Seattle Municipal Archives
Department Efficiency Committee
Documents
Seattle (Wash.). City
Clerk
1802-C8
1.2 cubic feet
1910-1947 English .
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.
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.
Records are open to the public.
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 was periodically
purged. 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.
[Item and date], Department Efficiency Committee Documents, Record
Series 1802-C8 Box [number], Folder [number]. Seattle Municipal Archives.
Gill, Hiram C.
Seattle (Wash.). City
Council
Seattle (Wash.). City
Council. Department Efficiency Committee
Seattle (Wash.). City
Clerk
Seattle (Wash.)
Vice--Washington
(State)--Seattle
Alcohol--Law and
legislation--Washington (State)--Seattle
Report of Public Utilities on
Departmental Efficiency
1911
1
1
Clerk File
43479
Proposition of Seattle Bureau of
Efficiency
1912
1
1
Clerk File
46352
Report of City Engineer on
Departmental Efficiency
1911
1
1
Clerk File
43543
Report of City Electrician on
Departmental Efficiency
1911
1
1
Clerk File
43477
Report of City Engineer on
Departmental Efficiency
1911
1
1
Clerk File
43481
Report of Lighting Department on
Department Efficiency
1911
1
1
Clerk File
43478
Report of Department of
Efficiency on Jail Conditions
1911
1
2
Clerk File
43778
Report of City Treasurer on
Departmental Efficiency
1911
1
2
Clerk File
43447
Report of Streets and Sewers
Department on Departmental Efficiency
1911
1
2
Clerk File
43476
Report of Park Warden on
Departmental Efficiency
1911
1
2
Clerk File
43448
Request of Department of
Efficiency to make efficiency investigations of city departments at their own
expense
1911
1
2
Clerk File
45195
Report of Water Department on
Departmental Efficiency
1911
1
2
Clerk File
43653
Report of City Health and
Sanitation on Departmental Efficiency
1911
1
2
Clerk File
43474
Report of Buildings Department on
Departmental Efficiency
1911
1
2
Clerk File
43475
Report of Library Board on
Departmental Efficiency
1911
1
3
Clerk File
43420
Report of A.J. Haas on Fire
Department
1912
1
3
Clerk File
48699
Proposition of Emerson Company to
Investigate City Departments
1912
1
3
Clerk File
48452
Report of Boiler Inspector on
Departmental Efficiency
1911
1
3
Clerk File
43435
Report of City Comptroller on
Departmental Efficiency
1911
1
3
Clerk File
43434
Report of Judicial Department on
Departmental Efficiency
1911
1
3
Clerk File
43433
Report of Civil Service Commision
on Departmental Efficiency
1911
1
3
Clerk File
43446
Report of Department of
Efficiency Committee on Proposed changes in the Government of the Civil Service
Department
1911
1
3
Clerk File
44411
Report of Finance Department
Efficiency Committees in re Employment of A.J.quigley
1912
1
3
Clerk File
47662
Partial Report of Special
Committee on Investigation into City Affairs
1910
1
3
Clerk File
42108
Report of Robert B. Hesketh on
Police Department
1911
1
4
Clerk File
48752
Report of J.G.Pierce on
Investigation of Engineer's Department
1912
1
4
Clerk File
48879
Report of Austin E. Griffiths
Covering Investigation of Law Department
1912
1
4
Clerk File
48811
Report of E.L. Blaine on Office
of City Comptroller
1912
1
4
Clerk File
48691
Report of Charles Marble on
Building and Harbor Departments
1912
1
4
Clerk File
48757
Mayor's Reply Report to Special
Investigations Committee
1911
1
4
Clerk File
42568
Communication of Councilman
Pierce on Civil Service Commision
1913
1
5
Clerk File
52841
Communication of Mayor on
Dismissal of Patrolman Doyle
1913
1
5
Clerk File
52894
Report of the Emerson Company on
Investigation of Health and Sanitation Department
1912
1
5
Clerk File
48360
Report of Austin G. Griffiths on
Examination of Parks Department
1912
1
5
Clerk File
48907
Report of Max Wardell on Public
Utilities Department
1912
1
5
Clerk File
48909
Report of A.J.Goddard on Street
Department
1912
1
5
Clerk File
48990
Report of E.L.Blaine on City
Treasurer's Department
1912
1
5
Clerk File
48959
Report of Austin G. Griffiths on
Examination of Library Department
1912
1
5
Clerk File
48908
Report of Library Department on
Emerson Co. Recommendations
1913
1
6
Clerk File
52381
Communication of R.C. Erskine on
Efficiency in City Government
1913
1
6
Clerk File
48163
Report of Streets and Sewers
Department on Emerson Co. Recommendations
1913
1
6
Clerk File
52471
Report of Fire Department on
Emerson Co. Recommendations
1913
1
6
Clerk File
52880
Report of Police Department on
Emerson Co. Recommendations
1913
1
6
Clerk File
52566
Report of Counsel on Emerson Co.
