The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1911-08-25
TO
CITY COUNCIL
IS IN CIRCULATION IN EVERY
WARD IN THE CITY-WILL
BE PRESENTED TO COUNCIL
NEXT MONDAY NIGHT =
FIRST STEP TOWARD COM
MISSION GOVERNMENT.

Mayor Hartley's prediction, made
during the municipal campaign two
years ago that, in view of the growing
sentiment in favor of the commission
form of city government, he would, If
elected, undoubtedly be Everett's last
mayor under the old system, bids fair
| to come as nearly true as may be under
the circumstances existing, unless all
signs fail.
This latest form of city government,
which is being adopted in city after city,
from Maine to California, as fast as the
old machinery can be displaced with the
new, has host of advocates in Ev-
erett 1t has been thought and talked
and discussed and now definite action,
looking toward its speedy adoption in
Everett, has been taken. Tuesday even
ing, in the new high school building a
number of citizens, voicing the senti-
ments of the larger electorate Of the
city, met to take definite steps towards
the earliest possible replacement of the
council system by the commission form
of government in Everett.
1t was the concensus of opinion at
that meeting that the new form of gov
ernment would be so different from the
old as to necessitate an entirely new
charter, as simple as possible yet flexible
and comprehensive enough to provide
for every need of this growing city.
In order to avoid the expense of a
separate election for this purpose, it was
decided to present petition on the sub
! iect to the council at its next meeting,
in order that the members of the pro-
posed charter commission might be
nominated at the direct primaries; and
to show the members of the city coun-
ell somewhat of the strength of the
sentiment in favor of the change, a
corps of canvassers was appointed, two
for each city precinct, to present the
following petition to the qualified voters
of the city. 1t is hoped thus to fortify
the petition by at least one thousand
names. The petition reads as follows;
To tht Honorable Mayor and City Coun'
ell of the City of Everett, Washing
| ton:
I Gentlemen-We, the undersigned, be-
ing qualified electors of the city of Ev.
erett, city of the first class of the
state of Washington, do hereby petition
your honorable body to cause an cleo
ton to be held at the earliest possible
date, at which election there shall be
chosen by the qualified electors of SAID
city fifteen freeholders thereof having
the qualifications required by law
whose duty it shall be to draft and pre-
pare new charter for said city and file
the same with the city clerk, all as pre-
scribed by section 1886 of Pierce's Wash
ington Code; and we further petition
that such other and further steps bt
taken as may be necessary for the
preparation of such charter, the sub
mission of the same to the qualified
voters of said city for their ratification
or rejection, and for the full and com
plete adoption of such charter; it being
the desire of the undersigned that such
new charter shall provide for a commits
sion form of government OF the best
possible character.
While it would not be quite true that
Mr.. Hartley would be the last mayor
of Everett under the council system
even should the present plans move OF
to their completion without hitch
still the life of the incoming admins
tration would be shortlived, for the
! adoption of a new charter along the
lines suggested in the petition would
mean that Everett would in all prob
ability be under the commission form
of government by the middle of mex
year.
All friends of the proposed change arr
urged to see that their names go on th'
/ petition Immediately, since it is the in
tention of the committee in charge o
the matter to present the petition witt
the full list of names to the city con