Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Department Efficiency Committee Documents, 1910-1947
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Seattle (Wash.). City Clerk
- Title
- Department Efficiency Committee Documents
- Dates
- 1910-1947 (inclusive)19101947
- Quantity
- 1.2 cubic feet
- Collection Number
- 1802-C8
- Repository
-
Seattle Municipal Archives
Seattle Municipal Archives
Office of the City Clerk
City of Seattle
PO Box 94728
98124-4728
Seattle, WA
Telephone: 2062337807
Fax: 2063869025
archives@seattle.gov - Access Restrictions
-
Records are open to the public.
- Languages
- English
Historical NoteReturn to Top
The City Clerk maintains the City's legislative records, official filings, and the Seattle Municipal Archives; keeps the minutes of City Council meetings; and provides information services to City agencies and the public. Seattle's first City Charter allowed for a Clerk of the Common Council to be elected by the Council. In 1875 the position of City Clerk became elective and remained so until 1896 when the new Charter designated the Comptroller ex-officio City Clerk. The Comptroller served as City Clerk through 1992. A 1991 City Charter amendment transferred the Comptroller's function to the Department of Finance and the City Clerk's Office became a division of the Legislative Department effective in 1993.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
In 1911, City Council directed departments to report back regarding ways of reducing costs of operation and maintenance. By 1912 a City Council Committee was formed for ongoing investigation of efficiency in City departments. Initially called the Department Efficiency Committee, the name was changed to the Departmental Efficiency Committee in 1948, and was combined with Personnel in 1948. Its last year in existence was 1967. In addition to assessing efficiencies in departments, the Committee also investigated unlawful practices, especially relating to contracts, unnecessary expenses, and practices contrary to the public good. Committee records include correspondence and reports to and by the committee. Departmental reports to City Council date primarily from 1911 to 1913. Reports from 1917 on all departments in the City by efficiency engineers from the Emerson Company of New York City are also included. In addition, the committee reported on vice and corruption in city government. Transcripts of hearings from 1932 and 1941 are included regarding appointment of the Police Chief and of superintendents for the Water and Streets and Sewers Departments. Correspondence from department heads, the mayor, and others is also part of the series.
Other Descriptive InformationReturn to Top
CF Project. A Comptroller or Clerk File (CF) can consist of correspondence, reports, petitions, contracts, agreements, etc. from elected officials, City departments, other government agencies, or the general public, which have been placed "on file" with the Office of the City Clerk (OCC). They are primarily permanent records, but also include routine material which is periodically purged. Beginning in 1987, certain archival records identified in the CF have been removed, arranged into records series, and incorporated into the collection of the Seattle Municipal Archives, a program of the OCC. A single accession number, 1987-048, was assigned to the transfer of the CF to the Archives. The initial transfer included records dating from 1895. These records remain in the CF series until approximately 15 years after they were filed with the OCC, at which point they are removed to the Archives. The transfer of CF records to the Archives is routine and regular. New accession numbers are not created when these transfers are made.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Preferred Citation
[Item and date], Department Efficiency Committee Documents, Record Series 1802-C8 Box [number], Folder [number]. Seattle Municipal Archives.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 1 | 1 | Report of Public Utilities on Departmental Efficiency | 1911 |
| 1 | 1 | Proposition of Seattle Bureau of Efficiency | 1912 |
| 1 | 1 | Report of City Engineer on Departmental Efficiency | 1911 |
| 1 | 1 | Report of City Electrician on Departmental Efficiency | 1911 |
| 1 | 1 | Report of City Engineer on Departmental Efficiency | 1911 |
| 1 | 1 | Report of Lighting Department on Department Efficiency | 1911 |
| 1 | 2 | Report of Department of Efficiency on Jail Conditions | 1911 |
| 1 | 2 | Report of City Treasurer on Departmental Efficiency | 1911 |
| 1 | 2 | Report of Streets and Sewers Department on Departmental Efficiency | 1911 |
| 1 | 2 | Report of Park Warden on Departmental Efficiency | 1911 |
| 1 | 2 | Request of Department of Efficiency to make efficiency investigations of city departments at their own expense | 1911 |
| 1 | 2 | Report of Water Department on Departmental Efficiency | 1911 |
| 1 | 2 | Report of City Health and Sanitation on Departmental Efficiency | 1911 |
| 1 | 2 | Report of Buildings Department on Departmental Efficiency | 1911 |
| 1 | 3 | Report of Library Board on Departmental Efficiency | 1911 |
| 1 | 3 | Report of A.J. Haas on Fire Department | 1912 |
