Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1915-07-30
NEW LAW AFFECTS
PULLMAN OFFICIALS
After 1916 Councilmen VIII Serve
-Four Years--AII Other Officers.
Including Mayor, Two Years
Elections BienniaIIy

After the city election of 1916,
! Pullman's municipal elections will
be held only every second year, in
compliance with new laws enacted
by the last legislature. The laws Of
feet all cities of the third class, and
became effective in June. Under
| the workings of the new law, at the
city election this fall, the mayor,
councilman-at-large, treasurer, at
torney and city clerk will be elect
ed for one year, and three ward
councilmen will be elected for three
terms for the mayor, councilman-at-
large, clerk, attorney and treasurer,
and one and two years for the coun-
cilmen, as in the past. At the 1916
election the general plan of the new
laws will become effective, when the
mayor, COMMUNICATING city
treasurer, city clerk and city attor-
ney will be elected for two-year
terms each, with three councilmen
elected for four years. This plan
will necessitate municipal elections
only every two years.
The new law makes provision for
the appointment of a city health Of
ficer by the mayor, that official to
serve during the tenure of office OF
the city head, unless he is removed
for cause by the mayor, with the
support of a majority of the entire
council.
Under the new law the city clerk
will be required to sign all warrants,
which must bear the mayors coun-
tersign, instead of being signed by
the mayor and countersigned by the
clerk.
We herewith print below excerpts
from the session laws Of 1915, which
include the principal changes from
the law as heretofore:
Election and Terms
Sec 8. The mayor, councilman
at-large, treasurer, city attorney and
clerk shall be elected in the year
1915 for the term of one year. Such
officers shall be elected in the year
1916 and biennially thereafter for
terms of two years. Three council
men, other than councilman-at-large,
shall be elected in the year 1916 and
biennially thereafter for terms of
four years. All such elections shall
city at a general municipal election
to be held therein on the first Tues
day after the first Monday in De-
cember. All elective officers shall
hold office from and after the first
Tuesday in January next succeeding
the date of election and until their
successors are elected and qualified.
The mayor shall appoint a chief of
police, police judge, city engineer,
street superintendent, health officer
and such other officers as shall be
provided by ordinance. The term of
every appOintiVe officer shall expire
at the same time as that of the mayor
appointing him unless such officer
be sooner removed by the mayor by
and with the consent of not less
than four councilmen.
Drains. and Sewers
The city council shall have power
to establish, construct and maintain
drains and sewers, and shall have
power to compel all property owners
on streets and alleys or within 200
feet thereof along which sewers shall
have been constructed to make prop
er connections Herewith and to use
the same for proper purposes, and
in case the owners of the property
on streets and alleys or within 200
feet thereof shall fail to make such
connections within the time fixed by
such council, they may cause such
connections to be made and to assess
against the property served thereby
the costs and expenses thereof.
Rates for Municipal Plants
Rates shall be fixed by ordinance
for supplying light, power, heat or
water for commercial, domestic and
irrigation purposes sufficient to pay
all operating and maintenance
charges hereinbefore referred to,
and when a greater amount is pro-
duced than is necessary to meet said
operating and maintenance charges
the rates to the consumer may be
reduced. Complete separate ac-
counts for such municipalities shall
be kept under the system and on
forms prescribed by the bureau of
inspection and supervision of pub
lie offices.
No Contracts to Officers