The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-06-15

The city council. after months OF quiet
agitation, has az length resolved 90 codtfy
me city ordins1ces. which for nearly SIX
years have not even been printed for pub
tic distribution and which for all years
suhseQuen, 10 lsa3 are 20 b conveniently
referred 20 only in private scrap book
kept by the city clerk.
An ordnance providing for the cod,fiea-
ton 10 now under preparation by City
Comptroller Parry and viii be introduced
=; the next meeting OF the city council
on Monday evening BY the committee on
library and printing as ar amendment TO
a bill recently introduced by Councilman
Hill providing fur the revision and print
ing OF the city ordinances UP 10 date The
AMENDING ordinance will be far wider In
It's scope. for the Qualification Of the ords-
nances was NOT contemplated in the Hin
ordinance.
The city comptroller was ordered 20 pre-
pare the amended ordinance at meeting
OF the council committee Of library and
printing held ~ the city hall yesterday.
Besides the committee. consisting OF Coun-
Gilman Hill. chairman. and Gounciimen
James. Gill. Cassieman and Taylor, there
were present City Comptroller Parry. John
W Pratt and others whose advice was
sought by the committee. The session last
ed mos Of the afternoon
The fail details Of the codiacatson plan
were worked ous AT the meeting. The most
important Sitp taken Was Eir APPOINTMENT
OF a code commission under whose super
vision the work VIII be done d. two we'll
known members OF the bar. Incorporation
Counsel John K Brown ard William H.
White. last fall candidate for prosecuting
attorney On the Republican ticket.
The members OF the commission are Cor
porA,ion Counsel VIII f. Humphrey, Coan-
Gilman II. c. Gin, chairman OF the coun-
eli Judiciary committee: City Comptr 1ller
W. II. Parry. City Engineer r. II. Thorn
son, and John W. Pratt. special grade tax
attorney for the city.
Under the terms Of the proposed amended
ordinance Mr.. Brown and MIR. White viii
begin the work OF codification al once and
bind themselves 10 complete IL within f1ve
months ~ that the new code may be out
% the printers hands by the beginning of
The new year. For the work they viii
receive n5Gd. out OF which they must pay
all clerical help and other incidental ex-
penses.
Their task will be a tedious one and one
requiring great deal OF legal as we'll a.
practical knowledge. The thousands OF
ordinances which have accumulated In the
clerks once during :he past six years. as
carefully gone through and carefully weed
cd out until only those now In force are left.
These ordinances will be revised and put
into proper form and then re-enactes IN the
form OF code which will show at glance
every valid and existing legislative act OF
the city council.
No. only will the code bv a boon to
lawyers. who now have no certain way OF
ascertaining what the city has enacted as
law. bu. IL will greatly simplify the work
Of the city council rs well. II viii do
away with the present cumbersome sys-
tenn Of amending and re-amer-'ing ord'-
nanres and have other heneficsnt effects
too numerous 10 mention. the employees or
the city government say.
X has for years been the practice OF the
city clerk and Of late Of the corporation
counsel also. to clip from the city effcial
paner all city ordinances passed and pub
nshesi and 10 preserve the clippings for
reference. But for this fact It would now
be practically an .rnposssnsiity. Il Is said.
TO And hundreds OF ordinances which. COW
ersl by the accumulated dust % years. lie
In IRE vaults Of the city clerks Office
The clerks scrap book does not show.
heweyer without exhaustive search. what
ordinances have been repealed or amended.
One Of the chief beauties Of the cnsliAed
ordinances wtf be that they viii show cnly
wha. Is living law and 10 more.