The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1939-1949, 1948-08-12

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. IL
Proposed amendment to the Constitution
permitting the fOrmaf 'on, under
charter, of combined cl.y and county
municipal corporations having pop
ulation of 100000 or more.
Be 1t Resolved. By the Senate and House
of Representatives of the State of Washing
ton, in Legislative Session Assembled:
That, At the general election to be held
in this state on the Tuesday next succeeding
the first Monday Of November, 194S. there
shall be submitted to the qualified electors
ton, or rejection, proposed amendment to
Article XI of the State Constitution by the
addition thereto of new section, to be
known as section l6. which shall read as
follows:
Section L. The legislature shall, by gen.
eral law. provide for the formation of COM
bined city and county municipal corpora
tions, and for the manner of determining
the territorial limits thereof, each of which
shall be known as "city and county" end.
when organized, shall contain population
of at least three hundred thousand (3O0,O0Ol
inhabitants. No such city and county shall
qualified electors of the area proposed to be
included therein and also by a majority vote
of the qualified electors of the remainder OF
that county from which such area is to be
permitted to frame charter for its own
government, and amend the same, in the
manner provided for cities by section 10 of
this article: Provided, however, That the
first charter Of such city and county shall be
framed and adopted in manner to be speci-
fled in the general law authorizing the
formation Of such corporations: Provided
further, That every such charter shall des-
ignate the respective officers OF such city
and county who shall perform the duties
imposed by law upon county officers. Every
such city and county shall have and ehjoy
all rights. powers and privileges asserted
in its charter, not inconsistent with ger
eral laws. and in addition thereto, such
rights, powers and privileges as may be
granted to it, or possessed and enjoyed By
cities and counties of like population sep
arately organized.
No county or county government existing
outside the territorial limits of such county
and city shall exercise any police. taxation
or other powers within the territorial limits
of such county and city, but all such powers
shall be exercised by the city and county and
the officers thereof, subject to such consti-
tutional provisions and general laws as APP
ply to either cities or counties: Provided.
That the provisions of sections 2, 8, a, S. &,
z, and of this article shall not apply to any
such city and county: Provided further.
That the salary of any elective or appointive
officer Of a city and county shall not be
changed after his election or appointment
or during his term of Office 3 nor shall the
the period for which he is elected or APP
pointed. In case an existing county is d.
vided in the formation of city and county,
such city and county shall be liable for
just proportion of the existing debts or La
bilities of the former county, and shall ac-
count for and pay the county remaining
just proportion Of the value of any real
estate or other property owned by the
former county and taken over by the county
and city, the method of determining such
Just proportion to be prescribed by general
law, but such division shall not affect the
rights of creditors. The officers of a city
and county, their compensation, qualifica-
tions, term of Office and manner of election
or appointment shall be as provided for IL
its charter. subject to general laws and ap-
plicable constitutional provisions.
And Be IL Further Resolred, That the Sec
rotary of State shall cause the foregoing
proposed constitutional amendment to be
published for at least three go months next
preceding said election, in weekly news
paper in every county where q newspaper
is published throughout the state.
Adopted by the House March 8. 1947.
HERBERT M. HAMBLEN,
=. ,... Speaker of the House.
Adopted by the Senate March 8, 1947.
VICTOR A. MEYERS,
49, -s.- President of the Senate.