The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-05-23
MESSAGE In FULL.
THE MAYORS RECOMMENDATIONS
FOR CITY GOVERNMENT.
bling. the Early Closing Ordf~
nance, Franchises. Proposed
Charter Amendments Financial
Condition. of the Municipality,
street improvements. Etc.
500. ~ Mav II. ~.

To tAe Honorable President aud Mem
Aers q the CITY Council - the CITY ~ Sc
atfle~-lsentlsuen. In compliance with tha
provisions OF section OF article y. OF The
city charter have the honor % submit
10 Your honorable body this, my trSt an
nual message.
A wide range is covered in the sngEes-
lions and discussions or this communities
tion, under tire belief that II Is the GatN or
the executive 10 present in this pubic
manner Tor the corr ieration Of your hon
cradle body and Of the public generally.
all recommendations that are deemed wor-
thy of consideration. whether their adop-
tton should require legislative action on
the part OF your honorable body or charter
amendment. or even state legislation.
The tardineSS Of this communication Ia
due to the fact that the attention Of thu
heads OF tho diGeTvnt departments was
largely occupied during the months OF De-
cemeer January, February and March IN
preparing and looking aftes municipal
measures presented TO the state Legislators
az It's recent session. and since the adj
tournament OF the legislature. with mat
ters pertaining 20 franchise applications
and the proposed extension OF our water
system.
Upon my entering into office under cleo
ton of your honorable body for the nn-
Of the Officers subject 10 executive sp-
pointmenf fer the current year had been
wisely filed by the Hon. Frank u. Black.
from office was so much regretted by our
people. The wisdom of these appoint
menls has been confirmed by the uniform
pointees during the year just closed.
CIVIL SERVICE.
The most conspicuous and far-rel ching
of the reforms adopted I'm the new charfer
l. the merit system IN public service, gem
orally known as the civil service system
Under board Of able and conscientious
commissioners. the system has been most
auspiciously initiated. several months Of
the year elapsed before the necessary rules
could bcf adopted and examinations he
held; few of the experienced members
Of the police and Gre departments were
the service by the physical md education
al tests prescribed In the charter, but by
reason OF the wise and liberal policy
adopted by the commission. the disadvan-
tage OF requiring employees already in the
service 10 submit themselves TO examining
tons has been reduced TO a minimum. and
few removals have occurred in accom-
piishing the change OF system. Notwith-
standing the difficulties inherent in 40
radical change. the working OF the new
system has been highly satisfactory. Tho
fear Of political pressure and the uncer-
tainty OF tenure has been almost entirely
system rely upon fidelity and efficiency.
rather than upon political or personal In
fiuence for keeping their places Heads
of departments ARD relieved of the great
tax upon their time. sympathy and integ-
rity formerly resulting from the importu-
nifty OF applicants and friends OF april.
public Importance as any other is the fact
that, when applicants for places find that
.
ton, and that changes Will be made only
for cause. they give up the fruitiess and
demoralizing occupation. Of waiting and OF
seeking to Gust others from public places.
and then give their time and ability "a
private pursuits.
We no longer witness the rivalry for Of
fee with which We have been so familiar
and under which employees I'm office spend
part of their time in the performance OF
regular duties. and the other part IN pre-
serving their tenure. while four or i've
other sets of nspirants waste their time
money and character In trying 10 get the
rascals'' out. so they can get In.
in his report, gives the following testi-
mony: civil service in this department
is proving ing very sstis STA sss.rr, ,s,s
ring 10 civil service matters. speaks. In his
report as follows: The larger depart
msnts throughout the country had al
and II was happy thought with the franz
ers OF our new charter that this SYSTEM
he Incorporated into IT. Insurance COM
panies are quick TO note the general inef-
fieiency pcrvading departments in which
membership depends not on the qualsii-
cations possessed. but on the political
hacking OF the applicants. and they adjust
their rates accordingly. Civil service was
a. necessity growing out 81 the evils foi-
and the faithful adherence to civil services
in all rs provisions cannot fall 10 realize
the hopes OF the trainers OF the system and
Of the taxpayers supporting It,
In order that the public may own and
successfully manage public utilities in this
interest OF The PUBLIC. we must learn thor
oughly tho maxim that municipal admin
iStration Is business. and not politics.
Before we can get business into public
Patronage will then cease to he danger
Gus and public service will become Ell
Client and economical. We viii then begin
ness warfare have failed. municipal adj
minlsiraiion on the merit system can give
better service, lower prices and better
suit in many branches OF public service
supplied BY private agencies on the COM
petitiye basis.
PUBLIC ORDER.
The past year has been free from any
eeIsolie disturbances OF the public peace.
General depression and scarcity OF EN-
plnyrnent have thrown upon tho larger
cities an unusual proportion or the Grim
lnsi and destitute classes. and made them
the more aggressive or helpless. This con-
dition has been encountered by. our police
department as "A serious problem OF the
wears work Although our citizens have
suffered some loss and anuoyances from
lawhreakers. the SUCCESS of the police adj
breakers has been very marked. when the
unusual difficulties are taken into consid-
Grafton. The usual difficulties OF admin
- ration IN American cities arising from
me ever present eslls Of prostitution,
gambling. and from the law-evading mem
bers,lip of the saloon traffic have not been
wanting In our experiences.
PROSTITUTION.
IT has been the effort OF the executive
and police departments 10 restrain and d.
fninish prostitution BY placing u within
certain defined limits, ny allowing " de-
gree OF immunity. under surveillance.
within such limits. and by prosecuting ~
where carried on outside Of such limits, IL
may naturally be urged that ~ prostitti-
tion can be placed under surveillance ~
can also be forced out Of the city. Nothing
would be gained ~ 2 further disclls.ton Of
that question here than viii De sunieisnt
70 give fair underatanfhng on ~. re
forufer can De done. the latter cannot he.
xK. may tuRt az well be frank about ".
When public sentiment comes 20 nave ths
courage and honesty 70 deal with thi.
actual facts in ieu o. the present. policy.
Witch ignores both ethics and facts We
shaH begin "a devise ways for regulating
ss.,tt,r ourselves with inffscting upon 10
cs5r erss4yyrosl3r nttaanpts Al Punishment. N
cannot hs nanishsd without generations y
e~ort nor until the social, domestic AMI
business world shall punish the giiiiy ana
~sanonsihie members 81 society. and shall
oTer helping hand 20 the innocent OF utt-
fortunate victims of this evil. We should
avoid alike the aisi'nde o. in ss no
70 g. and OF those who profess - believe
sSaf nothing can % done 70 aneliorate u.
or who value private gain more than pub
''e "'o'e' GAMBLING.
T. has h&sn the earnes, effort % ssif de-
rarrrnAnts 20 suppress gambling within ths
city The extreme difficulty - attaining
fhia result IL ewldence Or me deep. seated
proportions % this wee sHd es.lis Tor ms
eo-Sr,araffe.r 0f esery iaw8bs9tUg citizen
for lis absolute suppression IRE apNtaY
~ public sentiment and the want % &C
tior where sentiments are right are ~
vra,w essev ra8st surprising. ! believe
fhzs rae efforts pus forth for the snpprez-
sion ~ gambling during me post year.
while nos en;iFeig - have been success
al