The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-02-17

The city council held a special meeting
yesterday. az which explanations were
made as TO the urgency Of securing pas
sage OF several bills now before the legis-
lature watch are Of great importance TO
the city. IL seems that an unIntentlonal
misunderstanding had taken place. which
was finally cleared away. Several MEM
bers had. with the best OF Intentions
taken upon themselves the labor OF draft
Ing bills. and il had been assumed BY
other members that the corporation coun-
SCI had been ignored He was willing 10
aid n the work, bar had been withheld by
a reluctance 70 press hts services. espe-
ciaily as he has a number OF very fmpor-
tant lawsuits on his hands demanding
great care and involving considerable re-
sponsio.lity. A few warm words were ex-
changed, but as explanations showed that
a mfsa pprehension had arisen. the council
promptly agreed upon harmonious action
A committee was selected al the Tacoma
convention OF officials from the three prln-
epal cities 10 draft the bills agreed upon
there, but suggestions were requested from
citizens who felt particularly interested IN
the several subjects. 1t transpired that
these committees had worIQ9 on the bills.
bur without any thought ~ sighting the
officials OF the cities specially identified
with the purposes OF the bills.
AS the call for the meeting al As o'clock
yesterday afternoon was understood TO be
for the reconsideration OF the Olympia
committees expense bill. which had been
voted down the night before fun coun-
Gil was in attendance. Raymond opened
the matter by moving for a reconsidera-
ton OF the vote on the bill appropriating
$500 for expenses OF the clty's legislative
committee az Olympia This carried. only
Dodds opposing Raymond's next motion
was that the bill be amended 10 read 500
instead Of 500. This received a second,
bat before a vote was called James took
the floor.
He addressed his remarks to President
Crichton, whom he considered the leader
IL opposition 10 the expense bill. He said
Crichtol should certainly have learned
during his five years service In the city
council OF the grave condition OF the street
grade warrants and the imperative neces-
sity Of immediate legislation on the mat
ter In blocking a small appropriation and
haggling over 500. he said. interests
amounting 10 hundreds of thousands Of
dollars 10 the city were Imperfect erich
ton. as president Of the council. was head
Of the legislative department of the city,
and Corporation Counsel Brown was head
OF the legal department He wanted 10
know why they had not undertaken the
drafting OF legislative measures for the
benefit Of the municipality. instead Of leav-
Ing u Tor others TO do and then blocking
their efforts. lie and the others who had
been active in preparing bills for the legls-
lature had been censured. he said. for not
consulting the corporation counsel He
wanted to know why the corporate coun-
sci had not taken the matter up for him
self, and President Crichton for himself
There were two or three other bills he
said. equal In Importance 10 the five or six
prepared. Why did not Crichton or the
members OF the council take the mat
ter ups
When James finished. a further amend
ment was offered 10 the bin by Hurd that
Navln be added 10 the legislative commit
tee. A vote taken carried the appropri-
alton, al being In favor save Dodds and
Crichtou. The council then adjourned
II was stated BY one Of the members
after the meeting that he had received
the impression that Corporation Coun-
sci Brown had in measure felt
aEgrieved that re was not con-
suited IN the legislative bills. though
he has always taken the stand that such
work was outside the duties OF his depart
rnent. He claims that according 10 the
charter he Is not compelled 20 DO much OF
the work which has been put upon him by
the council. though he has always gladly
done what the council asked. as R matter
Of courtesy 20 the members. ard would
have prepared legislative bile had he been
asked 20 DO so Ia sufficient time