The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1910-02-11
In Heat of Campaign Slips
Over Resolution for a
Charter Amendment.

The present members Of the city
council Of the city Of Seattle seem
determined 20 regain Tor them
selves the power which Is vested
Ia the people by the initiative and
referendum provision OF the city
charter. and 20 this end the resolu-
ton No. 1883. contalning the pro
poaed amendment No 8 20 the city
charter, Is directed
The amendment referred % con
tains joker which effectually
kills the whole initiative and refer.
endum provision This clause
reads as follows
sNo signature shall be re-
eelVed, except az the office o.
the city comptroller, where
said petition shall be KEEP, on
file"
This one sentence would pracu.
cally make e impossible for any
initiative or referendum petition TO
secure enough names to make Il e.
lcctlye. as voters cannot. without
great sacrifice. leave their work
and make a trip TO the city hall
during business hours. when the
comptfoller's office IL open. 20
place their signatures on such pc
titions. and the purpose 0f the
clause is 20 make it 80 difficult for
the voters 10 have any say In the
enactment Of the city ordinances
that they viii abandon their efforts
in that direction
Showed Their Hand.
The present city council showed
very clearly It's attitude toward the
referendum provision IN los action
upon the petition 20 submit to a
vote OF the people the ordinance
granting 20 the National District
Telegraph company tWcstcru Tn.
ton Telegraph company fran.
chise to install a fire alarm. bar.
glar and police alarm. messenger
service. sprinkler supervisor. etc.
in the city OF Seattle.
This referendum petition re-.
Quired only about 2.90o names TO
make IL effective. h contained over
5000 names. and. Notwithstanding
the efforts Of the Western Union
Telegraph Company TO have names
taken off Of the petition. Il went 10
the city council certified to b. the
comptroller as sufficient with over
l.Qoe names TO spare.
The present city charter provides
that whsn such q petition IL cert.
fled to BY the comptroller as sui.
ficient and transmitted 20 the city
council.
The city council shall
thereupcn provide for submit.
TING the said ordinance or sec.
tor, Item. Or part thereof. 10
the vote Of the qualified eject.
ors for ratification or relectlaa.
either at the next regular mu-
nleipal election or AZ special
election. as the city council In
It's disereticn may prcVlae.-
II will be noted that the city
council Is allowed no alternative in
THIS mattsF--the provision al the
charter IL clear and positive that
"the city council shall refer the or
dinauee 20 the people for a vote
Council Refused.
Notwithstanding this fact. the
city council. IN the case OF the
Western Union franchise. claimed
that the petition was Insufficient.
and refused 10 refer the franchise
TO the people for a vote
This action vas taken In direct
opposition Of the advice Of the cor
poratiou counsel. who Was present
IN the council chamber az the time
the action was taken. and informed
the council that Il did not have the
power 20 reverse the law.
An injunction was obtained In
the Western Union case by Paul X.
Mohr. who represents the labor IN
terests This case is now pending