The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-02-08

tons embodied in the report is that the
city abandon the method of payment by
bonds. and go back 10 the old plan This.
OF course. IS one CT the amendments 10 the
city charter to be voted on.
Among the significant items OF this sec
ton of the report is the fact that not a
single assessment for local improvements
made during the present administration
has failed The report says:
The last lsgfslatupre passed a law by
which the cost Of street intersections in
local Improvement districts is 10 be borne
by the assessment districts. instead OF by
the city at large. as formerly. The ques-
ton OF cost OF building and repairing bulk
heads is still In dispute, and requires legis-
lation.
The mode OF payment by bonds pre-
scribed by our present city charter has
proven unsatisfactory, and l beg TO reit-
crate the recommendation made in a for
mer report that the method prescribed by
the charter of 1890 and followed until 1898
be returned TO. Bonds issued in the pres
ent form are not Of ready sale and the
discounts add to the cost of the work. All
or the replanking and sewer work OF the
past year has been under the immediate
payment plan. and the warrants have
found a ready sale.
The large amount of warrants out
standing against the local Improvement
districts created under the old charter
the city, are a menace to the credit OF the
city for the reason that innocent p1rchas-
ers cannot be made TO see why a warrant
which is Issued by the officers and under
the seal OF the city is not its obligation.
rather than the obligation OF some par
ticular assessment district. During the
past two years. owing to the efforts of
John W. Pratt. esq. special attorney for
the collection OF grade taxes, large num-
Der of these warrants were retired: but
the amount still outstanding is appalling.
SxrFt f~.
have been pushed by Mr.. Pratt N every
case where there is any hope of collection.
and the judgments obtained Will eventual
ly result In large collections. There are a
number of districts upon which reassess-
ments will be necessary.
1T Is gratifying to note that not a
single assessment for local improvements
made under the present charter mas been
invalida ted"
Old Delinquent Tax Rolls.
The report thus calls attention 10 the
good results ensuing from the purchase Of
copies of the old delinquent tax rolls. the
originals of which were destroyed by the
big fire:
THE great fire of June s. 1889. destroyed
the delinquent tax rolls and sales records
in the city treasurers office for the years
1885, 1854, 1885. 1856 and 1887. An authentic
copy of these records had been made by
an abstract firm and brought down TO the
day of the fire. These rolls showed over
$4,000 due the city on account of delin.
quent taxes. but the city had no record
by which collections could be made, as
the original tax rolls did not show the
payments made subsequent 10 the dates
CT delinquency. Upon the only tax rec
ords for these years in the treasurers
office, taxes against many pieces OF prop
erty stood delinquent when. as a matter
Of fact, the taxes had been paid and
credited upon the missing delinquent rolls
In 1894 negotiations were opened with The
firm owning the. copies OF the delinquent
rolls and tax sales records. but the price
asked. $500. was deemed too high. Again
in 1885 and 1886 propositions were made for
their purchase. and in April. 1897. the rec
ords became the property, of the city. he
purchase price heing 81 $40, of which 81 eco
has been paid, and the balance is 10 be
paid April L. 1898. The collections from
the rolls win pay their cost several times
over: but the greatest good derived from
them will be the clearing OF titles to prop
erty upon which the treasurerss records
showed delinquent taxes when the dein-
quencies had been paid"
Clerical Department
Some idea OF the vast volume OF clerical
and technical business which passes
through Mr.. Parry's hands in his capacity
lowing statement, In the course of which
he takes occasion to pay n mer.ted COM
pliment to his efficient deputy. George X.
Coryell:
From March Is, 1886. to December 81.
1877. us regular and speciai meetings of
the city council were held, the records Of
which cover LIS closely written pages OF
the journals. During this period 1855 petit
tons. communications. reports, claims and
other papers were filed, requiring indexing
and record Of disposition. etc. The num-
Der of council bills introduced Is 1I3 of
which 5s5 became ordinances Of the city
by final passage and executive approval.
Resolutions to the number Of III were in
PRODUCED in the council. OF which ii6 were
passed. Over 1 600 letters were written BY
the comptroller and his council deputy in
transactfng the business OF the clerical and
legislative departments. One hundred and
sixty committee meetings were attended
and over 800 reports prepared for commit
tees. The checking and certificaiion OF
local Improvement rolls has also involved
a great deal OF labor.
THE duty of keeping the records Of the
proceedings of the city council and of en-
crossing, comparing and publishing fhs
ordinances and resolutions passed by the
council has. As can be readily seen added
office. Mr. George *. Coryel formerly a
member Of the city council and for TWO
years chief deputy under my predecessor
has attended 10 the details of this work 10
the evident satisfaction Of the council and
OF the public.
proceedings by keeping an index for eacn
volume separately has been changed 10 one
general index. showing the volume aud TO
Ito OF each entry This change has resulted
in a great saving OF time to all having oc-
caston 70 consult these records.
BY the charter amendment referred to
the registration Of voters. also for ali pur-
poses excspt those Of school elections. de-
yolved upon the city comptroller.
The mode OF such registration Is gov
- ~ hsa a re of