The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-02-14
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
An Ordinance Requiring Street Car
Lines to Maintain Lj1hts.

BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
An Ordinance Requiring Street Car
Lines to Maintain Lights.
President Sweeney addressed the alder
men on the subject Of electric light poles,
saying an ordinance had been passed by
this house instructing the board Of public
works to remove dead wires and poles, but
was killed under false impression. Now,
In order that the people might know which
branch OF the city legislature was under
the control of corporations, he would like
to introduce q bill on the subject. He
spoke of the manner in which all the tele-
graph and other companies used streets,
alleys and buildings As they chose and if
it were stopped he believed insurance
rates would be reduced. The streets would
some time have to be paved and supplied
with sewers. and conduits tor electric
wires should be first built. These con-
Quits could be built by the city or by any
corporation. the bill not going into effect
until such conduits were built. He said
Seattle used more electricity than any
other city in the country of its size. His
bill. which embodies his expressed views
on the subject. was referred to a COM
mittee.
DR.. Sweeney also introduced an ordi-
nance requiring railroads to maintain
electric lights at all street crossings along
Railroad avenue. 1t provides that after
thirty days from the passage of the ordi-
nance. arc lights, the same as those used
by the city shall be maintained at all
street crossings of railroads, and it is made
apenalty for any person or employe of a
railroad company to move q train over
any such crossings at night where lights
are not burning. This is made a police
regulation. The bill had been drawn by
the corporation counsel. who, DIR.
Sweeney said, had told him the bill could
oe enforced. The bill passed by vote of
5 tO3
Mr.. Garlic, of the railroad committee,
asked that the concurrent resolution on
the Parkinson railway franchise be re-
ported to committee Of the whole, and 1t
was so ordered.
Mr.. DaultOn opposed the ordinance to
appropriate $14433 for the purchase of
shrubs and plants for city parks, because
it was putting shrubs where nobody could
see them. He thought the city should
wait until good city park were obtained
and then concentrate efforts to beautify it.
Mr. Miller laughed at the little patches
about big enough to hold seven or eight
men scattered all over the city, and agreed
with Mr.. Daulton.
DIR. Jordan carried 1t still further by as
sorting that it would take a microscope to
find these little patches.
Considerable fun was poked at the city
parks by other members, and the bill was
lost by a vote OF 4 in favor to 5 against.
Subsequently DR.. Jordan moved a recon-
sideration because he understood the bill
was to get slips from which to raise shrubs
for future use in the city parks.
President Sweeney called Mr.. Stocks to
the chair and explained that the park
commission had the disposal of certain
fund. and the council was obliged to allow
the bills.
Comptroller Carson said the park COM
mission wanted to forward the cash to get
the goods, and could not do it unless ap-
propriated. DR.. Sweeney opposed the APP
preparation, and wanted the bill to come
up some other time. He said: ~ am
not satisfied with the park commission
and their disposition Of the funds, and
want to wait for the new commission
Therefore l oppose the appropriation"
DIR. Jordan thought that the board should
not block the park commission, or it
would get the blame Of their shortcom-
ings. DR.. Sweeney said the present com-
mission had spent the money to aid
speculative purposes, and wanted to wait
for the new commission. The motion to
reconsider was lost.
On motion of Mr.. Daulton the commu-
nication of the mayor appointing Mr.. Eli
colt rs license inspector was taken from
the table. On the question of confirma-
ton Mr.. Miller said he thought Mr.. Eli
colt had not attended TO the duties of the
office. No man could collect those Ii
censes wbo stood on a corner and leaned
on q cane. He did not believe there was
one alderman in the room but that knew
Mr.. Eilicott had not done his duty. Mr..
Brewer said that charges had been pre-
ferred against Mr.. Ellicott, but nothing
had been proven. Mr.. Daulton said he
thought good deal of the reason for the
failure to collect licenses was the hard
times. The vote on confirmation was:
Yeas-Brewer. Daulton, Ingram, Jor-
dan, Stocks. Sweeney.
Nays-Cram. Carrie, Miller.
A long communication was read from
the Hart Lumber Company, stating that
W. +. Wilson, now superintendent OF the
him for lumber from time TO time. and on
various representations, until the bill
amounted TO 1871; that, as superintendent
OF the water works, he had allowed the
comranv to use water from August to De-
cernber without having paid the rates as
the regulations required, until the bill
amounted TO sls5; that The company had
been sued for the amount and nov offered
Of the water bill, and also for the balance
due the company from Wilson, 20 be ap-
Piled 20 some charitable purpose. The
paper s,ate; that both Wilson and his son
were drawing good salaries from the city.
which could collect the amount il il chose.
Considerable discussion arose over the
matter. Mr.. Brewer thought the COM
many should settle the matter in the
courts. but Mr.. Miller said it was the
councils business. He stated tina. many
o: the members of the tire department.
were running bills with merchants and
refusing TO pay them. These men ought
to be made TO pay their bills or else DC
FIRED out" Or. Jordan would have the
case investigated in justice 10 Wilson, and
Ingram agreed with him. Mr.. Brewer
expiained tha, the bill against Wilson
was not az individual one, but Was against
q company OF which wilson was MEM
Der.
The board went into committee OF the
whole and examined audited bills sent /.
bv the house OF delegates, and the COM
mittee reported in favor OF Al. bills ba.
one. The ordinance was passed allowing
them. The bill not allowed vas Of the
Seattle Transfer Company, II which il