The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-02-14
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
Terms OF . Street Railroad Franchise
Diseussed With Much Spirit.

Terms OF . Street Railroad Franchise
Discussed With Much Spirit.
Not since the present government came
in has there been such q stubbornly fought
battle as over the provisions of the fran
chise asked for by Fred E. Sander be-
tween South Third street and Railroad
avenue and for the extension of the old
one for fifty years. Last night in the house
of delegates Mr.. Coryell, as chairman. pre-
sented the report of the committee Of the
whole. He also proposed an amendment
requiring that all material and supplies
used in the construction of the railway
shall be Of Seattle manufacture, SO far as
such materials. ETC., can be obtained in
Seattle.
Mr.. Lyon doubted the propriety of such
provision; it might result in combina-
ton by which prices would be forced NJ.
yet the owner Of the franchise would be
compelled to paw them.
Mr. Coryell replied that it had worked
in San Francisco, and 1t had helped ma
teriaily to develop manufactures.
J. B. Denny, who was in the hall. was
asked what he thought of it and he re-
piled that he was in favor of building up
local industries; the only fear, of course
would be the creation of monopoly.
Delegate Calligan suggested that it
might be guarded by a provision, "unless
otherwise ordered by the city council; :"
then, if an attempt to ''cinch" were made,
the council could afford relief.
This was agreed to and the amendment
adopted.
Mr.. Drew proposed that the rental paid
by the road should be per cent. at the
end of ten years for five years, then ~
for five years and 2 per cent. thereafter.
President K.oeber callad Mr., Drew to
the chair for the purpose of amending 50
as to make the payments quarterly instead
Of annually, but Mr.. Drew asked to be ex-
cused from serving as he did not desire to
rule upon q matter in which his own
amendment was involved. Mr.. Coryell
was then chosen to preside and Mr.. Drew
protested that DR.. kloeber's amendment
was not germane. DIR. kloeber insisted
that it was. For instance, he was in favor
of Drew's amendment only if his (the
speaker's) was also adopted, but not other
wise, because each amendment was part
of the terms of the franchise. He moved
to amend SO that payments shall be made
quarterly.
Mr.. Drew then attacked the amendment
on its merits, and recited the arguments
upon which the committee had based its
vote to make the payments annual.
DR.. Kloeber replied that the railroads
were asking for an extension of their fran
chises to fifty years; in San Francisco the
earnings Of the car lines are 200 day.
In ten years Seattle will have q popula-
ton of l5O, 600. and it will make a great
difference whether the lines pay annually
or quarterly. AS the city grows this will
increase, and when the city has a popula-
ton of 800. 600, if his amendment is not
adopted. the council will have to make a
present to the roads of the accrued inter-
est upon $50. 900 year. He had figured
it out and in fifty years the profits to the
city, by insisting upon quarterly pay
ments, would amount at 6 per cent, to
$3.50. 900.
The amendment was nevertheless lost,
and the question then arose on the amend
ment of Drew to make the rate l, ~ and
2per cent.
DR.. Kloeber opposed this on the ground
that a e..tleman offered the city X per
cent. and the house now proposes to give
the franchise for less than he offers. That
was what it meant, and such action would
bring ridicule and reprobation upon the
body of which they were members. He
should, for his part, oppose it strenuously
on behalf of the people until the bill was
signed by the mayor. Delegate Brace said
that this was proposed to be q model fran
chise, and most of the roads positively re-
fused to accede; it was not fair to take adj
vantage of the opportunity to squeeze one
company. They could not make the
others pay it and should not discriminate.
Mr.. Calligan said the same generosity
had been shown Mr.. Sander as to lights
Sander proposed to light the road as long
as his franchise lasted but some of the
members said, mo, that is too much; you
shall only do it for tan years" He
thought that the arguments used we're
very poor from q business point. Why,
the members should be on the other side
of the railing, lobbying for the railroads.
He hoped the roads would make money
it was a sign of good times, but if they
want an extension Of the franchise they
ought to pay for it. There was no need
for any sympathy for Fred Sander: if they
were going to put q guardian over him.
they wouldn't be likely to pick him out of
that house.
DR.. Kloebcr moved that the settlement
be made semi
Delegate Cook supported this provision
after a very spirited exchange of views be-
tween Messrs. kloeber and Drew, result
ing in the adoption of the amendment,
and the percentage will be 1. Ia and 2. The
bill goes to engrossment.
When the appropriation bill came up
President Kloeber moved that the sum
for the board Of health be reduced by
$45S. 30. There had been no acquisitions
for certain supplies. and he objected to
such q loose way of making purchases.
The house went into committee Of the
whole so as to investigate each bin separ-
ately. Comptroller Carson explained the
items and said the objection seemed to be
not to the items, but to the omission 10
obtain acquisitions.
DIR. Koeber questioned this, as there
were some items TO which he should OBJ
iect. Still, he wanted all just bills to be
passed without delay.
Mr.. Brace thought the merchants should
not be punished; if an officer had not done
his duty he should be removed.
The amounts appropriated are as fol-
lows:
General iGnu, <4,o'""S' "atst. sS'At-oo, ARE
department., 81. SO; street, s2.4s %; sewers
and drainage. ti.7l69l; police. 1890 also par
tisl payments from several street improvement
funds
The bill was finally passed.
The following petitions and communi-
cations were read:
More,aad Bros, for damages for loss OF two
hor-es; granted.
o6R1cnA