City Hall Showdown: Council and Reformers Clash Over Charter Revision

The question of a new charter was discussed for three hours in the city hall yesterday afternoon at the joint meeting of the two houses of the city council with committees from the Municipal League, Chamber of Commerce and Referendum Club. The meeting was opened by J. J. McGilvra, who, as chairman of the committee from the Municipal League, after reading a paper setting forth the wishes of the committee, made a direct attack on both mayor and council, intimating that if the council did not at once act in the matter the Municipal League would know what to do. His remarks brought a number of councilmen to their feet later on in self-defense, resulting in Mr. McGilvra backing down and apologizing, disclaiming any intent to reflect on the councilmen individually or as a body. 'War Horse' White followed in the same line of attack, and in the same manner he went so far as to predict that the council would defer the election until the next regular election. Members of the Chamber of Commerce, principally Dr. S. Ramsey and E. O. Graves, defined their position as opposed to the violent measures demanded by McGilvra and White, and expressed their desire to leave the matter to the good judgment of the council, who could be trusted to act for the best interests of the people. About a dozen sixes and sevens were made which developed the fact that outside of the councilmen, about one-half of those present favored taking time to consider the matter of cost more fully, and what actual saving a new charter would give the city. At the end of three hours' of talking, during which several pleasant passages at words occurred, an adjournment was taken to 2 o'clock next Wednesday, at which time the various committees were instructed to come prepared to show what saving to the city a new charter would make.

At 2 o'clock, the hour set for the meeting, the following were present: Aldermen Leander Miller, A. Anderson, H. B. Clise, H. F. Compton, T. M. Faulston, J. K. Jordan, M. W. Lovejoy, J. V. Sweeney; Delegates W. Chapman, J. Gleason, P. W. Goodhue, E. H. Hurd, J. A. James, A. Kistler, F. A. Little, W. Voight and J. E. Crichton. The Municipal League was represented by the following committee: J. J. McGilvra, W. H. White, Dexter Horton, John Kinnear and M. J. Carkeek. The Chamber of Commerce's committee was: Dr. S. Ramsey, E. O. Graves, John Wehram, Tracy H. Robertson and Andrew Knox. The Referendum Club had present W. J. Larkin, Ed Morse, W. E. Wilson, Howard Waltz, W. W. Noyes, W. W. Easter and M. F. Knox. The labor organizations were represented by W. H. Harben.

At first there were not over a dozen spectators in the room, but they gradually dropped in one by one, and by the time the session was well under way the space outside the railing was fairly well crowded. The men, however, appeared to be such as usually attend all meetings more as a matter of curiosity than as representative business men.

The meeting was called to order by Alderman Faulston, and Alderman Miller was elected chairman and City Clerk Stewart secretary.

J. J. McGilvra then read the following paper:

'The Municipal League's Request.

'Mr. President and Gentlemen of the City Council of the City of Seattle:

'We are delegated by the Municipal League, of the city of Seattle, to call your attention to an act of our state legislature, viz: Senate bill No. 312, entitled, 'An act to authorize cities of the first class to alter, change, revise, add to or repeal their respective charters,' approved by the governor March 4, 1895, and request that you exercise the power therein conferred to cause an election to be held, at which election there shall be chosen by the qualified electors of said city, fifteen freeholders thereof, who shall have been residents thereof for a period of at least two years preceding their election and qualified electors, whose duty it shall be to commence within ten days after their election and within sixty thereafter prepare a new charter for said city by altering, changing, revising, adding to or repealing their existing charter, together with all amendments thereto, without petition.

'We make this request with great confidence of its being complied with, not only on account of the saving of time and expense, but because it is the evident desire of the great mass of the qualified electors, and in pursuance of the demand of the electors by whom you were chosen to fill your present official positions, as expressed in the county platforms.

'While we are satisfied, and we believe that the taxpayers generally are satisfied, that the present city council and its government have made an honest and to some extent successful effort to economize and reduce the expense of the city government, they believe and believe that it is impossible to very materially reduce said expenses under our present cumbersome and expensive city charter.

'We believe the only effective remedy is to strike at the root of the evil, revise our charter and substitute for the present a more simple and less expensive municipal government.

'Twenty-seven several attempts have been made, virtually always unsuccessfully, to improve our charter in the ordinary way by amendments emanating from the city council; now the people desire to undertake a thorough revision through the instrumentality of a new charter commission.

