The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-06-05
THE BIND ELECTION.


SEATTLE, June (. lsoA
To TH8 EpyroR: Tuesday. June 6. the
people Of the city Of Seattle will u the
polls decide the questions presented to
them in regard to the various propositions
Of funding the outstanding Indebtedness
Of the city not already provided for. and
also for the meeting Of new and further
expenditures for the benefit Of the city.
These various proportions hsvs been
presented TO the people BY the press and
also BY . circular letter issued by the city
comptrolisr. J. y. Carson. 30 clearly and
70 fully that need take no time in their
further statement. propose to discuss
this matter very briefly from . business
standpoint and common-sense view.
After the terrible condagfation OF four
years ago. while re were standing looking
on the amoking, smouidering ruins in
which the archives and records OF the city
had also been lost. the question came up
70 every man-propersy owner and
laborer - weIl-What nextl Can We
ever recover from the effects Of this dire
disasterf 10 there enough left Of that
manly courage and determination.
20 characteristic Of the sturdy
American in periods Of depres-
sion and disaster like that of
ours Of four years ago and the greater one
Of Chicago in 1871, to meet and overcome
the present demandsf Do we not remem-
Der today with proud satisfaction the con-
illusions reached . few days subsequently,
when. after consultation and conference
among the citizens Of oil classes. it was de-
termined with hardly dissenting voice to
take upon our shoulders tho almost her
culean task of rebuilding from the ashes
and ruins of the old new and grander
city than the one wiped ont Of existence
by the great Destroyer And how have
We fulfilled that determination? Let the
admiration and wonder Of the thousands
Of admiring visitors to Seattle within the
last year answer.
Now, what is the proposition? answer,
1t il to stand by and uphold the hands Of
the city government In it, request to au-
thorize them to fund the outstanding un-
provided for indebtedness Of the city, and
to further provide the necessary funds for
the completion of the Lake Union sewer
tunnel and for other necessary purposes.
When We remember that to do this No
not only provide the funds. but. in fact,
reduce the interest rate from 10 per cent,
the amount paid on our warrants. to per
cent. the amount at which bonds can be
negotiated. thereby saving to the city
$50. 900 annually. / cannot for Q single
moment sec how any business man can
object to 90 reasonable and SO necessary .
measure Is this. Let mo illustrate. /
owe $4,000 to . firm in San Francisco
upon which l ann paying 10pe cent. per
annum interest. Times are hard aud !,
though the principal 10 due, my creditor is
not disposed to push the matter. knowing
full we'll that his debt is safe and will Ger
tainly be paid some time in the future.
A friend of milne from my Old home In
the state Of New York coming out here
and learning my financial situation says
to me: "Why don't you hire cheaper
money and stop paying such high rate Of
INTEREST," l can let you have that so, 600
At per cent. per annum." Where il tho
man that would say that it Was not good
business transaction to make the change
in other words, to fund my 10 per GEN..
debt and issue bonds at the per cent.
rate7
This Lake Union sewer tunnel must be
provided for or We lose probably altogether
the $4,000 already expended upon it.
The character Of our rainy winters. and the
soft quality Of much Of the ground through
which this tunnel has been cut, will, un-
less it is properly completed, b likely to
cave in before another year and ruin the
work already done.
II this 10 TO be the outcome, what arc
all those people to do for sewer outlet who
live in the territory down towards and
about Lake Union. whom this sewer Was
designed to relieve?
have heard that il has been said on the
street that . portion Of the indebtedness
for which the city authorities are now
seeking this relief has been unlawfully in
Cured, and hence no bonds should be voted
for its payment.
When We take into confederation the
condition OF affairs 1t and for tho year or
SO following our disaster Of four years ago,
may be some truth in the statement that
some expenditures were made not str ictly
in accordance with ordinance regulations.
But what were We to do? Were We to
stand still and let the fruit of all our toll
Of all the bygone years go for naught,
or were We to take hold with sturdy
strength and determination Of the
circumstances BY which We were sur
rounded and out Of the conditions wrest
such q success as we were able? 1t -. in
deed, . small. diminutive mind. little
soul. that would stop to crlticise and tech
nically object to what was done at such a
time. unless there should have been con-
nected with the transactions . faint Of
criminality. So long - it was done with
the intent of the good Of the people be-
fore them the authorities should not DO
held to the strict letter Of the statutes in
that regard. Think you not. Mr.. Editor.
that after the great fire in Chicago things
were done there that, perhaps. were un-
warranted by ordinance? But do the peo-
pie Of that city that today is reaping its
rewards for the energy. the vim, the grit.
displayed by its citizens and officials IN
the time OF need, now stop to whine and
criticise and growl about the things that
we're necessary to BE- done. though the
manner Of the doing may not have been
just according TO scripturai enactment?
No. sir; il was the get there result in
Chicago. and it will be the same in Seattle
that in after years will be looked on with
commentator by those who will then
read the history that We today are max
ing.
Ii is the intent that creates the offense.
and il there be no criminaiisy attaching TO
the intent then no ofiense has been COM
mitted.
But i, is said BY some that il will not do
TO au,horiz. the issuance of the $25O.o0O
bonds 10, general sewer purposes: that il
will not do 10 ensrust the expenditure Of
so large q sum 10 the municipal autho.i-
ties. Why not. pray?