The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-01-05

A fun attendance Of the city council
acted on municipal affairs last night
Crie2lton. q triae thinner after his Illness.
WAS back once more 10 preside. Things
passed of very smoothly considering the
matter discussed. and while some peppery
phrases were used occasionally. a gem
eral good humor was noticeable. The bgsi
ness OF the evening was the mayors veto
or the well-thumbed Pinckney electrician
Dill Efforts were made BY the opposl-
ton 70 prove that the bill had been held
over ten days by the mayor and was con-
Sequently a laN. This fell through and,
as provided By charter. the mayors objee-
tons 70 the bill viii be published in full
and not less than FIVE nor more than thirty
days thereafter the bill viii be reconsid-
cred by the council.
The reappolntment by the mayor o. r.
H. thomson as city engineer was con-
firmed after some hesitation. some men,
5ers Of the council being favorable TO
weeks delay. The appointment OF DR.. j.
j. Sturgis as member Of the board of
health was laid over one week.
It's first semi-annual report was submit
| ted by the finance committee. In general,
X found the present system Of city books
working wei. but recommended a stirring
I'd in the water department.
The salary of Ron Crawford. clerk of the
municipal court, was discussed until an
eruption was almost caused. Some time
ago, when the retreGchment committee
was in active force. CTawford's salary was
spotted out for reduction. But il was
fixed at 500 per month by state law and
the city could not touch it, So Crawford
agreed. upon the solicitation of the coun-
ell, TO remit each month SIS. making his
salary Virtually SIS. This promise was
made at the time Crawford's reappont-
ment was up for consideration. Subse-
queatly, he understood that the corpora
ton counsel had pronounced such a re-
mittance illegal, and had therefore failed
10 remit. When eight months had passed
the matter was called TO the attention OF
the council by Mayor Wood. A resolution
was introduced last night by Rudy drop
ping the whole matter. This was passed
During the discussion motion was made
by Rude referring the matter to Mayor
Wood. To this Chapman objected by say
ing impressively: 'As sure as / am on
this floor Crawford's head viii go off If
this goes back 70 the mayor"
The Mayors Veto.
The text OF the mayors veto of the elec-
trician bill is IN fun as follows:
II feel IL my duty TO return to your
honorable body without my approval.
council bill No. 2S1. entitled AN ordinance
creating the position of inspector of
electricity and lighting" and skiing the
compensa ton thereof and abOlishing the
position of superintendent of FIRE alarm
telegraph. and beg TO submit the fol-
lowing objections as grounds for not APP
proving said bill.
First objecJion-while the legislative
branch OF the city government has the
undoubted right 10 abolish and create Of
fees, and while the bill in question does
any express provisions OF the
city charter IN relation 10 civil
service. it does, in my judgment. conflict
in spirit and in effect with such provis-
Cd hx- a nd
under the civil service provisions of the
charter for the appointment and removal
of Officers in the classified service Of the
city.
1T is very clear from q consideration
OF the charter as a whole that no officer
should be appointed or removed by legis-
lative act. The conclusion therefore seems
TO me 10 be irresistible that IL II becomes
desirable TO enlarge or modify the duties
OF an existing office, the legislation by
which this is accomplished should be so
framed as TO avoid the removal from Of
flee OF an incumbent. In other words,
that no incumbent under civil service
rules should be legislated out of office
unless his services are no longer neces-
sary and the duties of his office are actu-
ally abolished or merged with those of
some other officer already in the service
OF the city.
1t is no sufficient answer to this OBJ
lection that the new Office remains under
civil service, and that the present incum-
bent may be appointed thereto. When he
must take his chances with other candi-
dates for appointment he has been as
fully removed from office as If there was
no chance OF his even being a candidate
again.
- am aware of the suggestion that the
position of superintendent Of fire alarm
telegraph was never legally established
by ordinance. and In answer thereto beg
10 say that even IL this contention be cor
rect, such a position has been in fact
recognized by the city for years past, sal
airy has been fixed for the same by ordi-
nance, candidates have been appointed
70 such office, and. in my judgment. such
Office has been a &c faCto office and the
services rendered therein. and the sal
aries paid therefor, have been lawfully
and rightfuliy rendered and paid III II
De true that there Is q lcga! defect in the
establishment OF the office Il IS perfectly
competent for the legislative department
70 cure that omission by ordinance. with
out removing the Incumbent from the
place 20 which ne has been appointed AFT
er examination under civil service rules
1T therefore seems clear TO me Thar
IN so far as this ordinance would result
IN removing the present incumbent of the
Office n question, when his duties are not
actbeAg abolshed or merged with the
duties Of another officer already in the
service or the city, IL is a violation az the
spirit and intent of the charter r1ro,isiors
relating 20 the classified service
second objection-in addition to the
reasons above set forth. I believe the bul
pa Q0estlon involves dangerous conse-
qUenceS 10 the public interest on acroffnr
or 3 somewhat genera public iurraeesrr1
that with some Of the members az voslr
honorable body one OF the motives for me
passage Of the ordinance has been the
removal OF the present incumbent. and
with others of ycur members 10 secure the
appointment az another candidate
know thot among Ger citizens and among
t.e members n your honorable BODY there
s. some Giu rrence of opinion a. 10 fha
intrinsic merit ~ the civil service plan
ana as 10 the true rules which should gov
efu ITS enforce ment. ms laid down IRA the
CITY Charter. and while I must cheerfuIiv
tFc''a Go every member OF your honorable
no1y }ae utmost sincerity and good faith
I'D ae~ attitude toward civii service and
toward the bla in question. ! have learned
enough from conference with morn beers 81
your houora BILE body I'm relation 10 this
matter SO IFS various phases during the
Task fsw months 20 gnabIa me 10 state
that Tee shove Impressions are b,otb frle
A~ - p1rt f-s - the membership OF vour
hruar8h. aa1v
u tsE Oh sss again that these confer
eGeas nte s>$a~ei me tbat tac members
~ .tFeS. believed themselves - ha en-
t}...F }-<il1a'i IRE So G9iUZ Z beg % say
A2Nf r. .ta3t faF Judgment stranefy DIS
SCENTS fror1 fGs view t1aE such motives
- 7tsl'at " q Che rr1rte3ons ~ the
t-tt tt&rtfr lattr4 90 civil service or
- tae tr1a f,nctIous or sarfsif.t{8n ~
t.e .r2r>+7ft~a apartment ~ the city Any
Fts2Hta from office bg legislative action
a'@H -=its --ai1}s3s s-errs - uc 70 be- an
INVASION hx the te-.S tive branch % fne
powers which have haau committed gyy
gre e-a-t-r % the clvl service branch
81 da not mean 70 imp,y by this state
fNat i1D aonFe motives are the anIE
motives ct fee honorable members wha
ar.a3 5000 them. nor that 8 majority o.
Ho1- honorable body has actet uuon such
motives 20 ans extent bat tne fact that