The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-04-21
THE CITY COUNCIL.
House Of Delegates and the
Rainier Franchise.
UNUSUALLY LIVELY DEBATE.


u5estSse snA Cable Lines Represented
~ Ceunsel-Adverss Vote 80
Uotlsn - Reconsidsr.
49, eudience last night Al il had adjourned
q the Last meeting without . quorum. the
nsnyoe issued special cal % - 20 avoid any
poodbllffy Of question Of irreguiarity Those
ueooens were: Nesasx- Jones, Hart, MGid0on,
1aeIey, FurTy, Barton, Simpler. Davis. cowder,
Hani6rd. lansing, Barnes. Krue. Kttinger.
I1be abnenfees were Neasu. Morford and VIII s
The house went into committee OF the Whole
70 consider The Rainier electric line ordinance,
Win Delegate Hanford IN the chair
Dr. AIhfn was invited 70 address the house 40
&c 81 . committee appointed by meeting 20
support the electric line. Dr.. Albin said at that
Ueefing there was not dissenting y0ice.and he
ealled attention TO the number then in the hail.
He nxKued ID favor Of competing line to the
o2h1e Ene He hoped the house would be un-
hfaood aud take into consideration the interests
a H. people. In that csse be felt sure the or
ydta1nee would be passed. he referred 70 one
ueusbos who, he sid, objected to the low price
oAered lor the franchise, but offered 10 vote for
MI e were placed two blocks further south
D1. Albin then read resolutions passed ut tie
meeting which had appointed him to repre-
oen3 Il.
Colonel Z. n. Car said he was resident Of .
part ~ the city deeply interested in the ques-
ston. He felt satisfied that whichever company
GOT tie franchise the district would &c. in
creased facilities. He had taken some deep in
tseest IN the matter from the FIRST He had
stSned petition for the franchise with the nm
Demanding that the only opposition 10 il came
hmm the cable line with 4 view 10 killing it.
AeloeFard. the gentleman who got his signature
bn6 Bgufcd him two days after that
- was satisfied the cable company
Wno sincere in .ts intention to Give
aoditfonaI service. He convinced himself BY
yersoual inquiry that the offer Of the cable COM
pauy would Be the best for the district The
people Of the neigh bcrhood were not unanimous
cnthe sab;cct. Those in the Rainier. Market,
4aylcr and Fourteenth street district were salts
Nd thAk since the cable line came into the
nandsof its present owners the service hgd been
Well-nigh perfect. Taey devoted their attention
@ that busiaezs: Il was not = real estate specu-
lGtfon.
Judge ". Lair IIill said ne fei; justified In say
1re that the larger number IN his neigaborbood
Wasip favor Of the electric line lie had to
wax fur or Eve blocks in thickiy settled dis
fftcf which co1ld afford to support two lines.
He h1d no complaint against the cable company.
bit . large part Of the city sonih Of thciy line
needed service the cable could not give He
Nv no hope OF getting out to homes ON Jackson
oos0pe even II the cable company carried out it,
plsnB. The delegates should consider the inter-
80 q the city geuefaliy. AMI that wonid be
done ~ fostering any endcayor 10 extend trans
pof1sfion facilities.
Il waa resolved 1t this stage to hear two speak
- only for each side
Mr. Thomas r. Shepard, attorney for the elec-
tic Tine, sad he felt sure the house only needed
- b snlighteaed As to the true interests OF the
locality to do Justice to II. He stated tina. the
hna nv snk
no bad no existence. but in few months sad
heen built and equipped for six miles He main
eained that the cable company was r. presented
~ men who had actually less money interest
than Nj. Edmiston, who asked th ianchise
He said that was, however. Z qtes..on OF
the interest Of rival corporations. He,
thelefofe, submitted that the interests
q tAc region should prevail and he proceeded TO
az1ue that the Rainier would be the better line
b that resnect As to the legality Of granting
~ franchise across the Hin tract, 1t seemed TO
him that the cable company advised the city not
p give Il because they could not. but II they
elds = give il TO that company. He said II this
ftanchise b not given TO this company-this was
not threat or made in algcr-it csnld not see
~ way 10 put In another bid for Z year At least
The district would be left, probably. to the
chance Of the cable line putting in or not put
ting In . bid He advised the members that they
must consider how their act would encourage
q discourage other applicants for franchises
~. Bufiesgh said he had presented the claims
q be cable company to the Rainiee hall meet
Ing. He had hcen denounced ct that meeting a.
= ccr. eration h.iling, but he felt sssured that
such was not the general tone of those present.
He warned the members that they would also
- probably denounced whichever way they
voted, but urged them to maintain their man
hooA He asked the house, as q business propo-
sidon, not 10 allow . road which was giyirg
~xfa~$ - NJ.
nad undertaken expensive construction in the
hope Of eventual profit He asked that the
proposition Of his road be read. II was, he said,
aguarantee Of their good faith
The company. in It's proposal, gives notice of
intention 70 apply for franchise from Yesler
avenue GU Market stree. TO Weller street, on
Weller street cas-: to Green street. to Florence,
70 Rainier, 20 Baxter; the route may be mod
He'd II the interests OF the people in the disirie.
affected seem TO demand IL. Tac road is TO be
IN operation within four months, with at least
df.ecn- minute service.
Mr. Rnrleigh directed attention 10 the charter
provision that franchises must be put up To the
highest bidder, and asked If IL was the inten-
ton that they snocld be given away for paltry
snm The people in one part of town might
want the road, bu; il tia. any reason why the
people II the other portions OF the city should
be deprived of the money which might he OBJ
Ained by ccmpetifions His road had practically
paid $4,000 for its franchise
lie said Judge Hin had acquired an interest
IN the Hill. tract. Mr. Burleigh entercs, fully
Into the legal aspect OF the case and wafnea
the delegates tina, they had no power 10 grant a
franchise across IL Tic asked them rs matter
OF iusnee and fairness TO give his road fair op-
poftanity. They could net bid on the fraaehis
- proposed. but they could hid on one TIA,
would give the people all needed service with
out having lines narallelei in such way that
the service OF both should be impaired, aud the
rights Of one which hsd given good service he
injured.
MI win II. Thompson. also attorney for the
electric road, spoke OF his close connection with
the district. and declared tha. il was wound up
% high pitch. Unless their rights were re.
opecscd That feeling would run high before to-
morrow. lie reviewed the now familiar points
OF controversy in characteristic way. The
house. he said, belonged to the people who
elected them and not u any corporation He
presented check for SO. to make up the diff
ference OF the si.ooo offered by the cable CON-
pany, ana read declaration By the representa-.
dves Of the Hiii estate not TO modest
snc ownership OF the line or bring
any action against the city. He also pre-
sented petition which declared that a
great need was fel; for transportation facilities
south OF jackson aud east of Twelfth, aud ask
ong for the granting al the franchise livery
other portion OF the city had competing lines,
ond had not paid a dollar for franchise II
snsre was not enough traffic for both he was
sorry for Mr.. Edniston, who weuld lose his
money. liie declared thai il was mistake TO de-
osnd money Tor franchise. the city should
sesner ohcr subsidy to a road which opened ap
new territory. He concluded with a very cara
81 peroration, but was checked by the chair
MT bayiey asked II there was not a contest
ever the Hill tract.
Tha hair r.a,s...s.., a.,