The Mayor's Veto: A Battle Over City Bonds

To the Board of Aldermen of the City of Seattle—Gentlemen: I herewith return, without my approval, board of aldermen bill No. 57, entitled 'An ordinance requiring the cashier in the office of superintendent of water-works to give bond to the city in the sum of twenty thousand dollars.' The corporation counsel, in giving his opinion in writing concerning its illegality, has stated the law of the case so clearly that, being unable to improve upon the same, I cheerfully adopt it as my reason for my disapproval of this ordinance. It is as follows: 'I think the city cannot exact a bond from the cashier in the office of superintendent of water-works without thereby lessening its claim against the superintendent. The city charter provides that there shall be a superintendent of water-works who shall collect monthly all water rates and rents and pay the amount so collected at least once each day into the city treasury. He shall give bond to the city in such sum as the board may determine. The foregoing provisions make the superintendent of water-works responsible for the water rents collected in his office, and the city cannot exact a bond from a subordinate officer directly to the city and still hold the superintendent personally responsible.'