The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-12-23
.roIl Committee Will Discuss
Proposed Changes Tonight
AtAslss MAY BE ADVANCED.
1lfnsn 70 Increase Pay Of
n ns.ss,inen to syS Per Month g
M jpensi6 -0pposed BY Janes
80 nther Omcers Of the Admin
.s..tfsx = Municipal Lighting
Yssst WIN ne Provided For.

y
3 ~ nouncjl chamber OF the city hall, by
G,srlsi council committee appointed to
@SSsSsr certain proposed amendments
+ <~sssi1suan Gel Il chairman OF the COM
Ssss. which also includes Councifmen
n ~ sSS1 pliIet. Rude and Castieman.
X ~ s6nration Counsel Humphrey and City
= s,sSSr thomson, acting together. have
:ssroA amendments covering the changes
IN cbarter relating to the proposed city
&S1t.s nlant ana the Cedar river system
- TS6mspn ana J. X. Brown, ex-corpora-
2;~ nuelnsol have prepared rough draft
" 2, amendment containing certain
&sSSd& Ii me charter provisions relating
I IN eSfl11nsnfs for street improvements.
Z = G,u1unsry Of the proposed amendments
- $500 consideration by the committee
= y fellows:
~ the municipal ownership Of
fSiSnf 10 light the city.
X jH 4 Vof the elimination from the Cenr
s3nn providing for the construction
f II Z second pipe line running from
Csdaf river to Swan lake, At an ex-
Fof using the money saved in this
~ Cedar river watershed, for the pur-
nd3e q providing for and protecting the
frf1fe needs Of the city.
L Iof changing the charter to con-
M Win late decisions OF the United
q bhtsa supreme court regarding street
oefne to the very large amount Of work
\ 1&i1h has fallen upon the city engineer
Il kriux the past week. 1t is possible that
~ conmIttee may not have at the meet
tonieht complete and finished draft
u lho proposed amendments covering the
rerlion Of street improvements. One Of
~ rroposed amendments touching assess
[ nsrts for street improvements ID a section
muyidine that bonds payable at a definite
lime may be issued by local Improvement
districts. At present the practice Is to is
Z 10 bonds payable In installments 1t Is
foodtoodsd that bonds issued to run
deAnite period Of time and payable at one
Tine are more salable and can be disposed
1 4 ID better terms than those which are
~ Ia installments. TX
u 0lkef changes contemplated in the char
ief rslating to assessments for street Inn
A movements have reference to the proceed
ne Of the city council in ordering Inn
movements and also somewhat enlarge its
;pcwers. It Is also proposed to amend the
Sskarier % that the council may order
sSncadah pavement without the consent OF
~ property owners, as Il now the case
stth banking.
II Laws passed by the last legislature and
recent ordinances OF the city council are
had BY legal authorities to comply with
IN requirements OF late supreme court
4 decisions relating to street Improvement
assessments. The principle involved is
Int Of benefits derived from an improve
ilent, a. distinguished from the assessment
ID The basis Of property frontage.
!, There has been some talk that the COM
4 nittee tonight would consider PROPOSE
TIM to submit an amendment increasing
: ne salaries Of the city councilmen from
~ b rs per month and the salary Of the
mayor from $3.50 to 5000 per year. There
~, however. no concerted movement
among the councilmen to this end
Various opinions are entertained at the
clty hall regarding the suggestion that the
Alafies OF the councilmen be increased to
= per month. From Investigations made
yestsFday by Post-1ntelligencer reporter
4 b plain that many members Of the
council are opposed to making the sug-
sested change in the charter at this time.
Councilman James, voicing the opinions
4 several members of the city govern
uent, said yesterday, IT will not dispute
with any man the proposition that the
nembers Of the city council earn more
money four fold. yea a dozen fold. than
! paid them under the present law. Yet
very seriously question the wisdom of
asking the taxpayers Of the city to in
crease the pay Of the councilmen to SIS
per month. The only problem raised in this
connection is, how to obtain the best serv-
ice IN the council for the whole city--tax-
payers strangers, citizens and everybody.
DO not believe that SIS per month is a
true gauge Of the value OF the services
y the members of the city council. / am
not certain at all that IL that amount Of
money were authorized by the voters of
ne city. voting on a charter amendment,
mat Il would result In any better service
man the city is getting at the present
"You cannot overlook the fact that In a
NY Of the size of Seattle many of its
uusens must Of necessity render to the
eommunity valuable and disinterested serv-
yes lot which they get no return save In
me abstraction Of knowing that they are
1nserving the interests of the city and OF
- catizens I am not at all sure at this
ume that the proposition to increase the
ny o. the councilmen would result In the
object sought.
mere would be no object, in my opin-
u. 10 making the Office of councilman a
Starred office. at figure that would In
sacs men to seek the Office merely for the
AnaH salary attached to it,
THROUGH TO NOME.