The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-01-26


The sensation promised in the city coan-
ell last night on the veto Of the Piuckney
electrician ordinance failed 10 malsrialize
10 the degree expected. The ordinance
was tabled and VIII probably be taken up
next week. As though 10 make up for this
action the council unezrthed the Cedar
river water system and made quite = sat-
isfactory discussion OF the matter. Nc
Ardle accused q coterie OF men III the
council OF an effort 10 run the affairs OF
the proposed water plant without ex-
planning their actions. Rude also limited
at something wrong. All present, IN fact,
had voice in the discussion. A bill l.
censing vehicles OF every nature save those
in the municipal. county or Federal en-
plcy, was introduced by Herman and re-
ferred 70 the police, license and revenue
committee One decisive result OF the
meeting was the final passage OF the ordi-
nance authorizing the putting up Of street
signs.
The council was late n getting together.
The public interest in the Pincknsy bill
was manifested al an early hour by five
citizens. who sat outside the rail- They
were reinforced BY others. until there was
not vacant spectators chair. City and
county officials were well represented.
They waited patiently. The argument on
the Cedar river proposition interested
them immensely. bat that was not the OBJ
jet 10 their coming.
The Pfpckuey Bin.
About the middle Of the evening Dodds
rose and said. ia ike 20 take from the
table az this time, ordinance 81" The
c0uncilmen hardly recognized under It's
formal name the Pinckney electrician bin.
but such it was. The public eye brighten
81 and heads were thrust forward "a
though 10 scent something startling.
nodds' motion was not made IN the proper
form. as the ordnance having been We
tOed was not on che table. He substituted
a motion that the council take up the
mayors veto and act on Il.
Herman amended 20 lay the ordinance
on the table, and was seconded BY Rudy.
The chairman accepted the amendment.
The vote resulted IN 20 In favor OF
taking the ordinance. Those who voted
IN favor OF laying Il over for week were
Chapman. Gibson. Herman. Raymond.
Rude. Rudy and Taylor. The evident OBJ
ject OF the motion WAS 70 gain time. those
pushing the bin evidently not feeling
themselves able 20 carry IL through. Fur
Their action VIII undoubtedly De taken
next Monday night
Cedar River Water.
a report OF the finance and water COM
mittees on the matter OF appointing a per-
son 10 assist the city engineer in securing
a right-of-way over the line of the Cedar
river water system stirred up warm dis
cussion. The report recommended that
the matter be tabled. Rude seemed 10 feel
that the COMMITTEES had some hidden object
in wishing to hold back the promotion OF
the work on the water system. Jones, as
q member of the committee. assured Rude
that the committee had no such desire:
that. on the contrary, several OF the men,
bers had been pushing the water system
since a time long previous to Rude's cleo
ton as a councilman. The matter was in
the hands OF the city engineer and corpor-
alton counsel he said. and all the ordi-
nances that could be passed would not af-
feet the matter.
City Engineer Thomson made state
ment Of the present condition of the Cedar
river water proposition. lie said the cor
poration counsel was preparing 10 insti-
tute condemnation proceedings 70 acquire
the right-of-way over which the water line
must pass.
McArdle called attention 10 the fact that
an auditing committee TO have charge of
the financial part of the Cedar river water
plant had been appointed last June. or
this committee the mayor was chairman,
with the president of the council. chair
men of the council committees city engi-
neer and city comptroller as members.
Thomson explained that the auditing COM
mitfee in question was appointed with the
specific purpose of making purchase OF
any lands along the route of the system
which might be considered desirable from
a strategic point OF view. This committee
had purchased two tracts or about forty
acres each, both having valuable water
rights, for $500. only the two bills having
been audited since the formation of the
committee.
Hermann as chairman Of the fire and
water committee. declared that he had
never been called upon 70 attend the meet
ings OF the committee. nor had he been in
formed OF any bills to be audited. ellison
also declared himself TO have been APP
pointed on the Cedar river water system
committee. but had never been made a
party TO the proceedings. The fact was
then brought out that there had been two
committees. The first was a committee
of three. appointed by the chair. James.
ellison and Rudy, 10 look over the right-of-
way. Subsequently the auditing commit
tee was appointed. and later sin additions
were made 10 the latter committee. Herr
man was one of the additions. and the
bills for $50 had been audited by the COM
mittee before he was made member. The
first committee OF three was understood
TO be on. OF existence. There was con-
siderable sharp talk al Of which was
finally settled by proceeding with the regu-
lar order Of business
Permits TO Aucffonecrs.
The special committee appointed 10 IN
vestigate the charge against Mayor Wood
for issuing permits 10 auctioneers sub
mitted the following resolution, which was
passed:
Resolved. That the mayor issue no
further permits 10 auctioneers.
Corporation Counsel Brown gave i as
Rls opinion that the charter specifically
provided against the issuance Of special
permits and the resolution was therefore
superfluous. The committee declared Itself
satisfied with the explanation given by
Mayor wood IN issuing the permits and
letter from the mayor explaining the cir
cumStances was read.
Licensing Vehicles.