The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-12-16
THE CHARTER AMENDMENTS.
THEY WILL Bn Considered AT
cITIxENs' MEETING TONIGHT.
Members Of Special Council Commit
tee Decline Invitation to Attend
Meeting Of Municipal Ownership
Advocates to Present Their Case.

Final arrangements were completed last
night for the mass meeting which has
been called for tonight at the Seattle the
alter by the advocates of the two charter
amendments. filed December with the
city council, together with lengthy petit
lions asking their submission to the people.
The meeting tonight will be presided over
by w. d. Wood. formerly mayor Of the
city OF Seattle. A lengthy list Of vice
presidents has been prepared, and the men
ws'Jse names appear thereon will be invited
this morning through the mails to occupy
seats on the stage.
The city council committee on charter
revision, Gill. chairman. will hold Its meet
ing tonight at the council chamber. Tho
committee was invited to attend the meet
ing at the theater. but the invitations were
declined. The members OF the committee
exchanged views on the subject yester-
day afternoon, resulting In determine
ton to carry out the programme mapped
out at the meeting of the council last Nom
day night. and to hold the meeting. as
announced, at the council chamber.
The mass meeting tonight at the theater
will probably be the occasion. OF several
speeches on the municipal ownership ques-
tion. The ostensible purpose Of the meet
ing, as declared by those in charge Of the
arrangements, is to discuss the action of
the council in tabling the petitions for the
proposed by the committee OF one hum
dred. As the meeting Ii to be o public one,
1t IL possible. Of course, that there may be
a general discussion Of the whole ques-
ton. IA s1s5s.
For this reason. the gathering will prob
ably take on the form, In SOME respects
at least, OF political meeting. The man
their advocacy Of the amendments which
the committee OF one hundred seeks to
have submitted to the city electors. The
speakers chosen, who were named In yes
terday's Observation-Disclosures, were presuma-
bly, selected because Of their views on the
question. Notwithstanding this, It was
stated by q member Of the committee in
charge Of the meeting, last night. that a
full and free discussion OF the whole mat
ter would be had.
Yesterday the committee in charge of the
preparations for the meeting made ar
Guiding vocal and instrumental selections,
which will be interspersed between the
speeches.
Chairman Gill. Of the council committee
on charter revision. said yesterday that
while he himself would enjoy attending
the meeting at the Seattle theater, yet
whom he had talked did not believe they
were justified in abandoning the public
meeting Of the committee called for to-
night at the council chamber. '.The
msnts to consider" Mr.. Gill said.
subject or one political policy. They are
vital to the welfare of the city. They have
reference to property, to street assess
ments and to the proposed Cedar river
lighting plant. to be owned by the NUM-
cipality. The committee has this work to
perform. 1t has given notice Of the meet
ing to be held at the city hall tomorrow
night, and cannot well see how we can
abandon our plans to accept the invitation
of those in charge of the meeting at the
Seattle theater."
Another member of the committee said:
1--WE have given notice In regular way
of a meeting of a special committee APP
pointed to consider proposed amendments
to the city charter. We want to give ev-
cry organization and every individual a
chance to offer amendments to the charter
and II worthy of consideration such amend
ments will be taken into calculation in
framing the changes in the charter to be
submitted next spring. The object in hold
Ing a special meeting was to give every one
a chance to present their IDEAS The COM
mittee has serious work to do. and we are
not called on to disregard our own busirb IS
to attend mass meeting of municipal
ownership advocates"