The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1939-1949, 1948-09-02

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. Is
permitting the formation. under
charter, Of combined city and county
municipal corporations having pop
uIation Of 100000 or more.
Be IL Resolved. BY the Senate and House
,of Representatives of the State of Washing
ton. in Legislative Session Assembled:
in,this state on the Tuesday next succeeding
the first Monday Of November, 194S. there
shall be submitted to the qualified electors
of the state. for their approval and ratifica-
Article XII of the State Constitution by the
addition thereto Of new section. to be
known as section 16. which shall read as
follows:
Section le. The legislature shall. by gen.
bined, city and county municipal CORPORA
lions, and for the manner of determining
the territorial limits thereof, each of which
shall be known as q city and county. and,
Of at least three hundred Thousand (300.0O0l
inhabitants. No such city and county shall
be formed except by a majority vote of the
qualified electors Of the area proposed to be
included therein and also by majority vote
Of the qualified electors OF the remainder OF
that county from, which such area is to be
taken. Any such city and county shall be
permitted TO frame q charter Tor MS own
manner provided for cities by section 10 eff
this article: Provided, however. That the
first charter of such city and county shall he
framed and adopted in q manner TO be speci-
fed in the general law authorizing tue
formation of such corporations: Pyoriled
further, That every such charter shall deg
ignate the respective officers OF such city
and county who shan perform the duties
imposed by law upon county officers. Every
such city and county shall have and enjoy
all rights. powers and privileges asserted
In IT, charter, not inconsistent with gen
eral laws. and In addition thereto. such
rights, powers and privileges rs may be
granted to Il, or possessed and enjoyed BY
cities and counties Of like population ser
arately organized.
No county or county government existing
outside the territorial limits of such county
and city shall exercise any police. tsxation
or other powers within the territorial limits
Of such county and city, but all such powers
shall be exercised by the city and county ard
tutional provisions and general laws as an
ply to either cities or counties: Provided,
That the provisions OF sections z. >. 4, 3. b.
Z. and 8 Of this article shall not apply to any
That the salary Of any elective or appointive
ofiicer Of . city and county shall not be
changed after his election or appointment
or during his term Of office: nor shall the
the period for which he Is elected or Rp-
pointed. In case an existing county II dt-
vided in the formation OF city and county.
such city and county shall be liable for
just proportion of the existing debts or lia-
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 genera
law. but such division shall not affect the
rights Of creditors. The oMcerS OF cit,
and county, their compensation. qu.lifica
lions, term Of ONCE and manner OF election
or appointment shall be - provided for II
its charter, subject to general lawn and AZ
plicable constitutional provisions.
And Be IL Further Resolved, That the Sec
rotary Of State shall cause the foregoing
proposed constitutional amendment TO be
published for 1t least three (3) months next
preceding said election. In . weekly news
paper in every county where newspaper
h published throughout the state.
Adopted by She House March ,. lsA7.
HmsExf N. HANDLsN.
Speaker Of the House.
ADOPTED b. the Senate March 9. 1917.
VpcroR A. MgYIRS.
Prssidsnt q the Senate