The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-12-29
Legislators and Representative
Citizens Discuss Legislation.
MUCH GOOD ACCOMPLISHED.
Topics Taken Cp IneloAe Duties
ana Powers Of Cesnty Commits
sioneFs, Necessity Of Better Ina
migration Laws, Mortgage Law.
Quent Taxes md Other Suhjects.

A decidedly representative body of citi-
fer With the King county legislative dele
CATION regarding needed laws tina, should
be presented at the coming session. The
meeting Has harmonious throug hout, and
resulted in considerable good 20 all con-
cerned
The meeting was held In the assembly
room Of the Chamber OF Commerce. those
present including. besides the LEGISLATORS.
members Of the chamber and the Real Es-
tate Board. The topics taken zap were the
duties and powers OF the county commits
sioners, the duty Of the legislature 10 en-
courage emigration. the Torrens land law,
the mortgage iag, de!nouen, taxes, the
wagon tire and public funds
Among those IN attendance were z III.
Guie John Wooding. c. 5. Gleason. s. b.
Andrews. MIR. Patterson, +. A. Mcdonald,
Mr.. Carpenter. John W. Pratt. Andrew
Heinrich. /. C. Olson. E. 3. Palmer, ID. b.
Ward Josiah Collins. Mai Baldwin. r.
.C,,ayson. ST.. J. W. elise. Daniel w. Jones.
s. NJ. Wood. John Schram. ]. ]. Mcf;ilyia
and T. ". Prosch. The president was E.
q. Graves.
In calling the meeting TO order. Pres-
dent Graves extended on behalf OF the
Chamber OF Commerce a hearty welcome
chamber had, he said for several years
taken interest in retrenchment and i'm
Iroyement In public methods. He thought
the discussion of questions which must
GENE up before the legislature could only
resal; In good. He took UP the work done
by the retrenchment committee. and said
there should be a closer limitation on cx
rsnditures and closer scrutiny of vouchers.
While there was no crying complaint
against the present county adminssra ton,
yet he believed a better system mighc be
devised. He recalled the resolution adept
ed by the retrenchment committee IN re-
gard &c the county commissioners rs fol-
lows:
In examining the system of county Il
the fact that the legislative ard executive
functions OF the county are exercised by 4
single body-She county commissioners.
They levy tae taxes. make the appr1pria-
tions and control the expenditures There
Is absolutely no Emit TO the taxes when
they may levy for general purposes. or 10
the amount which they max spenc If
sie cesn revenues ran short there Is al
ways the ready resource OF issuing war
rants. The only check Is tne constitution
al limit on TN amount OF debt which
may lawfully be incurred. There Is 40
check on the amount of warrants which
may be issued, II people can be found 10
Gus ana wasteful system. 1t IS wrong snd
foremost. Expenses are incurred or pro-
posed pretty much al discretion, and
tax levy made 10 cover the estimated e.
T.enditures. however great they may e.
We believe that the process should b. re-
versed. A reasonable tax levy should first
~ decided upon. and the estimated reve-
rUes should then be carefully and discreet
iy srnor.ioned among the different funds.
and the several departments should he
kept rigidly within Their appropriations.
If tho revenues fall short. the exosrsss
shou'c be eursaiied accordingly. II cx-
pendjiurcs IN excess OF revenues are con-
+ed <hR t.s ny
Issue OF warrants a. discretion. but by me
issue Of bonds on which the peopse WIN
have an 70 So,f N has aaSI hss
chiefly confined To the fetiacation OF In
dehtedness already incurred
Duties Of Commissioners.
l.. B. Andrews said that In regard %
duties OF county commissioners he believed
the matter was 10 be presented in tangible
form TO the legislature. As concerned
funds for roads he was certain The munich
pal commission rad II in charge. He felt
entirely sangulne that The King county
delegation would be willing 70 DO anything
IN its power 10 follow out the many sug
gestsons II has received
Judge F. A. Mcdonald had always
thought that the most extraordinary pow
er was placed in the hands of the county
commissioners Not even the president or
the governor were clothed with such au-
died by legislation.
Before leaving the Sabjee: Delegate K.
II G;uie spoke OF the ACCESSIBILITY OF an act
permitting the county and city treasurerS
10 secure a corporate rather than per
sonai bond. II was an imposition on these
officers and on the taxpayers 10 be asked
10 secure me county and state for funds
which might he gnisappropriated. Another
matter Of vital Importance he SAID. was
appToprss tions Tor educational institutions.
we have a MA Gnifcenf university suh-
ie~t 20 the caprice OF each legislature" he
said 'E.r, ne money for the institution be
obtained; by tax levy, 50 il viii be known
each year just What they are TO receir.
and car govern their expenditure accor-
DINGHY"
Real Estate and Mortgage Laws.
Mai Baldwin of the Res. Estate Boart.
presented plan for the transfer OF reaE
ex.at. titles under what ia usually termed
the Torrens system. one Ct she principal
objects Of the Seattle Real Estate
Board was be said. the upbu.ldaug ef the
state and city. The reduction Of take.
meant an Increase IN real estate vaices-
The present system % transfers tax.
Il was NOT an unusual case In tha transfer
Of property worth not more than sioo.
where the necessity 81 an abstract, legal
opinion. etc. amounted 10 more than the
land was worth.
lie Rad from report % The state Of III
noss. where the T6rrsns system isas been
adopted few points as 70 the law. bur
il WAS afteFwars stated BY Delegate GIea-
son. shas fhs la. as first proposed n III
no.s and as READ by Mai Baldwin. had sub
segueufiy isfcn declared RsTlcoass st1sfional
The mortgage law was the in,rortsn; sub
ss.ct brougA; up by J. w. elise. The sim
piifis-atioa of the present mortgage law
would BE. in his opinion, highly beneficial
/ There 3aS nothing 10 lose ard everythios
20 gain. As Y was row all tfse large East
ern loan companies. save oce. had with
drawn from the state OF Washington. be-
cause ~ this law. The principal objection
able feature. he said. wss that TIRE mort
--a gee even after obtaining a judgment IN
the courts was tet allowed 10 enter upon
possession ~ the sR8 until after ths
;ssrisEi os redemption had ia s~sSt. he wac
whiting Ia py~ssre bali ~ De introduced
4, tho coming legislature by the King
county delegation.
j W PRATT. ~ commenting on thts. "a
fha5 the naors s&as@ would ~ DESTROYS ~