portion OF the amount to
be assessed to abutting property.
Much of the property, he recited, had
thus far escaped payment, leaving a
balance due him on contract of more
than four hundred dollars. He de-
manded warrant for same and assess
ment to provide for its payment. The
matter was referred to the Judiciary
committee.
The Clerks report, showing the re-
ceipts of the city for the quarter just
ended to be So, 424.01 and its expenses
81 ,334.39, was received and placed on
file. This also showed expenditures
for the redemption of warrants, bond
interest coupons, tax vouchers, ETC., to
be $5,S41.86.
The Chief OF Police reported that
during the quarter there have been
ID arrests for drunkenness, 8 Migrants.
The department collected $142, of
which $3.50 was for impounded stock,
$1O4.5O dog tax, $25 for sale of stock
and 20 for rent of Columbia Hall.
Hl,n