'No well informed person can be so verdant as to suppose that revision of our present charter is to bring about a 'municipal millennium,' as one of its framers and admirers puts it.

'Our large municipal indebtedness of over $5,000,000 remains. The annual interest on this indebtedness amounting to some $350,000 must be paid. Our fire and police departments must be maintained, and our streets kept in repair, but the machinery to provide ways and means of defraying these and other necessary expenses can be simplified and cheapened, so as, in our opinion, to be more effective with less and less expense.

'Simplicity in government as well as mechanism is true economy.

'This demand for a revision of our city charter is the result of popular conviction. It is the deliberate judgment of the great mass of taxpayers after four years' deliberation and experience.

'We submit that the request made is a reasonable and proper one and should be cheerfully and promptly complied with.'

Mr. McGilvra then said: 'This is the synopsis of our position, which as a committee we submit for your consideration. As an individual I am disposed to find fault with the mayor's message to call you together. This committee waited on the mayor and asked him to request that the council comply with this request and call this election without formality. He has failed to do so.

'The senate bill just passed says that on the presentation of a petition, the council 'shall' call an election, and what we are here today for is to ask that you shall call such election without the formality of a petition. With all due respect I say that if you do not carry out the wishes of the people, you will be committing the greatest error that has ever been committed in this city. You must call this election.'

W. H. White called attention to the mayor's message to the council, which, he said, seemed to him to be a method ingeniously suggested to prevent the meeting of the fifteen freeholders. Mr. White urged upon the council to act at once in the matter and take action by the will of the people. Mr. White became offensive by intimating that the council would act in the matter so as to postpone the matter to the next general election.

This brought Delegate James to his feet, who called Mr. White to order for his reflections on the council. White said he had no intention of being personal.

As McGilvra and White appeared to be doing most of the talking in the interest of the Municipal League, someone suggested that they give the floor to others.

Representative of the Water Department W. E. Wilson, for the Referendum Club, said that it was willing to abide by the action of the Municipal League.

The Mayor Answers McGilvra.

Mayor Phelps said there must certainly have been some misunderstanding between Mr. McGilvra, Mr. White and himself. He reviewed his action following the call made on him by the committee of the Municipal League, and denied any attempt to evade the question or defer the calling of an election. The call made by the Municipal League was from that one body alone, and he thought he would broaden their demand and see who else wanted it, and instead of rushing forth into a call for an immediate election, wait and see and give others a chance to ask for the same thing. He admitted that the present city government was cumbersome, but a new charter would not remedy all the existing evils. He had, however, never attempted to throw any obstacle in the way of securing another election, and did not propose to do so now.

Answering the Critics.

Dr. Ramsey, for the Chamber of Commerce, in a humorous introduction commented on the bulldozing methods adopted by White and McGilvra in their remarks to the council. A municipality, he said, ought to be made up of business men. He complimented the mayor on his message, saying he did right in not advising the council, but in pointing out the different ways for the people to amend their charter. The present charter, he said, was too cumbersome and too expensive. It was created at a time when boom times prevailed, when high salaries were paid and provisions were high. Today one dollar would buy as many provisions for a family as $2 did several years ago. He urged the council to order the selection of the fifteen freeholders, and not defer the election to the end of their present term of office, but order it at once.

John Bushell said that from all remarks made by the speakers it was to be inferred that both houses were opposed to calling an election. He did not agree with them. The mayor's call was a just one and should not be attacked without a hearing. It was not politicians alone who would approve it. The question was one that should be considered from all sides, and not from one side alone. The question of expending $1,500, which the proposed election would cost, should also be considered. There was even now a question as to the constitutionality of the very act last passed, and if it was unconstitutional the cost of this now loudly called for election would then be lost. The present charter wanted revision; there was no question about it, but it should be done after mature reflection and after a hearing of everybody having a voice in the matter.

Move for Immediate Action.

Alderman Jordan said the people evidently desired a new charter; the fact was patent and the council had no option in the matter. He would therefore move that the request of the league be granted.

Delegate Crichton said that he was ready to second the motion if some one would show him where a nickel could be saved by remodelling the present charter.

The Mayor Has Done Nobly.

M. J. Carkeek said he came fully determined to ask for a new charter, but since listening to the gentlemen, he was not so much in favor of it as he was. The council and the mayor had done nobly under the present charter and the Municipal League had approved their action. The question now was whether it was advisable to demand an election at once, or wait until the coming election. He said: 'There is no complaint that I am aware of against the present city council's management of affairs from the standpoint of economy; I believe it to be the contrary and that the opinion is general that the council has done well, especially so in view of the difficulties under which the present charter puts the members. I doubt if any member of the committee present is so well informed in reference to the cost of a change in our city charter as the members of the present city council.'

