The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-12-30

q ~. ..rrc,I At its meeting last night
N 81 ! substantial majority 80. aes ,saS,
80 ..kmitting to popular vote az tne nes'
.s.stIon proposed charter ahsnu
e. ss~rsssIng the salaries OF the o'iices
!: ..s - city treasurer, comptroller sno
.ze..s,I The same action was taken
SsS' a I number Of other important
~ smsndments to the city charter.
Il .s,r,naI interest Of the session CEN
psSS rraolution to submit the char
y. Smsut raising salaries. on winch
(3l ~ lively debate. City Comptrol-
NJ I'm by virtue Of his official
3 .ilowsd the privilege OF speak
l .. u. .ssrs connected with his depart
S,.~ before the council, made the
v! " ~ ~ evening opposing the resolu-
ND & nv Y 80 mood twelve to one. JameA
~! ...',hsr from the Fourth ward. alone
y .2.src,isr Parrys argument was In
Y 4 ropseryatism in dealing with the
IVA n salaries. He said that at the
.1ss.. sinA he was opposed to the raising
>. M ssIsries and especially to the rails
~ !. shs salaries Of the higher officials
Y ~ city considered itself too poor
s4;s]S 10 wages Of the police oficers and
=. "a mat he wanted II understood
~ v - not speaking as q demogogue.
cSSt into the history OF the salary re-
s'"sS 81 former years and dwelt par
*ssssE upon the adoption of the new
sssSSj6erT charter only four years ago.
~ s3sarter. he said, was adopted. and
"a kssferr would bear him out in the
&lSn1nt solely for the purpose OF cut
ri down salaries that the. city council
- mable to reach, all salaries under the
SS(roI q that body having long before
IN reduced to the lowest possible limit.
gfne Not Ripe for Increase.
A N nat time, he said, the popular out
N NJ against an expensive city gov
annont, and the new charter. which cut
~ njAries Of the highest officers square,
X 4 10. abolished the office of city clerk
"a lopped off several unsalaried boards,
~ With unqualified public approval.
aNog, a. matter Of fact" he contin-
q s'the people of Seattle are not one
vhlt better able today to pay higher sal
ides and maintain a more expensive city
"a Times have improved, and improved
SOnderfully, but the general ability Of the
eo1lacu people to pay their taxes has not
i1cresSed since 1886. The cost of living
y Increased with everything else.
We should wait untn we have more
t.an inc GAVIN OF prosperity pelore we De-
n ID Seattle is confined to the commercial
center, Why pile up more taxes upon all
ihs people because times are good with a
ttEy Il say to you, In all cand0r and earn
1tne1s, wait four years more until this
prosperity e Z settled thing. then. If you
~, raise salaries.
that ne present salaries are grossly inade-
Q.atA but the new charter was formed
xn me view that such offices were hon.
oaV o01ces, ana now just as much as
t!eu tne present salaries are all We can
1loM " pay. say let this matter rest
m we become . city: That was the cry
"a fplte OF all We may say the
nct rapns that Seattle Is still only q
Mase rhen u comes to taxpaytng pow
Pay Of Councilmen.
49, w. NJ COUNCIL gu proper the debate was
~ sSlsr,s. ~ ca,O p1n u ~ ~ "
r. month. Crichton set the ball rolling
o,nmttss , ~ tne cna,.er ev,sTun
ssr.s ss,..,e ,u''om ih ele couhe III
jSsrs was cors,aar vu -" ns t % 20;
eon The renerai Srist 90 ne sruun.ant
Ss that Il man was worth anything 10
rs ~ : v ~ w ~ w ~ 20 montn.
hi nv vots ~ Sto a,S thnr, tha or ~
~ resolution was ca,.r; nu h ,ei .e
ID / lanes vot;ns nav W sole VI ~
CsstIsmsn movsd n nc amend IN. othar AL.
~ resojution 10 increa s,nS The saIery ~
NJ city trtasurer. which was not Changed
snsndnent wss nnsnin S ~ cs sTSd and
mon 4 vote tha rasnlmt;nr stSa,s a. or,a ma
u carried bv The sam,a . vlt i.s ~ 20 80
M othars o me same vote OF ~ 70 T..
N M co,,nci, uern ia ed,y, ar.eu opoAA
tor the elimination from the Cedar river
water system contract ~ fine clause nro-