The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-09-13
Movement on Foot to Abolish
1t in Seattle.
PETITIONS NOW CIRCULATING.
They Nssf BE signed by Twenty Per
Cent. of Those Who Voted at the
Last Election. which Means That
1875 Name. Must Re secured--Ex-
Counrfimsn yosxs Il. Leading the
Crusade.

Two ENE1TSG ana tltrIy employees OF s1e
city. hoIAfng under civil service regula-
tons. a. well as thousands Of citizens. viii
Re SURPRISED 20 learn That me opposition
20 ard the dissatisfaction with the city g
last charter provision relating 20 civil
service have erys,alizea into 4 definite
movement 70 otran ths repeal Of the
ctvl service rules.
The nexE az this movement vii cause
10 slls1lt DISCUSSION in The city among ali
classes. ard & wlll be theme upon which
every mar viii have q pronounced opinion.
80 that even me favorfte and popular sub
tect o. the Klend.ke may sink into the
background Tor az lease a few hours to-
day. PETITIONS are nov in circulation for
TIE adoption Of three amendments 70 the
city charter. yiz. one TO abolish the en-
tire eivn service system. one 10 remove
the chief Of police from rs operation. and
the fhird % exempt TIE chief Of the IRE
department.
william yoigt. formerly councilman
from the Sixth ward Is al he head OF the
movement, or at least Is the only visible
head 70 r. lie oppoaed the adoption OF
the new charter IN the council a. the time
It was being discussed two years ago. and
be says inst be has many times been
asked 10 1rlnE before the council the prop
oslslon f0r an amendment To the charter
providing Tor the repeal Of the civil sery-
Ice requirements.
on August Is last Mr.. Volgt presented 10
Citg Comptroller Parry TIE proposition OF
making three amendments 20 the charter.
These propositions FOR amendments are as
follows:
That article XVI. Of the charter OF the
city Of Seattle adopted March g. 1896. be
and the same II hereby repealed"
This article Of the charter Is the one
which provided for the establishment and
oleratf on Of the civil service.
THAT section Of article VII. be amend
ell 10 read as follows: Section 2 The
mayor shall appoint the chief Of police,
and may remove him III his discretion
THAT section OF article XI. be amend
cd 70 read as follows. section 2 The
mayor shall appoint the chief OF the fire
department. and may remove him In his
discretion
These propositions the comptroller
turned over 20 Corporation Counsel Brown
for hts opinion as % The legality OF the
amendments should they be adopted. The
counsel promptly returned them 10 the
comptroller Office with the statement.
over the seal Of his Office. that they would
be- legal II adopted. The next step in the
proceedings is She signing OF the petition
which mus contain the names OF 20 per
cent. Of the registered electors at the last
city election As there we're s.374 names
registered at the last city election, the
number OK names which II will be neces-
sary TO secure 10 warrant che council in
submitting the question TO the voters viii
be ss5. As the city officials must check
up every name on the petition, comparing
them with the list Of the former register.
Comptroller Parry asked Mr. Voigt for tho
privilege OF getting ont the blanks for the
signatures IN order that they would De
uniform In size and complete Mr.. VoigT
sssented. and the sheets are ALREADY
printed and ready fer use. The head OF
the petition which VIII be circulated is as
follows:
Proposition for m amendment TO the
charter OF the city az Seattle adopted
March 3. 1886
ITO the Honorable city Council OF the
city If Seattle
"t;enilemen Your petitioners. being 20
per cent Of The qualified voters OF the
city ~ Seattle. registered Ia the reEistra-
ttpn list used AT the last general munich
pal election III said city. to-wit. The cleo
ton ~ March 3. 1865. 10 respectfully pre-
sent 20 your honorable body the follow
ing proposition fer an amendment TO the
charter Of the city of Seattle. adopted
March 3 ias@. to~wtt.
'Tlat Article XVI OF the charter of
the city OF Seattle. adopted March 5. Iso6
h and the same Is hereby repealed.
And We respectfully pray that said
amendment be- presented 20 the voters Of
the city % Seattle for their rejection or
approval at the next general municipal
election to be held in said city.
Presented &C. fuc this 18th day OF An
gust 1877. by William Feight ESQ under
the provisions - section Of article N%.
OF the city charter 81 the city ~ Seattle.
WILL n. PARRY city Clerk"
The petitions for the two other pro
posed amendments are very similar 20 The
above Though this onu covers the case
the electors viii he asked to sign the
three petitions. The provision of she city
charter relative 30 the proceedings which
must eo taken go carry the proposition
for The amendments through IA as fol-
love.
See 3 Whenever - per cent ot the
qualified voters 9f the city registered ia
the rsKistrat tom list used AZ the last ren-
efal municipal election shall present 10
TIRE Clty council "a proposition for an
amendment 60 fao city charter if shall Do.
the duty of thr city council 90 submit the
same 20 the qualified voters ~ che city
Tor tbeir ra ttHeat}on ur rejection AZ th..
u0Nt KenUral election. which shall De az
least ninety days after She presentation
az such petition 10 tho city council. siich
submission shan be made hy resolution
az the city council Watch SHAH BE adopted
81 least Sixty dAys prior 80 such slecuon,
Before any sUeh proposition shall t~ cir
CHlatea tor signatures r. shall ha pre-
srnted tn the city clerk Wao shall Procure
the opinion ~ The corporation counsel as
10 tta legality. And shan certify upor 30
fhc datv 20 SIS presentation 3o him and
attach thereto a copy as suCa enLufsr
When such proposition Shal b. presented
90 fise counsel FL shall De the desx III res
eify clerk - examine and verify au siE-
natures thereto. 50 far rs pY-actteahfe from
comparison wfth the registration lists
iR his ctacr, and The report ~ fbe cts
clerk Ehcfcoa snail BE made O. tbe coun-
gig before an8l 3Ttso1. Tho CoBEclt eaa1