The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1911-10-27
PROPOSED
AMENDMENTS
VOTERS SHOULD STUDY
THEM BEFORE GOING TO
THE POLLS ON NOVEMBER
7-SEVEN AMENDMENTS TO
CHARTER TO BE PASSED
UPON.

We are all "het up over the coming
city election and loudly declaiming the
merits or demerits of this and that
candidate for office. In the heat of
the conflict it should not be forgotten
that after the voters get done putting
an "X" after the names of the men AMI
women they want to vote for, there is
still something to be done before they
can emerge from the booth with their
duty accomplished. How many of us
realize that there are several proposed
amendments to the city charter upon
which the voters will be asked to eX-
press their approval or disapproval!
Well, there are, and they should be
studied carefully. Usually very small
percentage of the total vote is cast for
any proposition unless that proposition
has received wide publicity through the
public press or by public discussion.
Amendments are genel{lly important,
too, or they wouldn't be up before the
voters.
There are seven proposed amendments
to be voted upon in November. You will
find them printed in full in the Daily
Herald. Briefly, they provide as fol-
lows:
Proposed amendment No. l will, if
passed, raise the maximum salaries of
regular or temporary deputies and
clerks from 81 600 a year to 81 200, sub
ject, of course to city ordinance.
Proposed amendment No. , amends
section 27 of the charter fixing compen-
sation for certain city officers. 1t raises
the city treasurer from $1,000 to $l,SOO
per annum; provides salary for the
mayor of $500 per annum provides
an annual salary of 5000 for each city
councilman.
Proposed amendment No. 3 provides
that the mayor shall, if he receives Il
salary, devote his entire time to the
business of the city.
Proposed amendment No. fixes the
tax levy at eight mills for all city pur-
poses, exclusive of bond interest, sink
ing fund, park fund, cemetery fund and
library fund. 1t also gives the council
power to levy taxes for the construc-
tion, acquisition, establishment, i'm
provement, use and maintenance of pub
lie libraries, public cemeteries, public
Fairgrounds and such other public util-
tiles and improvements as are placed
under the jurisdiction and management
of the park commission.
Proposed amendement No. amends
section 20, relating to salaries, and pro
vides that the maximum pay of the fol-
lowing officers and employees may be
raised by city ordinances: City control
Ter, from 81 500 to $4,000; city engineer,
from 81 800 to $2,400 assistant engineer,
81 500; chief of police, from $1,000 to
$l,S00; superintendent of streets and
sewers, 81 200 (same as before); police
Judge, $500 (same as before); fire chief,
from $1,000 to $l,S00; health officer,
5000 (same as before); harbormaster,
$50 (same as before); policeman, first
and second years, 5000 (same as beforel /;
policemen, thereafter, $1,000 (same as
before); any employe or agent, $1,000
(same as before). The above are annual
salaries.
Proposed amendment No. 6 relates to
single tax and provides for the gradual
introduction of the system. Twenty
five per cent of the valuation of all i'm
provements to be exempt from taxation
during the years 1912 and 1913; 80 per
cent during 1914 and 1915; rs per cent
in 1916, and thereafter 100 per cent.
Proposed amendment No. changes
the wording of the provision said board
(health) shall appoint, and may remove
at pleasure, a health officer who shall
give his entire time to his duties, and
shall perform such duties as may be
prescribed by the board" to read "said
board shall appoint, and may remove at
pleasure, health officer who shall per
form such duties as may be prescribed
Inv tha hoard -