The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-04-20
Investigation by Rinehart Com
mittee Ends Without Results.
CANNOT MAKE PEOPLE TESTIFY
10 wtfnesses For or Against the
snoqsainsie FaiIs Power On. APP
p~nr-iack ef Definite Leg1sla-
sf0n on subject Leaves Consmit-
Bees Abandoned for the Presenf.

The councils Investigation into the al
Is8ed connection Of the anaa8alnase Fails
Power Company with sae Robertson sur
sgain<e the city has begun ard ended ard
s5e feeord tu void OF testimony. THIS -
because the council 81 NOE clothed with
tie necessary power To summon Witnesses
ssG ~ parish persons for refrssns 70 at>-
pear and testify.
la spite ri this, however, the city char
ter contains . section which 10 especially
designed 30 confer The poker upon me
council which IL would b. necessary 10
utilize In order 70 make the lnves cation
by Zoe EInsfaart committee productive Of
results
In article T. section 6. relating 70 the
powers ~ The common council the charter
provides that II shall nave power to
corssfssi the Attendance % witnesses as well
~ the production Of papers and things
pertinent 20 5sisincss before Il or any OF
las committee
The want of definite legislative enact
nseHt carrying this clause snto effect r.
suited In the inquiry being practically
abandoned after the Rinehart committee
held short meeting at the city hail las,
night.
The lobby OF the council chamber con-
tanned a crowd Of curious people. many Of
them well known In the business and pro-
fesslonai life Of the city The only absen4
te. on the committee was Councilman Nc
Ardls, who was confined 10 h.4 horne by
illness. Al their desks sat q number OF
cgunciimen. while within the railing were
Corporation Counsel Humphrey. John w.
Pratt. City Engineer Thomson. Judge
Thomas Burke and others
Chairman Hineharf raped for order
shortly after o'clock. IL was seen tina.
no Witnesses wer. present and that no one
~as In attendance representing the Sno-
anasrnie Falls Power Company
Clerk coryeIl informed the committee
that he had mailed notices OF the meet
Ing to the Interested parties, saimmongng
them To appear
Judge Thomas Burke addressed the COM
mIttae. IL want to explain the absence OF
tha representatives OF the snoauaime Falls
Power Company said he although |
shnuid state al the outset that do not
represent them here at this time
''Ito you wish 10 take the stand and
testify" asked Chairman Rtnehart
mo. STR: I DO not" WAS Judge Burks's
answer II have"
II don't see how the committee can listen
TO arguments until testimony has been
taken" said Chairman Rinehart. interrupt
ing.
Judge Burke male no further effort 10
address the committee. II gas decided 10
take u shore recess. On RECOMMENDING. a mo-
sion 10 adjourn until this morning ~ 10
o'clock. at the office of the corporation
counsel. was pat and carried.
Chairman Hsrehaft said last night that
the committee would draw uu ts report
this morning and hand II In 70 the council
on Monday night. The report will be pre-
pared rs Corporation Counsel Humphrey.
u wiii show that the absence of any
definite legislative enactment covering the
f1ibtert prevents the exareise fy the coun-
Ell Of the power undoubtedly conferred
upon 4 by the people In the city charter,
According "a The lawyers who have look
ed into TIE matter. there Il provision
Tn the statutes fixing II mashud foT the
exercise of the power Of compelling wii.
neSsss 10 attend ard testify before such
body az the Einehsr; committee Tbs char
tar provision IL hela not To be sels-opera-
tive
This question has never been raised since
the new charter was adopted The alb
merce Of the legislative enactment IA re-
earicd as q very important matter In view
OF Investigations which municipal lcglsla-
tive hoales are frequently called upon %
make 4. Ia held that abe legislature can
give the cosncit definite power 20 enable
1. 10 eafrv into effect the charter provs
ion above .f,asi Until this Il done. inyes-
sigaliag committees ase nowerlees 10 make
people tesify whose interests mi ht be in
t1ret Thereby.