The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-12-06
Chief Reed Sends His Blueooats
to Compel Attendance.
NO QUORUM AT MEETING.
The Majority, rnterested In Passags
of Certain Proposed Amendments
to City Charter, Issues = Call for
Special Council MeetinE-Can Ig-
nored By other Members-soms
Pleasantries Of the EVENING.

Biue-coated police officers ringing the
doorbels OF members Of the city council.
and In the name of the majesty of the law
compelling them to leave their pleasant.
quiet nresides to trudRc through muddy
streets to a special council meeting-sucn
was a unique feature Of Seattle life last
evening.
Shortly before noon yesterday a typewrit-
ten document, headed, "Can for Special
Meeting OF the City Council OF the City Of
Seattle" was handed into the comptroller's
office, beginning as follows:
Pursuant to the provisions OF section ,.
article 4, of the city charter. the UNDER
signed councilmen Of the city of Seattle
do hereby call a special meeting of the city
council, to be held at the council cham
Der In the city hall at 1850 .. M. Tuesday.
December 8, 1899"
1t then recites the purpose OF said meet
ing, and is signed by Councilman Navin.
Hill, Crichton, Crawford and McArdle.
Copies Of this were sent to every member
of the council. At the hour named the ave
gentlemen above named were promptly on
hand, but not another member appeared.
The council chamber. however. was brill
liantly lighted, and afforded an agreeable
place for conversation. and for an hour the
gentlemen spent the time In social inter
course.
As President Rinehart failed to appear.
after waiting until o'clock. DR.. Crtchton
was elected chairman pro tenn. Disdainins
the honors of the platform. DR.. Crichton
from his own desk put Hills motion that
the clerk record the fact that the petitions
for proposed amendments to the city char
ter were presented at this meeting. Action
In regard to the. proposed amendments:
which relate to "the public ownership OF
the street railways and the submission or
specified propositions to the vote OF the
qualified electors" to quote further from
the call, was the intended purpose OF the
special meeting. With. the exception OF
the call were elected on the fusion ticket,
but 1t Is understood that all Ave are a unit
on the question of the desirability OF the
proposed charter amendments
At $50 Navin moved that the chief OF
police be instructed to send out police off.
GERS for absent members. in accordance.
the city Charter" This motion was second
ed by sfcArdle and passed unanimously.
Section 5. referred to. reads as follows:
ons, n1orty o. ,,o al mem n,t
less number may adJourn from day 10 day,
or till the time OF the next regular meet.
ing, and may compel the attendance OF ABB
sent members in such manner and under
such penalties as the council shall pre-
Navin left the council chamber to tele-
posed a recess, and Hill moved that the
council I'LL in the time by discussing the
totem pole, but both motions failed Of a Sec
A little later Chief of Police Reed APP
peared In the council chamber. In his pres
ence Navins resolution was re-enacted In
these words: That the chief Of police be-
instructed to notify the absent members
Of the council to be present at this meet
ing"
Chief Reed replied to the council: II will
as fast as I can. The councilmen are scat
tered all over the city, and Inhave only
one or two available men. but will start
them out"
Then followed more waiting. Someone
found that the city charter provided that
'.the mayor. or in his absence or disability
the president Of the council. or any three
councilmen, may call a special meeting"
and varying opinions were expressed as to
whether the call as issued was valid, its
exact meaning depending upon the inter-
probation of the comma after the word
council
Ten o'clock passed. however. without the
appearance Of single one Of the absen-
tees and at 1905 the minority adjourned to
1880 tonight.
"Tell the chief to call or his hounds"
called one of the departing councilmen,
and few minutes later the council cham
Der was like a banquet hall deserted"
while the jealous members of the minority
scattered on their homeward ways.