The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-05-31
VOTE ON THE BONDS.
Reasons Why Fs' ~ Taxpayer
Should Fayoi. Them.
THREE-FlFTHs ASSENT NEEDED.
xntervfews with q Large Number OF the
Members Of the City COMEDIAN
Classes Interested.

The election to validate warrants and
authorize the issue of bonds to fund in
debtedness occasioncd by the exceptionally
heavy expenses for street improvements
and increasing the fire department will
take place on Monday. The issue of bonds
requires the assent of three-fifths of the
voters. The proposed issue will amount
to about $500 900 in bonds TO run twenty
years and bearing 5 per cent. interest.
They will be sold as soon after ratification
as possible, and viii be paid for at the rate
of 500, 600 a month, which means that
that amount of money will Immediately
E begin to come into the city.
As many members of the city council as
could be reached yesterday by RpsT-ISTEL-
&xfngycER reporters were interviewed on
the subject. The city council spent several
Netks in consideration of the best course
10 be pursued, and after careful elimina-
tion of all Objectionable features, they
passed the necessary ordinance.
Several of the members were out of
tosn. Among these Alderman Korn is at
of4ing visiting his daughter, Alderman
Wilcox is out of town, Delegate Hanford
/ Il in Portland and Delegate Muldoon is
also absent from the city.
President Hail of the board Of aldermen
was very emphatic in his expression He
said.
ssAn absolute necessity for the interest Of Sc
attic, not only that the bonds should be voted.
but that the voters should turn out In large
numbers and strengthen the credit of the city.
This IS n question OF Importance 10 every ctt-
zen II the bonds are voted the cash is pledged
20 come in at the rate OF 10000 month at
once, and the credit of the city viii be so good
that future scrip win be almost at par. II by
any mishap the vote should fall short OF the
constitutional requirement, not only would we
be deprived Of the cash now assured, but scrip
would be practically unstable. We would
be almost unable 10 keep our police force
OF fire department together, and for
some months the city would be practically
Bankrupt, not so much account of
Che loss of the money, but on account of the bad
look IL would give Seattle. There should be no
mistake about this. When the city was in
ashes. when thousands of men were out of en-
pioymeDt, when the future OF the city
trembling in the balance, there was general
cry to the council TO go ahead aud we will
foot the bills. Ii would be a terrible thing If
the city shonid now refuse to keep its promise.
am not afraid OF many citizens OF Seattle cast
ing thier vote in Republication Of an honest debt.
" hat am afraid OF Is that not enough will
take the trouble TO turn out and vote, and let
the proportion required fall short. i believe the
opinion prevails among lawyers that three
6fths of the registered voters are required. II
shat be 30 II viii take strong effort to get out
enough people to place the result beyond all
question
Alderman Amasa s Miller said: "Its my
opinion that If they don't vote for the issue of
those bonds it's going tn ruin the eity's credit.
There ought to be bonds issued for more-in-
stead of $4,000. bonds ought 10 be issued for
$4,000 or fsD0,o0a II vote to issue the bonds
BY good big majority ii establishes the city's
credit, and we viii be able afterwards to Goat
any bonds we may want to for public improve
ments. IL seems to me that the cities carrying
the heaviest debts in the most prosperous
condition. Look at St Paul. for instance IL
has debt OF si4 900 co., and its credst In one OF
the hest In the whole country. We must issue
the bonds IL we want good credit, and the bust
ness men ought TO put in some good hustling
between now and election"
Alderman Frank A. Pontius said: ssMost GER
tainly the election ought to carry. It's an
honorable debt that think we should pay. We
ought to act in good faith. And, of course it's
big saving ia interest. Il Is good economy and
70 the interest of the taxpayers. and everyone
having the best interest of the city at heart
should be in favor of issuing the bonds have
always preferred issuing bonds to Ievying a
direct tax-the coming generation gets the bene-
IT. and. therefore, it ought to do little of the
paying for it,
Alderman Sweeney said: ALTHOUGH I am
only recently member of the city council,
have watched this matter with great interest
am not disposed to say now what view | would
have taken before. but am satisfied now that
there IL nothing left but vote in favor of these
bonds speak advisedly when say that many
4 who were unfavorably disposed 10 the issue are
4 now in favor Of it. / confess, however, that
feel some fear of light vote unless the papers
very forciby call attention to the urgency Of the
\ matter. Another very important thing is that
Il the judges, inspectors and clerks should be on
n hand punctually. Many men will want to vote
on their road down town and IL the officials are
& tardy they are apt TO go on their way without
Il voting Besides, II they are all at their posts
81 II will stimulate interest Ii 10 very desirable
M 20 get out flu vote 10 get the freest ex-
4 preston of opinion. We have decided that it is
81 the best course now 70 issue the bonds and the
Al vote ought to be as strong rs possible"
III Alderman Snyder said: "lf ever there was a
Zine when all classes should join hands it is on
II thss question. favorable vote viii benefit all:
II IN adverse vote viii hurt all l believe in the
VI doctrinc that the Lord helps those who help
III themselves. The habit has been 10 shift re-
Ri sponsi bl!ty on the city council or Chamber of
I'll Commerce. but this IS an occasion when every
~ nan must take the responsibility on his own
NJ shoulders. 1t is no use for any man 20 kick on
81 TUESDAY Ii the vote goes wrong IL he ahstSins
NON voting. lie viii have only himself "a
blame and be viii feel the evil effects down in
his own pocket.
Alderman Bogardus said II. OF course.
want to see the city pay Its Just debts shall
follow my vote in the municipal legislature by
voting and working for the passage OF the
L-8>sure on Monday"
n rpeiegate Willis OF the First ward, said: II do
Irot for moment distrust the good sense OF the
Xueople in voting for the bonds issue. but do
have some misgiying that the apathy OF the peo-
4ule may result in vote too small to give the re-
I~uired three fifths majority. Unless every man
etcrs out on Monday and does his duty at the
noiIs am afraid sill our good intentions viii 20
for naught. This is neither class nor s. politi-
Icai question; IL concerns every man who earns
Inis living in Seattle or has a dollars worth OF
|prcperty. There viii be no carriages 10 take
/nueu TO the booths: every voter viii cas-; his
&xate sauareiy in the eity's interest | don't
[Rnow what the outcome would be II such q mis-
Ifortune befell us SIS too small vote IL would
X<reouire conSnnmate financial ability and politi
trai sagacity, and even with the most strenuous
s. landowners I cannot divine the extent Of evil
81 (which would follow"
81 Delegate Hart, OF the First ward, who is also q
p lmember OF the Iongshoremea's Union takes
& fhe same view as most OF the union men. lie
81 says that while, At the first talk of bonds being
81 Issued, there was feeling against IL. that had
8 died out the question became better under
u stood He said: - dealt think that all the
u members Of the union are satisfied that the ar,
Il Management Is the best that could have been
made but they have about cosne TO the conclu.
sson that 10 was about good could be done in
4 view OF the ssringency in the East l woald
II IKE 10 saw" added Mr.. Hart, "that there IL nc
lme,nber of our organization in favor of re
souciation if by that you mean that faith should
not be kept, One Of our frs; principles is that