The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-05-19

THE MAYOR AND Hfs POLICY.
The great array OF subjects msrshaied
b. the mayor in his address to the city
council puts II out Of the question to re-
view II inteIllgensiy within this limits Of
one editorial article. II Is not only yolum-
nous. but 30 thoroughly enters into every
subject calling for the attention Of the
taxpayers. no less than of the council.
that II should not be dismissed by that
body with the mere reading. nor BY the
public with passing comment.
There IL scarcely a subject touched
upon By Mayor Wood which does not ex-
hiDit the most conscientious considera-
ton; and II Is not too much 10 say. per-
haps. thar no mayors message has had
bestowed upon its preparation so much
antocedont Investigation OF the most
painstaking character.
The city administration has had some
serious problems to contend with. They
originated I'm the boom days. when IL was
expected that the city In five years would
have a population OF Ioaco. Had that
provsmsnts which were then 30 generous
~ ordered could have been easily paid
for. The city had been partially de-
stroyed by a great FIRE. The business
streets were narrow and crooked. the
houses were nearly all OF wood; the sys-
tenn OF government was based upon the
requirements only OF small town. Never
theiesa business was good. and at n meet
Ing OF citizens held the day after the fire
1t was declared 30 be wise TO take adj
vantage Of the opportunity to rebuild on
the lines OF great city. such as Seattle
promised 10 become. Men familiar with
the great work TO be undertaken. and the
cost Il would incur. conservatively warned
the taxpayers of the consequence; but
they were answered with shouts: You
build the city: we'u foot the bills" The
spirit displayed on that occasion was
commented upon all over the United
States. and Seattle was cited as an ex-
ample OF enterprise and pluck. The work
OF reconstruction was undertaken: but by
the time the biils we're presented. the
stringency which passed all over the eoun-
try had Us effect In Seattle. and because
people could not pay they began TO grum-
bic and 20 look for a scapegoat.
There was no doubt considerable reck-
lsssness In the ordering Of improvements
and the mourning Of Indebtedness. both
by the municipality and by the individual.
but people were locktng into the city by
tens Of thousands. and money was SO
plentiful that people could not believe
there would ever Do a day which would
Rot show a surplus of income over eutgo.
II Is just as well to remember all this.
now that we arc confronted with the
obligations we then Incurred. We can
consider them more intslligently: we can
have an admirable opportunity now 20
display some OF that courage and fore
SIGHT fer which We took such unstlnted
credit IN tho days of cur prosperity. Tho
best way 60 60 this Is not 90 hsrsss and
condemn the present administration but
Go enter inta consideration of the 6ifieal-
ties IL has 20 contend With. and aid By
counsel and Endorsement the measures Il
Il compelled 20 recommend
There are some things To be done which.
n neglected.. would only make matters
worse. We cannot overcome eur dtsgeul-
ties by attempting 10 esade our ohhga-
sioas. There has been a NEST radical cur
tailmont Ia expenses. and II should he ac-
knewieagea with sppreciative praise how
admirably the city government has kept
It en- a cash basis. Notwithstanding the
enormous delinquency IN taxes. II Is also
to the credit Of she eltizees generally that
a. many es them have paid their taxes
fsrosnpsiy on tbo hssh assessed valuation.
The mayor calls attention 20 the fact that
a serious decrease mnsf oe expected gn
that Valuation. Property Is Rot 50 Vafl-
ais as IL vas tweive nsonths after The
f.re; and tie socnar property owners real
SEE thas sact IRE eseFe akoly trey are n
esspoas 20 Il. That Will however. result
IA a ge,>ucsAea In tie amount TO - de-
rived FROM tsxasscn. and Ire reduction
Nil Ne "a property ~hseh = new pavsas
naensy trte sAs treasury. Nest - ne
delinquency = on vzpFcaaessve azd cst-
iyinS lAat. wesca tie cwnsrs sre helaiax
IN tie hope &c an advance "a vaIae.
Thees = poiat Below which cufFeat
exp<eseS cssssut ~ reduced. ams there -
- way ~ which tae annual interest
eA&rEes ezn ns rss3ocsa Tr,oso char~s~
sseunt 10 gTs@ Ard shay uuss - sasa
eet ~ ths TsTesntass 81 colfseglons 70
uatteF haw s'aau tasS nay ~ rer tn
ksanee = taege - = esean1 asscy e s. per
eent.. tAe esstTe 80 pr ceat ~ iasxT~ss
raust se paid ous ct TIE s. pr cent. cal-
ssSte1 Thsgv IS Fessen Is hope thar unaer
sas ntw reyeaes iaW Esses lsrxeF prs
eertea sta - palt. sgs sass wla - an-
sss sy saV resissgsea "a sau yalnatAea az
s5esssty wAsSn = already p&ys1x is fan