| 1 | 3 | Proposition of Emerson Company to Investigate City Departments | 1912 |
| 1 | 3 | Report of Boiler Inspector on Departmental Efficiency | 1911 |
| 1 | 3 | Report of City Comptroller on Departmental Efficiency | 1911 |
| 1 | 3 | Report of Judicial Department on Departmental Efficiency | 1911 |
| 1 | 3 | Report of Civil Service Commision on Departmental Efficiency | 1911 |
| 1 | 3 | Report of Department of Efficiency Committee on Proposed changes in the Government of the Civil Service Department | 1911 |
| 1 | 3 | Report of Finance Department Efficiency Committees in re Employment of A.J.quigley | 1912 |
| 1 | 3 | Partial Report of Special Committee on Investigation into City Affairs | 1910 |
| 1 | 4 | Report of Robert B. Hesketh on Police Department | 1911 |
| 1 | 4 | Report of J.G.Pierce on Investigation of Engineer's Department | 1912 |
| 1 | 4 | Report of Austin E. Griffiths Covering Investigation of Law Department | 1912 |
| 1 | 4 | Report of E.L. Blaine on Office of City Comptroller | 1912 |
| 1 | 4 | Report of Charles Marble on Building and Harbor Departments | 1912 |
| 1 | 4 | Mayor's Reply Report to Special Investigations Committee | 1911 |
| 1 | 5 | Communication of Councilman Pierce on Civil Service Commision | 1913 |
| 1 | 5 | Communication of Mayor on Dismissal of Patrolman Doyle | 1913 |
| 1 | 5 | Report of the Emerson Company on Investigation of Health and Sanitation Department | 1912 |
| 1 | 5 | Report of Austin G. Griffiths on Examination of Parks Department | 1912 |
| 1 | 5 | Report of Max Wardell on Public Utilities Department | 1912 |
| 1 | 5 | Report of A.J.Goddard on Street Department | 1912 |
| 1 | 5 | Report of E.L.Blaine on City Treasurer's Department | 1912 |
| 1 | 5 | Report of Austin G. Griffiths on Examination of Library Department | 1912 |
| 1 | 6 | Report of Library Department on Emerson Co. Recommendations | 1913 |
| 1 | 6 | Communication of R.C. Erskine on Efficiency in City Government | 1913 |
| 1 | 6 | Report of Streets and Sewers Department on Emerson Co. Recommendations | 1913 |
| 1 | 6 | Report of Fire Department on Emerson Co. Recommendations | 1913 |
| 1 | 6 | Report of Police Department on Emerson Co. Recommendations | 1913 |
| 1 | 6 | Report of Counsel on Emerson Co. Recommendations | 1913 |
| 1 | 6 | Report of Superintendent of Buildings on Departmental Efficiency | 1913 |
| 1 | 6 | Report of Efficiency Committee on R.A.Rapp of City Engineer's Office | 1913 |
| 1 | 6 | Report of Port Warden on Emerson Co. Recommendations | 1913 |
| 1 | 6 | Report of City Treasurer on Emerson Co. Recommendations | 1913 |
| 1 | 7 | Report of Robert B.Hesketh on Civil Service Department | 1913 |
| 1 | 7 | Report of A.F.Haas on Fire Department | 1913 |
| 1 | 7 | Report of Special Investigation Committee Approved Under Resolution 2950 | 1913 |
| 1 | 7 | Report of City Engineer On Emerson Co. Recommendations | 1913 |
| 1 | 7 | Report of Water Department On Emerson Co. Recommendations | 1913 |
| 1 | 7 | Report of Max Wardell on Public Utilities Department | 1913 |
| 1 | 7 | Report of Department Efficiency Committee on Investigation of Health and Sanitation Department | 1913 |
| 1 | 8 | Supplemental Report of Department Efficiency Committee on appointment of Otto C.Rohlfs | 1932 |
| 1 | 8 | Bill of W.J.Nadeau et,al. for services rendered to Department Efficiency Committee | 1932 |
| 1 | 8 | Report of Department Efficiency Committee on City salaries | 1940 |
| 1 | 8 | Majority Report of Department Efficiency Committee on Gambling, Vice and Liquor Conditions | 1935 |
| 1 | 8 | Minority Report of Department Efficiency Committee on Gambling,Vice and Liquor Conditions | 1935 |
| 1 | 8 | Report of Park Department on Emerson Co. Recommendations | 1913 |
| 1 | 8 | Report of Department Efficiency Committee to Investigate Board of Standardization | 1947 |
| 1 | 8 | Communication of A.J.Goddard on Efficiency of Bridge Department | 1914 |
| 2 | 1 | Reports on City Departments | 1915 |
| 2 | 2 | Hearing on Reappointment and Oath of Office William Sears as Chief of Police - Transcript (pp1-175) | 1941 |
| 2 | 3 | Sears Police Chief Hearing - Transcript (pp176-350) | 1941 |
| 2 | 4 | Sears Police Chief Hearing - Transcript (pp1351-417) | 1941 |
| 3 | 1 | Department Efficiency Committee Hearing on Appointment of Alvin M.Lewis as Water Superintendent Vol. 1 - transcript | 1932 |
| 3 | 2 | Lewis - Water Superintendent Hearing - transcript - Vol.2 | 1932 |
| 3 | 3 | Lewis - Water Superintendent Hearing - transcript - Vol.3 | 1932 |
| 3 | 4 | Lewis - Water Superintendent Hearing - transcript - Vol.4 | 1932 |
| 3 | 5 | Department Efficiency Committee Hearing on Appointment of Herman W.Ross as Superintendent of Streets and Sewers - transcript | 1932 |
| 3 | 6 | Department Efficiency Committee Hearing on Bribery Charges | 1932 |
| 3 | 7 | Department Efficiency Committee Hearing on Appointment of J.G.Priestly as Water Superintendent | 1932 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Alcohol--Law and legislation--Washington (State)--Seattle
- Vice--Washington (State)--Seattle
Personal Names
- Gill, Hiram C.
Corporate Names
- Seattle (Wash.). City Clerk
- Seattle (Wash.). City Council
- Seattle (Wash.). City Council. Department Efficiency Committee
Geographical Names
- Seattle (Wash.)
