The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1939-1949, 1948-10-14

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. il
Proposed amendment 10 the Constitution
permitting the formation. under
charter, OF combined city and county
municipal corporations having pop
ulation Of 100000 or more.
Be H Rcsolvod, BY tAe Senate and House
Of Representatives of the State OF Washing
ton, in Legislative Session Assembled:
That. At the general election 10 be held
In this state on the Tuesday next succeeding
the first Monday of November, lpas, there
shall be submitted 10 the qualified electors
of the state. FOR their approval and ratiiice-
ton. or rejection, proposed amendment 20
Article XII of the State Constitution by the
addition thereto of new section, 10 be
known as section 16. which shall read az
follows:
Section l6. The legislature shall, by gem
eral law. provide for the formation OF come
bined city and county municipal corpora
tions, and for the manner of determining
the territorial limits thereof, each of which
shall be known as a city and county, and
when organized, shall contain population
of Mt least three hundred thousand t30O.00Ol /
inhabitants. No such city and county shall
| be formed except by majority vote of the
qualified electors OF the area proposed TO DO
included therein and also by a majority vote
of the qualified electors Of the remainder or
that county from which such area Is TO DO
taken. Any such city and county shall he
permitted to frame charter for It's own
government, and amend the same, In thel
manner provided for cities by section 10 Of
this article: Provided. however, That tho
first charter of such CITY and county shall ba
framed and adopted in a manner TO be specl-i
fed in the general law authorizing thel
formation OF such corporations: Provided
further. That every such charter shall de-
and county. who shall 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 its charter, not inconsistent with gem
eral laws, and in addition thereto, such
rights, powers and privileges as may be 4
granted to II, 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 APP
That the provisions of sections 2, 8, 4, 8, 6.
2. and of this article shall not apply 20 any
such city and county: Provided further, /
That the salary of any elective or appointiye
changed after his election or appointment
or during his term of Office nor shall tho \
term OF any such officer be extended beyond
the period for which he Is elected or np-l
pointed. In ease an existing county Ia di-
vided in the formation Of city and county.
such city and county shall be liable for n
Just proportion of the existing debts or ha-l
bilities of the former county, and shall nc-i
count for and pay the county remaining 81
just proportion OF the value OF any really
estate or other property owned by the
former county and taken over by the county,
and city, the method Of determining suehN
just proportion 20 be prescribed by general
law, but such division shall not affect tho,
rights OF creditors. The officers OF city,
and county, their compensation, qualificnI
tions. term of Office and manner of election
or appointment shall be as provided for In
its charter, subject 10 general laws and ap-'
plicable constitutional provisions.
And Be ft Further Resolved, That the Sec-l
rotary OF State shall cause the foregoing
proposed constitutional amendment 70 be
published for nc least three (3D months next
preceding said election, in a weekly news
paper in every county where a newspapers
is published throughout the state.
Adopted by the House March 3, 1s47.
HERBERr M. HAMBLEN.
Speaker OF the House.
Adopted by the Senate March 8. 1917.
VICTOR A. MEYERS.
President Of the Senate