Recommendations
1913
1
6
Clerk File
52265
Report of Superintendent of
Buildings on Departmental Efficiency
1913
1
6
Clerk File
52179
Report of Efficiency Committee on
R.A.Rapp of City Engineer's Office
1913
1
6
Clerk File
59702
Report of Port Warden on Emerson
Co. Recommendations
1913
1
6
Clerk File
52363
Report of City Treasurer on
Emerson Co. Recommendations
1913
1
6
Clerk File
52416
Report of Robert B.Hesketh on
Civil Service Department
1913
1
7
Clerk File
53030
Report of A.F.Haas on Fire
Department
1913
1
7
Clerk File
53084
Report of Special Investigation
Committee Approved Under Resolution 2950
1913
1
7
Clerk File
42337
Report of City Engineer On
Emerson Co. Recommendations
1913
1
7
Clerk File
52417
Report of Water Department On
Emerson Co. Recommendations
1913
1
7
Clerk File
52418
Report of Max Wardell on Public
Utilities Department
1913
1
7
Clerk File
53277
Report of Department Efficiency
Committee on Investigation of Health and Sanitation Department
1913
1
7
Clerk File
52486
Supplemental Report of Department
Efficiency Committee on appointment of Otto C.Rohlfs
1932
1
8
Clerk File
136335
Bill of W.J.Nadeau et,al. for
services rendered to Department Efficiency Committee
1932
1
8
Clerk File
136409
Report of Department Efficiency
Committee on City salaries
1940
1
8
Clerk File
166374
Majority Report of Department
Efficiency Committee on Gambling, Vice and Liquor Conditions
1935
English.
1
8
Clerk File
148072
Minority Report of Department
Efficiency Committee on Gambling,Vice and Liquor Conditions
1935
1
8
Clerk File
148101
Report of Park Department on
Emerson Co. Recommendations
1913
English.
1
8
Clerk File
52962
Report of Department Efficiency
Committee to Investigate Board of Standardization
1947
1
8
Clerk File
194626
Communication of A.J.Goddard on
Efficiency of Bridge Department
1914
1
8
Clerk File
58720
Reports on City
Departments
1915
2
1
Clerk File
60127
Hearing on Reappointment and Oath
of Office William Sears as Chief of Police - Transcript (pp1-175)
1941
2
2
Sears Police Chief Hearing -
Transcript (pp176-350)
1941
2
3
Sears Police Chief Hearing -
Transcript (pp1351-417)
1941
2
4
Department Efficiency Committee
Hearing on Appointment of Alvin M.Lewis as Water Superintendent Vol. 1 -
transcript
1932
3
1
Lewis - Water Superintendent
Hearing - transcript - Vol.2
1932
English.
3
2
Lewis - Water Superintendent
Hearing - transcript - Vol.3
1932
English.
3
3
Lewis - Water Superintendent
Hearing - transcript - Vol.4
1932
English.
3
4
Department Efficiency Committee
Hearing on Appointment of Herman W.Ross as Superintendent of Streets and Sewers
- transcript
1932
3
5
Clerk File
136102
Department Efficiency Committee
Hearing on Bribery Charges
1932
3
6
Department Efficiency Committee
Hearing on Appointment of J.G.Priestly as Water Superintendent
1932
English.
3
7