The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1939-1949, 1948-08-26

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. II
Proposed amendment TO the Constitution
permitting the formation, under n
charter, Of combined city and county
ai saissaP o. or mora pop
b II Resolvsd. By the Senate and House
Of Representative Of The State Of Washing
ton, in Legislative Session Assembled:
That. Az the general election 20 be held
In this state on the Tuesday next succeeding
the first Monday of November, 1913. there
shall be submitted TO the qualified electors
Of the state. for their approval and ratifca-
ton. or rejection, q proposed amendment 20
Article XII of the State Constitution by the
addition thereto Of new section, TO be
known a. section 16. which shall read as
Section is. The legislature shall, by gem
eral law, provide for the formation OF conn
bined city and county municipal corpora
the t.rritoriai limits thereof. each Of which
shall be known as city and county" and,
when organised, shall contain population
Of ut least three hundred thousand (300,000l
inhabitants. No such city and county shall
be formed except by n majority vote of the
qualified electors of the area proposed TO be
included therein and also by n 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 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 a maainer 20 be speci-
fed 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 enjoy
all rights, powers and privileges asserted
=. cto,- =. s,..a xscN,
eral laws, and in addition thereto, such
rights, powers and privileges MS 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,
z. and 8 OF this article shall not apply TO any
such city and county: Provided further,
That the salary OF any elective or appointive
ohhcer OF city and county shall not be
changed after his election or appointment
or during his term OF office: nor shall the
term Of any such officer be extended beyond
the period FOR which he Is elected or APP
pointed. In case an existing county is di-
vided In the formation OF n city and county,
such city and county shall be liable for q
just proportion of the existing debts or lfa-
bilities OF the former county. and shall ac-
count for and pay the county remaining n
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, qualifca-
tions, term Of Office and manner OF election
or appointment shall be as provided for in
its charter, subject to general laws and APP
plcable constitutional provisions.
A~d Be t Further Resolved That the Sec
Rotary Of State shall cause the foregoing
proposed constitutional amendment 20 be
published for at least three t3) months next
preceding said election. In a weekly news
paper in every county where a newspaper
10 published throughout the state.
Adopted by the House March 8. 1917.
HERBERT M. HAMBLEN,
Speaker OF the House
Adopted BY the Senate March 8. 19<7.
VICTOR A. MEYERS.
President Of the Senate.