The Struggle to Streamline Seattle's Government

City Comptroller Carson has declared himself on the subject of the revision of the charter. He agrees that the charter should be amended and that the present plan of governing the city, or attempting to govern it, by commissions is a failure. Mr. Carson advocates the abolishment of all commissions and intimates that the work now performed by the various boards should be entrusted to salaried officials. He objects particularly to the payment of a salary to the board of park commissioners and suggests that the work of this commission could be performed satisfactorily by the city engineer, the street superintendent, and the board of public works. As regards the city council, Mr. Carson is of opinion that the maintenance of two branches has a tendency to prevent hasty and ill-advised legislation. While there are a number of changes necessary in our charter, which ought to be made at our next regular election, there is danger of the pendulum swinging too far to the other side and eliminating features which long experience has proven to be reliable safeguards. The proper form of government for a city of the size of Seattle would be one that consolidated the legislative power in a council having but one branch, and the administrative power in a board of public works, consisting of the mayor, the city engineer, and the secretary of the board.