The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-03-01
THE BILL is KILLED.
Delegates Reject Northern Pa
cific Franchise.
RAMS HORN TRACK MUST GO
1ne Only Terms Upon Which Franchise
VIII Be Granted-Mayor Hall
Vetoes an Ordinance.

me meeting OF the house of delegates last
night attracted every member. President Jones
was IN the chair, and Messrs. Willis, Hart, Nor
t ora' Muidoon, shipley, Barton, Kittinger, Han
Isfu, Lansing, Krug, Barnes, Davis, Cowden.
oasiey and Furry answered tho roll. There
we're In the lobby John II. Mitchell, ir., Thomas
n; shepard, II. A. Frederick, William voight,
,am Barker, Hogan and many other we'll
known citizens
As soon as some routine business had been
disposed OF Deputy Clerk Drown read the
ordinance granting the proposed Northern Pa
cine franchise on Railroad avenue South.
Mr. Bagley moved that the bill be rejected,
seconded by Mr.. Morford.
Mr. Shepard addressed the house, asking
that final action be not taken on the ordinance,
as President Cakes will probably be in Seattle
on Friday. On behalf OF the Great Northern he
would say that If it would lead to more ami
cable relations between the railroads and the
CITY. he would be very willing TO join in an ap-
plieation to the house not to dispose OF the mat
ter tonight.
W. NJ. Willis moved to amend by referring to
committee.
6. B. Kittinger read petition signed by
abont 40 property-owners on West, First and
Second streets, against granting any franchise
until the rams horn is surrendered.
Mr. kittinger suggested that the city propose
to the Northern Pacific and Oregon Improve
ment Company the thirty feet on the west side
OF Railroad avenue which had been granted to
the Portland d Puget Sound line whose fran.
chise had expired.
Mr.. Mitchell asked TO be heard before action
was taken; he asked that he be permitted to ex-
plain to this body as he had been explaining for
nine long months to the board OF aldermen. He
asked them not to act hastily at time when
there was an unusual pressure being exerted.
He had never addressed single member of
hrvyS stA hSanr hn xaA
only to deal with the city through its consti-
tuted authorities.
II they would not listen to him, give the heads
OF the railroads an opportunity to get together
and see if an amicable arrangement could not
be reached.
Mr. Bagley thought they were as well able to
deal with the matter tonight as a month hence.
MI Hanford was we'll advised now as he
ever would be, but he felt that the matter was
one that mus. be settled by themselves. As
there was prospect OF the heads of the rail-
roads coming together he was not willing to put
any obstacles in their way.
Mr.. Turner, Of Greene d Turner, said there
was no reason why this ordinance should not
be disposed OF at once. Whatever arrangements
the companies might make had nothing to do
with the contention between the Northern Pa
cific and the city as to the rams horn
Mr.. Cowden thought on the final vote the in
terests of the city ought to be very carefully
guarded.
Mr.. Barnes knew how he felt and had no idea
he would change his vote, but he had no objec-
ton to delay.
On Mr.. Kittinger's motion it was resolved to
give each speaker half an hour.
Mr.. Mitchell opened the discussion; said they
must heed his note of warning, that the time
would come when the city would be glad of the
aid of the Northern Pacific in protecting its in
terestz against the corporation which owned
of~f- fhn fta
and thirty feet in that of another. The
rejection OF this ordinance took away
the only reason there would be for a conference
between the railroads. If the city showed
disposition to act fairly to the Northern Pacific
it would bring about q terminal company and
mutual concessions between the roads.
He proceeded to state his case and declared
that the company did not want the rams horn
right-of-way any longer than until 1t had an
other track on Railroad avenue. They had
spent 100000 for property in South Seattle aud
500, 900 ior Yesler wharf. suit of ejeetment
was pending against the road by the Oregon
Improvement Company aud the Northern Pa
cific would have no possible way to get into the
city.
Mr. Bagley asked if the Northern Pacific
owned the whole of the rams horn.
Mr.. Mitchell replied no, but it was the only
broad gauge; if its tracks were aban-
doned the other road would have
to run on one rail- unless the
city gave permission to the local company
to put down another. In reply to other
questions he said the Northern Pacific
only had contract to buy the Seattle. Lake
Shore and Eastern, which was not consum-
mated it had bought the orphan road-the Pu-
get Sound shore-outright, but while 1t had
controlling interest in the Columbia 81 Puget
Sound it did not own it.
Mr. Shepard addressed the house, but in the
course OF his speech Mr.. Kittinger said the Port
land g. Puget Sound had refunded the subsidy
to Tacoma Mr.. Shepard replied that the COM
pany was only temporarily embarrassed, and
asked If the city wanted to put a club into the
hands of tho Northern Pacific to kill the on ly
chance for competition with 1t to Portland. He
read letter from President Hill showing the
increase OF traffic in Chicago had been such
that now 1t was confronted with state OF af-
fairs which would cost 500, eco to overcome
or drive the railroads out of the city. 1t is pro-
posed to build belt line and sell of all the
property. Something must be done, as the
average loss OF life is five a day. This was
made the basis of prediction that the Great
Northern would need all OF its sixty feet on
Railroad avenue.
/. r Turner, in the absence of Roger 3.
Greene appeared on behalf of the interests
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