City Council Vetoes Payment to Liquor Dealer's Widow

From the Mayor, submitting the following to the Common Council of the city of Seattle: Gentlemen—I regret that I cannot approve the ordinance to provide for the payment of fifty dollars to Mrs. Chas. O. Boomer. If the city had authority to perform meritorious acts of charity, there could be no objection to this ordinance; but in my view of the law, and the powers of the city, no appropriation can be made except for corporate purposes and no claim to be paid, the payment of which could not be enforced at law or equity. When Mr. Boomer paid his money into the city treasury, and received therefor a license to transact business as a liquor dealer, the amount so paid became absolutely a part of the general city fund, and the property of the city taxpayers, and subject to be diverted only for legitimate corporate purposes. Mr. Boomer’s death intervened before the expiration of the license, and rendered the continuance of his business by his legal representatives impracticable or undesirable. This was an unfortunate business loss, such as falls to the lot of many people, but furnishes no ground for a just or legal claim against the city. The original payment was made voluntarily and for a lawful purpose, and not under mistake of either law or fact, and therefore cannot be recovered. Having this conception of the law I return the ordinance for your consideration. H. G. Struve, Mayor. Seattle, August 29, 1883. Veto sustained.