The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-12-01
SENSE FROM CITIZENS
The City i'm No Condition to In
cur Further Debt.
FOR CEDAR RIVER WATER SUPPLY
Burden or Taxation Too Heavy Now
Men OF All CaIlings Oppose n
Councils Plan.

til December 10 20 know Wnat me FeaalI
would be. The opinion IS almost unani-
nous that the present is not the proper
tinse for the city 70 incur a furtA@F arDt
OF $1,000. when the burden OF pub4lc
and individual taxation Is already almost
too gFea. 10 carry. ana hat the present
supply from Lake Washington IS SUM-
eisnt for the demands u the city nC"s
and for several years TO come.
The Pogt-iuteillsencer presents this
morning interviews with more Of the ousi-
ness men OF the city and others, including
judges or the superior court, county onl-
cfals, merchants and bankers. They are
given below:
Herman Chaplin. president OF the Boston
National bank say most ~emphaticaIly
that it would be "a most serious misfortune
10 the city. We are uo% oVerOurdened
with debt as n IT,. 50 much 20 that present
Investments are barely profitable, and the
present tax rate Is almost ~prohfbitory for
any new Investments. This state OF things
iE the West. where the country depends
largely upon the capital and good VIII OF
people Ia the East, Is a serious misfortune,
and one which Il should be the sole en-
deavor or all good citizens 10 cure. The
calling OF an Indebtedness by warrants not
Indebtedness is something that would not
hold water for an instant with anybody
who was proposing to advance good mon
~ on such security. To keep out OF debt
IN the first place. and after that TO make
the debt as small as possible. Is. Ia BY
opinion. the proposition which should be
kppermost IN all our minds. As TO the
need of this extra supply of water. it may
be granted that We would use water more
freely If We had a.. but. az II Is. we have a
far better supply than "A great many cities
can boast OF. and one that Viii last us for
a good many years to come, II we need a
supply such as this Cedar river PROPOSE
fio0 would give us. l understand from
those who are acquainted with the law
hat we can get it at any time, and, hav-
ing "A supply low, suppose the power com
pany should carry out its proposed plans
and do this work. the city. and not the
power company would have the position
of strength. l most sincerely hope that
the people will show by their votes that
they mean TO take a strong stand against
any further increase of debt and will show
that they mean 10 incur expense only
when IL Is absolutely necessary. and not
before. / might say. too. hat ! consider
81 entirely out of the city's business.
whether II be profitable or not. to be sell
Ing power. for l believe that Is one Of the
ends aimed at. IL this possession of power
should come into the clty's hands. as we'll
"a the supply OF water for the customary
city needs.
Can't Anord to Impair Credit.
Sam Rosenberg. clothing merchant
There IL only one way to view this propo-
sition. This city can ul afford 10 impair
its credit. The views that are expressed
by the people that have the interests OF
the city at heart should be recognized by
all people who feel sure they like This.
II means suicide at the present time for
us TO Increase our present Indebtedness.
while the taxpayers at the present time
can I'll afford to pay even their taxes.
Whenever our income is equal TO our out
so then we can talk about these future inn
provements. What we want now is to
keep down our taxes. so that we can in
duce people TO come here and invest. ! say
that we should secure the right to this
water. but not do anything At the present
time with Il. When ] was In New York
the questions were propounded 10 me:
.sWhat taxes do your people pay2' and
what are the net incomes OF your build
ings?" There isn't a property owner to-
day who has any property on hand but
what will agree that we must save the
credit of our city. The only way 10 save
that credit is not TO jump at conclusions.
To encourage capital here we must offer
other inducements than a large taxation.
At the present time the water that we
have here viii answer our purpose. and
for some time 20 come. The views that
have already been expressed by good bust
ness men who look at this from a con-
servatlve point Of view are also my senti-
ments. What we want 10 agitate Is how
10 reduce our taxes. not how 10 increase
them.
VIII Fight 1t to n Finish.
George w. Stetson. OF the Stetson &
Post MIN Colin going 10. fight Il
ington water viii do the city, unless Il
grows a good deal faster than at any time
IN It's history. for the next fifteen years.
It's n shame TO spring any such thing as
that az this time. No one would like a
gravity System any better than !, bat I
think we would better walt a while.
Unwise to Invest Now.
l. Korn. Of the K-orr~Rumsoy Drug Co
I feel that the burden or taxation now
Is as much as the people can stand. / feel
that there are other improvements in the
city that require our attention. all OF
which mean increased taxation. II our
water supply at the present time were
inadequate - cur present wants or in any
way n menace 20 health. the question then
would be different. ] feel that the present
water supply Is sufficient. meets all cur de-
mands. IS perfectly healthy. ana tina. with
the present financial condition OF the city
Il would be unwise 70 invest.
John M9iher. general manager Seattle
Gas ana Electric Iisht Co.-The city is 50
tlly prepared - assume any additional
burden OF aobt thar ! think K "a shame
thar such a proposition ever should be sub
mitted 20 the voters, I have done an /
can 70 stop This thing ana wiu continue
my efforts tn election day.
No Debt for UnneCc~SarIcs.
G. II. Lilly. % Tiuv. Bagar5uS & ca
Tho stand I take IS that am opposed to
going any further into debit FOR something
We don't have ~ have. : think We have
plenty OF good water. and that Che We.er
service - as good as Nc can AFFORD dur
ing the present hard times. Ruslue.s mon
AanHf A.gfea -. han.a- -n aIaHs..-.s "