The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1939-1949, 1948-08-05

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. Is
Proposed amendment to the Constitution
permitting the formation. under
charter, of combined city and county
municipal corporations having pop
ulatiop Of 100000 or more.
Be It 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
the first Monday of November, 1913. there
shall be submitted to the qualified electors
of the state. for their approval and ratifica-
ton, or rejection, proposed amendment to
Article XII of the State Constitution by the
addition thereto of a new section, to be
known as section is. which shall read -
follows:
Section IS. 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" and,
Of at least three hundred thousand $500. 000l
inhabitants. No such city and county shall
be formed except by . majority vote OF the
qualified electors of the area proposed to be
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 70 frame charter for its own
manner provided for cities by section 10 Of.
this article: Provided, however. That the
first charter of such city and county shall &c
framed and adopted in a manner to be speci-
fed in the general law authorizing the
formation of such corporations: Proridca
further, That every such charter shall des-
ignate the respective officers of such city
and county who shall perform the duties
such city and county shall have and enjoy
all rights, powers and privileges asserted
in its charter. not inconsistent with gen.
eral laws. and in addition thereto, sucn
granted to it, or possessed and enjoyed BY
cities and counties of like population seq
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
tutional provisions and general laws as ap-
ply to either cities or counties: Preceded.
That the provisions of sections 2, 3. 4. 5. q.
z, and Of this article shall not apply to any
such city and county: Provided turihe..
That the salary of any elective or appo;ntive
officer of city and county shall not be
changed after his election or appointment
or during his term of office: nor shall tn.
term of any such officer be extended beyond
the period for which he is elected or an
pointed. In case an existing county is di-
vided in the formation of a city ana county.
such city and county shall be liable for n
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 suct
lust proportion to be prescribed by general
law. but such division shall not affect the
rights of creditors. The officers Of a cit;
and county, their compensation. quaiifica-
tions. term of Office and manner of election
or appointment shall be as provided for "
its charter. subject to general laws and mp
plicable constitutional provisions.
And Be IL Further Resolved. That the Seq
Rotary of State shall cause the foregoing
proposed constitutional amendment to he
published for At least three 90 months next
preceding said election, In . weekly news
paper In every county where . newspaper
Is published throughout the state.
Adopted by the House March 8. ls47.
HRBERr NJ. HAMBLEN.
Speaker Of the House.
Adopted by the Senate March 8. l9l7.
VICTOR A. MEYERS,
President of the Senate.