Scope and Contents note 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...

Scope and Contents note

Verbatim transcripts of hearings on issues including limited access highways, department head appointments, ethics and fair campaign practices, urban renewal, allegations of graft in government, and public utility regulation. Especially interesting are the 1924 hearings by the City Council's Departmental Efficiency Committee investigating corruption in the Seattle Police Department. Also includes petitions and notices related to the hearings.