The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-05-01
THE TENTS MUST GO.
So Say the Members Of the City
Council.
ORDER TAKES EFFECT TO-DAY


Today Il the time Fixed BY hSeommon
council for the removal of all tents from
within the IRE limits While it is not
likely that many OF the tents now standing
viii be torn down today. it appears to Be
the sense OF the council that they shall
come down q once, and IN order TO that
effect will probably be made after the
meeting Of the committee of the whole,
which IL 10 consider the matter tomorrow
afternoon.
The council revoked ell tent permits. and
ordered due notice of the recovation to be
given early in April. In pursuance OF this
order City Clerk Ferris has kept the follow
ing notice standing since April ii in the
city papers:
NOTICE TO OCCUPANTS OF TENTS
Notice IN hereby given TO the owners and occu-
panss of al tents within the fire limiss of the
city Of Seattle. that the common council Of said
city has revoked eli of said tent permits and
ordered said tents removed on or before the
frSt day OF May. 1890
TENTS MUST GO.
c. w. FxRRIs. City Clerk.
At the last session Of the council remon-
strances against the enforcement of the
order were fled by large number of mer-
chant tentholders. many OF whom have
large stocks on hand and who are unable
70 secure permanent quarters for several
weeks. These petitions we're referred TO the
committee Of the whole, which, as above
stated, will consider the matter tomorrow.
With . view to securing . forecast of the
action OF the city government in the mat
ter, the mayor and councilmen were inter-
viewed yesterday by PosT-INTELLIsEScKR
reporters. Their opinions are given below:
Mayor Moran said: THE tents are . haz-
ard to the business portion of the town,
and believe the business men are anxious
to get rid of them. There is. however, q
lot of people here who want to live in the
tents and have an idea that they wont be
disturbed by the council. haven't made
up my mind as to the best policy to pursue
in the tent matter. There are two sides to
the question, but there is less to gain by q
delay than by prompt settlement of the
matter. hope the council will solve the
matter next Friday"
Councilman Durie said: "In my judg-
ment il would be the best policy for the
council, city and all concerned to say the
tents must 60. If this is done / would be
in favor of treating all alike. One citizen
that obeys the law is as good as another,
whether he be rich or poor or has large
or small stock in his tent. Ii / modified
my opinion at all on the question of at once
removing the tents, it would be to treat all
alike and let the tents stand for q time l
expect the council as a committee Of the
whole will dispose OF the tent question
next Friday night"
Councilman Hall said: The tents must
go. 1t would be difficult matter to pick
out the tenants who deserve leniency, but
they have all had several months notice
and should by this time have found per-
manent quarters. know of several firms
who have options on permanent quarters
and will, If the order is enforced move, if
not, they will remain in their tents all
summer"
Councilman Phillips said II am most
certainly in favor of tearing down the
tents of those who don't show signs of get
ting into permanent quarters. Two-thirds
Of the present occupants of the tents are
not the original tenants and many of them
are not fire sufferers. They are in the way
Of the widening of the streets and must 60"
Councilman Wallingford said: I'VE must
enforce the order now or we won't get the
tents down until fail 1t is unfair to the
tenants of good buildings who are paying
large rents to allow the tents to remain.
SO they must come down. They are a
nuisance. in many cases standing on the
street, and they are risky things to have
around tor fires. 1t would be great mis-
take 10 extend the time for tearing them
down."
Coucilman Twichell said: II think that
il should be the policy of the common
council to see that all the tents are torn
down immediately and all tent licenses re-
voked. These men who are pleading for
more time on the ground that they can't
get buildings 10 move in are the persons
who have put it off all along until the last
minute. and don't think they are entitled
to the slightest consideration.
Councilman Niesx said: 1T is a uues-
ton with me whether we would interrupt
business too much by ordering the tents
removed. / think in the main the order
should be enforced. But at the same time
think there are instances where men in
legitimate lines OF business who occupied
tents have in good faith made efforts to get
into brick buildings. but have been unable
to do so because the buildings they ex-
pected to occupy are still under construc-
ton.
81 think that TO enforce the order with
those men under the circumstances would
be unjust and would probably ipjure the
business interests of the city But il the
council should attempt TO distinguish be-
tween this class of men and others who oc-
cupy tents the public wouid call it class
legislation. and l think that after all the
council will order all tents torn down
Councilman Harry White said: 81 think
the tents ought to GO. but dontt want to
see any business men unjustiy injured by
the enactment of the order. and know of
many instances where such would be the
case. My opinion, however, Is that the
council. as whole. is in favor of having
all the tents torn down"
Councilman Jones said: Il think the
tents should be removed at once"
LAMP EXPLOSION.
A~fS