The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-12-01

authorizing the licensing OF bicycles. asked
leave OF the convention to make a report
out OF order. Thu was granted b. unani-
nous consent
Mr.. Norton presented a report favortng
the passage Of bill by the legislature
authorizing municipal corporations 10 i'm
pose a license upon all bicycles the amount
10 be fixed by the city council Aided TO
the report OF the committee was circular
letter sent out by President J. NJ. Bell OK
the Tacoma Wheeine1's Association. call
ing attention 70 the fac. that the supreme
court Of Illinois had decided tha, unless
the legislature authorized the imposition 0f
a bicycle license. its collection was illegal
At this juncture the convention took A
recess until o'clock IN order 20 allow the
committees tine 70 consult upon the vari-
GUS matters OF legislation referred to them.
Upon recovering. Maj. Rinehart was
made permanent chairman of the conven-
ton and Mr.. Parry permanent secretary OF
the convention.
Chairman Avery, Of the committee on the
issuance and sale OF bonds FOR local i'm
pTovements. reported that the committee
had not yet formulated its report and ask
ed for further time. This was granted.
Chairman Thomson, Of the committee on
the assessment for water mains and sew
ers, reported in favor of the passage OF
bill introduced al the hast session Of the
legislature by George Is. kittinSer- The
bill provides that a portion OF the cost OF
the construction OF new water mains. as
we'll as sewers, shall be borne by the
owners OF the abutting property.
At the request OF Acuff. OF Spokane. the
bill was laid on the table so as to afford
the delegates an opportunity OF acquaint-
ing themselves with its contents.
The committee 10 which was referred the
matter Of the restoration of the municipal
court asked for further time. which was
granted.
AT $50 O'Clock the convention adjourned
till 100 o'clock.
Visitors at the Evening Session.
When the convention re-assembled at 80
last evening, resolution was passed invi;-
ing the legal departments Of the three Cit
les to participate in the sittings of the con-
vention. Mayor Nickeus, of Tacoma. ac-
companied by City Attorney W. II. Pritch-
ard, of the same city, arrived on the even
ing train from Tacoma, and occupied seats
in the convention Mayor Humes, Judge
L. B. Andrews and j. ". Pratt came into
the room during the session and par,iei-
pated in the discussion of the municipal
court bill. as drafted by T. d. Rockwell,
OF Spokane.
Upon reading the report OF the committee
10 which was referred the municipal court
bill, the convention by nearly unanimous
vote decided that the office should be APP
DOintlNe ana NOt elective. lie pio-
yides as IL stands at present, that the
judge shall hold Office for four years and
shall be appointed by the mayor when the
bin shall become law, his term extending
till December 81. 1903. The object of this
provision is to allow the outgoing mayors
in the three cities to name the judge, thus
taking the appointment, to some extent at
least. out of the realm OF politics.
The section of the bill providing that the
city council shall fix the salary of the mu-
nicipal judge, which shall not be less than
800 per year, was passed after come dis
cussion. The judge may be removed upon
a majority vote Of the council on charges
being presented by the mayor or any men,
Der of the council.
The convention took up and discussed
one by one the sections of the bill fixing
the powers and jurisdiction of the new
court, which In many ways resembles the
old municipal courts of the state. Trial
by jury under the bill is TO be given on
demand, the jury to number six men.
After the bill had been passed upon sec
ton by section, Councilman L. F.. Samp-
on and John Hartman. of Tacoma, made
speeches against the Endorsement Of the
measure. Mr.. Sampson said that Tacoma
would rather have two justices Of the
peace than municipal judge. Mr.. Rock
well, OF Spokane. with Mr. De Bruler. Of
Seattle. led the fGht for the passage OF a
resolution recommending the bill as adopt
ed to the legislature.
Mr.. Rockwell said that at present fines
for the violation OF the city ordinance are
collected by justices of the peace and turn
ed over to the city treasury. He declared
that any citizen Of the county of Spokane
or of Pierce or King county might at any
time bring a mandamus proceeding COM
polling the justice to turn the funds he coll
lects under the city ordinances into the
county treasury.
Mr.. De Bruler made an earnest plea for
united Endorsement of the bill. He said
that the large cities OF the state need a
court empowered to deal with offenders
against the city ordinances: that the es-
adjustment OF such a court as was contem-
plated in the proposed measure would rid
the cities of the hobo element and would
tend to make the administration of Justice
in the large cities something more than a
farce.
Mr.. Parry declared that the revenues 10
be derived from municipal court would
aggregate in Seattle approximately s25, go
per year. He made a strong plea for an
Endorsement of the bill
Mr.. Sampson declared that there WAS no
aninus in his position of opposition 10 the
bill
Finally. when IL became apparent that
the bill might not be Endorsed without
some friction, Mr.. R!nehart moved that
the matter be laid over until today. and
the motion prevailed.
City vs.. County.
What was considered one OF the worst
evils OF present state laws was the dis
elimination against cities and In favor Of
counties, when was the burden of the
next committees report Under section IA
OF the general laws OF 1895. the cities are
made 20 furnish the greater proportion OF
the read and bridge fund. and have no
surety OF getting n cent of Il expended
within the corporate limits This section
reads as follows:
The board OF county commissioners shall
annually. a the time OF making The tax
levy Tor county purposes. levy a tax Of
not more than three mills on the dollar
% all Of the taxable property In the coun-
y for genera. road ana bridge fund from
which fund they shall order paid such
/ sums "a may Ne found necessary for the
construction, repair and Improvement of
bridges and such roads as all OF the i'm
| hAbliants in the county are Interested In. or
70 assist weak and Impoverished districts
In Keeping their roads IN repair
The committee. through r II. Thomson.