The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1919-06-13
COMPREHENSIVE
PLAN FAVORED BY
JOINT COMMITTEE

The joint committee appointed
by the Central Labor Council, the
Freeholders' Club and the mass
meeting held at the High School on
May 10, to consider the proposition
of taking over the City Dock, and
to consider the dissatisfaction with
the acts of the Port Commission, on
last Monday night made its report.
The Committee was authorized
to take steps to recall Port Com
missioners Burke and entity, if not
satisfied with statements of those
officials in regard to what they in
tended to do in Port District mat
ters. Without reference to a recall
the Committee reported as follows;
"Our organizations believing that
the attempt by certain large inter
cSts in Everett to retard the progress
of the Port District, was becoming
entirely too successful; that the
rights of the public in the proposed
purchase of the City Dock were not
sufficiently safeguarded; and that
the Municipal Market should be en-
larged so as to accommodate farm
ers of Island and Snohomish Coun-
ties, and the householders of Ever
cit be benefited thereby, appointed
the several committees to see to it
that these matters were brought to
the attention of the public.
"NCiher the Committee nor the
several organizations they represent
are interested in the controversy
concerning the Port Engineer, eN-
Cept in as far as the carrying out of
the work of the Port Commission
concerns the public; and it is our
belief the Port Commission has
made n serious mistake in dispensing
with the services of a man seem
ingly so we'll equipped for our needs.
TO replace him by an engineer of
limited experience, would in our
opinion be demonstrated by time to
be a fatal mistake, fatal to the in
terests of the Port District,
I'VE believe too much stress is
placed upon the fact that the Port
commissioners receive no compen-
sation-their responsibility is not
lessened, but rather increased;
school boards receive no compensa
ton, vet they render responsible and
valuable services to the public.
Government is an agency created
to carry on the peoples business and
the Everett Port District is a part
of it; government is carried on by
its officers who are the peoples
honored servants and agents-public
office is a public trust, and he who
seeks or accepts such owes his best
honest efforts to carry out the wish
es Of the people he represents.
THE Port Commission in its re-
port to the Commercial Clubs pro-
poses to prosecute the Port District
work with all diligence, and to have
experts review Mr.. Aston's plans. We
believe these plans should be review
ed by the United States engineer who
will finally have to pass on them.
Why delay? At the meeting held in
the Commercial club Tuesday even
ing, Mr.. Miley, the only Port Com
missioner present at that meeting,
stated that the reason for dispensing
with the engineer was because there
was nothing more to do. The fol-
lowing evening the Port Commits
sion held a meeting, employed a sec
rotary and began negotiations for
the employment of an engineer Why
such a change in "a hours
The people Tor Whom we speak
believe a great injustice has been
done 1900 something destructive - in
stead of constructive, and that by
this action of the Port commission,
the appropriation of s766,000 will
not be secured from Congress, and
we believe it could have been seCur-
ed and the first unit of the compre-
hensive plan carried out to compile
ton.
I'VE believe the comprehensive
plan should be adopted, and the
first unit built
1--WE shall recommend to our re-
spective organizations that each APP
point q committee of two to attend
all meetings of the Port Commission,
and report back from time to time
in order that the public may be in
formed fully"
The report was signed by R. J..
Faussett, Chairman, and B. c. Nc
Cormick, Secretary.