The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-03-14

The closing OF the legislature has sent
trooping back 10 the city tire many VINO
have been making Olympia their tenn
yorarv place Of business. Mayor ". D.
Wood and Comptroller Parry arrived Fri
day evening. and yesterday the mayors
Offices were thronged all day long with
visitors. Late in the afternoon. after the
last % these had departed, the mayor
obligtrgfy submitted 10 an interview as
10 the work accomplished IN the interests
OF this city
Il went 20 Olympia 20 assist the COM
mittee OF the city council and other city
officers in securing the passage OF bills
prepared BY the city officers. and approved
by the city council. Five bills went
through Two were relating 70 tide land
on the city front by which the space COW
cred by old streets which were disregar
By the tide land commission should be re-
served from private sale. so as 10 give
the city access TO the water front II
would have been cut of II the first tide
land plat had stood as lad out
The principal bill was that known as
the general powers BILL which oeiined
the powers OF the city in relation TO water
plants. lighting plants power plants and
street railways. 1t authorizes the city 10
condemn. conduct and purchase any plants
for these purposes and provides two meth
DDS for payment therefor when the people
shall have authorized such action by a
three-ffths vote as follows: BY the issu-
ance 90 general bonds Of the city in the
usual way. or by the issuance OF bonds
or warrants which are not general obi
cations Of the city 10 be secured upon
and paid off by the earnings Of the plant.
system or road which has been purchased.
The last plan is substantially the one ap-
proved by the decision OF the supreme
court IN the Spokane water case. This act
question Is 10 the power OF the city 10
construct its Cedar river extension upon
the plan adopted in Spokane. The same
powers viii be useful when the city de-
sires to put in light and power plant,
and will also enable the city TO purchase
street railways and operate them when
the people decide that II Is good business
policy TO do so. No debt can be incurred
under this law. OF either sort, until II has
been authorized by three-fifths vote OF
the people. Under the provisions Of the
law the vote already had on the Cedar
river proposition stands as authority for
proceeding with the work when the money
can BE- arranged for on favorable terms.
THE legislature has also passed the bill
providing for a refunding of old street
grade warrants. which was drawn up by
Frank 4. Steele, aided by the advice OF
Corporation Counsel Brown and George
Donworth. This bill provides that the
suits on any street grade tax may be con-
KolIdated and the judgment be- paid by the
issuance of five-year 6 per cent. bonds,
payable in installments OF one-ffth each
year. in all cases where the holders OF the
warrants viii exchange them for such
bonds.
The remaining bill passed provides that
the cost of improving street intersections
may be made payable from the tax on
the abutting property. instead of out of
the general street fund, as at present.
There were five more bills on the cal
endar for the last day which could not be
reached. Three Of the bills were drawn
by John W. Pratt in relation 10 the statute
OF limitations upon taxes and grade taxes.
Another was a provision for the extension
OF water mains and sewers by district as
sessrneut and the last. drawn by Corpora
ton Counsel Brown. provided for the is
suance of local improvement bonds on
street grades.
1--WE were very sorry that these bills
were not reached. The whole FIVE had pass
ed the house Another bill left in the house
provided for the appointment of a com
missioner for the poor in the larger coun-
ties. Considering the number of bills pend
ing we were very fortunate in securing the
passage OF five city bills There were many
bills which failed TO pass although intro
ducei at the beginning of the session, and
urged by personal attention during the
entire time. Most of the points covered by
the bills which did not pass can be pro-
vided for by charter amendments at the
city election 20 be held next spring.
Generally speaking. I feel that the pass
age OF the bill 10 abolish the municipal
court on the first OF next January was a
uistake We are now looking into the
matter to see what position the city will
be left in IL this law goes into effect. An
act was also passed 10 abolish the office Of
one OF the justices of the peace on and
after January l. 1893. We may find that
we have altogether too much retrenchment
IN this line"