The Cost to Be Considered.

Delegate Voight said he came only to listen, but as the remarks were so pointed towards the councilmen, he thought that many of the talks were made to catch votes. The charter, he said, needed amendments, but people who were the loudest in calling for it did not know what they were talking about as to the cost. It cannot be done and save money. The question now was who wanted the election of fifteen freeholders. The Municipal League was here to demand it, but did it represent the proper majority of the people? Suppose the council ordered this election at once and it did not meet the wish of the required majority, who would be held responsible for the expense incurred? Why, the council that ordered it and would be censured for it. The present taxation, he said, was 12 1/2 mills and of that all but a fraction was for interest alone, so there remains $2.50 for all purposes, and the claim that this should now be cut in two was ridiculous. If the tax could be brought down to 8 mills for general purposes, it would be equal to the average lowest tax. Besides, the water rates have already been reduced from 5 to 2 cents per cent, down to actual cost so that the property holder has his taxes virtually reduced to that extent.

Advises Against Haste.

E. O. Graves, for the Chamber of Commerce, said he was not here in a belligerent attitude, but to come and reach satisfactory results. It was patent to all that people were overtaxed by a too cumbersome municipal government. This should be cut down to the lowest minimum. No fault was found with the present administration, on the contrary, it had done nobly in reducing the expenses to the lowest possible notch under the present charter. He admitted that perhaps those present were going into the movement of a revision too precipitately, and that it might be wise to adopt some line on which the charter could be amended to the best interest of the people. The present charter was too cumbersome, there were too many boards and too many commissions, and by reducing these the expenses must surely be reduced. The Chamber of Commerce was merely voicing the sentiment of the business community. There was no necessity for any great haste, as it would be months before the effect of the other amendments could be felt.

Alderman Lovejoy said that whatever a councilman had to say he would be placed in the attitude of self-defense. The meeting was called in order to get the sentiment of the people. The council wanted to hear not only from the Municipal League, but from everybody interested.

In Favor of Delay.

Dr. E. C. King thought that, even if the council had cut down expenses as low as the present cumbersome charter would admit, yet there were other questions to be considered, and so many changes were needed in the charter that it might be advisable to defer the matter until the coming general election.

Delegate Goodhue could see how if an election were called in order to secure charter revision, action could be avoided which would overturn the whole municipal machinery; whereas, if delayed to a general election, the matter could be done deliberately and with justice to all.

R. Kinnear said that the only way to amend the charter was at the hands of a freeholders' convention; that is what the people wanted now and not at the end of the year. He suggested lopping off boards and commissions and 'bureaus,' even the treasurer could be dispensed with and the city money placed in the hands of the county treasurer for him to handle and pay out.

Dr. Ramsey said the fifteen freeholders should act without any charge and should be given plenty of time in which to act.

W. D. Wood favored an early revision, but not a radical one. It would take six months to prepare a new charter by the freeholders. The question was would it pay to hold a charter election so near a general election. On the other hand it was not good to hold a charter election together with a general election, as the question of politics entered too greatly into the matter, so that a special freeholders' election was after all the best thing to be undertaken. The idea of Mr. Kinnear of abolishing the city treasurer might be followed by abolishing the city comptroller's department as well.

W. J. Larkin, of the Referendum Club, said the working people were affected by the hard times and insisted the change in the charter be made at once.

The Discussion Postponed.

Mr. James moved an adjournment for one week and that the Municipal League and Chamber of Commerce come prepared to show just what savings will be made by the new charter. This motion was seconded by half a dozen of the councilmen and carried.

Before this motion was put and carried a further protracted series of speeches were made, in which several of the aldermen justified their positions and action. Leander Miller said that he was proud of the council; that their united effort had succeeded in saving over $128,000 a year, and that would have been saved by abolishing the municipal court, had not McGilvra, White and others like them sign the petition in favor of retaining it.

This brought both McGilvra and White to their feet at once. White denied it, but McGilvra said he signed the petition because it was right to retain the office, and that he did not believe in burning down a valuable stable to get rid of a rat.

After some further cross-firing about coming to the next meeting prepared with facts and figures showing the needs of a new charter, the meeting adjourned for one week.