The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-02-09
MAKEPR0GRESS
!. ON CHARTER
REVISION

Marked progress was made last
night by the civic commission in
consideration of the revision of the
city charter. The meeting was en-
tirely harmonious, and presented a
strong contrast to the preceding
session, when the local option
question was under consideration.
On the matter of the life of
street railway franchises, due to
the plea made before the commits
sion at its last meeting by d. L.
Huntington and Waldo G. Paine of
the street car companies, COM
mittee was appointed, consisting Of
Judge Huneke, Captain John Gray
and F. H. Walker.
The question of enlarged assess
ment districts in the making of
street and other improvements
that benefited more than the abut-
ting property was called up by Mr..
Ralston and recommitted to the
committee, consisting of Fred Bald
win, John Gray and Mr.. Ralston,
who were requested to get copy
of the Seattle charter provision on
the question.
The question was raised at this
point by ]. M. Geraghty that the
charter should be amended to per
NIT the creation of park assess
ment districts to enable neighbor-
hoods IL they desired to purchase
grounds for parks or play grounds,
the same to be paid for by assess
ing the neighboring property, as is
done in other cities.
The assessments committee will
also consider this suggestion.
l.. R. Hamblen introduced. the
first draft of an amendment Gre
ating a non-partisan water COM
mission of seven men, similar to
the park board. to be appointed by
the mayor and serve without pay,
who are to have full charge of the
municipal water works. Council
man Nelson wanted the sewers
added. The chair appointed com
mittee consisting of Hamblen,
Baldwin Ostrander, Mohr and Ohm
stead, to investigate and make a
report.
The question Of placing full pow
err in the hands of the mayor to
APPOINT and remove the members of
the board of public works. the city
engineer and other excessive or adj
ministrative officers was called up
by Chairman Post. Mr.. Baldwin
introduced the draft of an amend
ment prepared years ago by ex-
Mayor Comstock, which called for
this same provision. with the addi-
tional feature that the city engi-
neer be one of the members of the
board of works. A committee was
dppoihttu W uidil TIC HSSSSodiy
amendment along this line, con-
sisting of Olmstead. Geraghty,
Baldwin, Lambert and Dalke
A provision for the exercise OF
the right of recall by the qualified
voters of the city, introduced by
Mr.. Ostrander, was read and re-
ferred back to him to be drafted
after the provision in the Des
Moines charter, which is simpler.
Under this plan % per cent of the
registered voters of the city can
file a petition with the acity clerk
preferring charges against any
elective officer. whereupon an cleo
ton is called, and all candidates
names placed on the ballot, includ-
ing that of the man against whom
the charges have been filed. If
another than the incumbent of the
Office is chosen at such election
then the office is declared vacant
and the successful candidate given
the Office. II the old incumbent is
reelected. he is permitted to con
unue in Office the same as before.
Chairman Post called. up the
question of electing councilmen at
large instead of by wards, and a
committee, consisting of w. ID. Vim
cent, F. II. Walker and Jacob
Schiller was appointed to draft
suitable amendment on the sub
lect
The commission asked the city
council, on motion of Mr.. Baldwin,
to make an appropriation of 500
to cover the cost typewriting and
other expense the commission
work entailed. and then adjourned
to meet next Friday night