The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-10-29
GOES TO THE PEOPLE.
Aldermen Pass the Cedar River
Water Ordinance.
FOUR MEMBERS VOTE AGAINST IT
Hamilton Takes n Business Mans View
Sweeney Attacks the Financial
PIan-The Vote.

TI-9E- =
Miller, Sweeney and Dauiton voilng
against e. Jordan said ne was IN favor
OF the plan, but wanted action postponed
FOR week. Da1lt0n explained MS vote
py saving thai Il would be a financial I'M
possibility 20 carry out the PROVISIONS OF
the ordinance, as II now reads
The matter was brought up BY tie COM
niftee on FIRE and water reporting favor
ABLY on the ordinance, which report VAS
aa0pted. The mayors veto % he FIRST
ordinance. which did not provide Tor SUD-
hitting the plan % the people. Mas then
read and vas sustained, elise. compton
and Jordan voting against H. Inc CITY
engineer had submitted a report Ia ac-
eordance with a resolution Of the coun-
ell. as 10 tho progress OF the Work on t9s
Cedar river system.
Mr.. Thomson said that n large amount
OF work Of the character authorized had
been accomplished. The filed notes, maps,
pians. proliiss and estimates made 0y
Benezette Williams FIVE years ago had
been systematized and placed in conven-
lent form for their expected use by the
city He had examined the entire route
during the summer. and a srnan scale zone
map OF the city has been made which
shows the ares OF the city so far as con-
tours have been run. which would DC
served by the Beacon hill reservoir. the
city park reservoir, and by stand pipes
Anne hin. He had carefully prepared
data showing the character Of soil IN
which reservoir would ne constructea.
and had also caused careful typographical
surveys 70 be made OF site supposed 20
he suitable for the location OF a low-ser-
vice auxiliary. lie adds:
I'm my study Dr the Cedar river plan
] have been more and more impressed
with tho saEacity and merit ~ Mr.. VIII
.nnls' conclusions" But Mr.. Thomson
differs with him as 20 a few ~ the do
tails. he says he can proceed without
any delay. and at comparatively small
cost. 10 locate upon the ground any or ell
features Of the plan. and prepare the nee
ssssry descriptions for the purchase or
condemnation of real estate. rights or
privileges necessary therefor. Tho report
was referred 10 the Ere and water COM
mittee.
Sweeney Makes Some Critisims.
When the ordinance came up. Sweeney
had = long list OF amendments which ne
wanted adopted. He said the ordinance
was defective I'm that the title did not In
ciude all that the ordinance contained,
and he wanted all the several where
asses" left out He also wanted the orai-
nance 10 cover the water proposition only.
and not have lot OF propositions tackled
onto IL 10 be submitted 20 the vote Of the
and not Tot Of other propo-
sitlons tackled onto It to be sub
nited 10 the vote OF the people at
the same time. II Was not me-
essary 10 have the system constructed
forthwith" as provided In the ordinance.
because good and wholesome water could
Re obtained from Lake Washington for
some time 20 come. He then diSsected
tho financial feature Of the plan, and
claimed that BY the figures or the comp
troller of tho revenues and expenses OF
the water department for the past five
years since its organization. the provi-
sion for the payment OF u per cent ~
the revenues TO be derived from the sys-
TEN could not be carried out He thought
that there was no hurry necessary In tho
construction OF the system. but would
extend tho time for the building of tho
work for "a long as might he necessary.
no that the city could pay for Il as u
went along. lie would vote agains, sub
hitting II 90 the people. because he had
faith in their good sense lie wanted
the amount named for the cost OF the sys-
tenn reduced from iG1ono 10 si.0oooo.
and the section providing for special
counsel stricken out.
Agrees with Sweeney for Once.
Jordan said that Of course II IT was go
fng 20 be losing proposition for the city.
the council should not pass tho ordinance.
but II private corporation. which would
have 10 pay or per cent for It's money.
could make money out OF 70. why could
not the city. which could borrow money
much cheaper The company was work
ing FOR its own interests and that was
all right, that WAS business. hat the al
dermen should work for the interests of
the city. II agree with Sweeney that The
cost should be put ~ 81 81. 90 instead Of
ti.g5o 900. I always agree with my brother
when he Is right which is not often" tIe
700 occasion "a refer 20 tho Post-Tn,elu-
gsncer as being always rlght-that went
without saying. He then went or % tell
how Seattle would be made "a little Pitts
burg" by putting IN this system. "a would
rot only supply its own water. bat heat
and light. ana cheap power for rlunufac-
TURNS establishments Tho revenues
would not only pay FOR the construction
ard maintenance ~ the plant hut IA a
certain number or years would pay the
expenses Of tho whole municipality. and
there would he no taxes Ia pay. This
would be iu line with the theught Of to-
day--thc indiscriminato giving away OF
valuable franchises 20 corporations Is
thing o, the past.
Ito Trusts the People.
elise sala he simply wanted TO speak ot
tho merits ~ the PLAN. Sweeney has
raised some objections "a ". based pvi-
marty on his distrust of the people ana
oecondly on hts distrust az the council
I am willing 20 trust The people ana the
council II YOU put one, ~ o dozen prouo-
sitiens before She people thev are trir,fl-
sent enough 20 act upon chem 90 fheir
best interests Before anything can he
submitted 90 che UvcUle az this sVecisl
election. g must nrst pass this couuril.
and I do not believe that this council
VIII desire 90 submit any great number %
propositions 20 thN people NJ shat time
I think that the objections that have
been raised 20 the man are not ta fhe
point. We are expecting a decision from
the right u call a special eectspn Tor
We want 10 submit that matter az the
same time
Sweeney said that tho city would afwavs
be able 80 el.tain us rights AS 10 us equity
IA tho lands. rights and privileges iuNalyrt
from thu courts This company will
confc before this council 5Eain. before wc
VIII need this water, for franchises which
will enable il 20 utilize the water ans pow
er whom 20 has brought them Co. the city
limits. ard the ctty's equity VIII not be
harmed ny delay.
lordsn-Yos. and yen vill lo the frst 90
vote 20 give u the franchises
Sweeney VIII vote on that - BUST
ness proposition. as jhlak il : for ,he
best interests % the city.
Jordan suggested that Sweeney hflns IN
an ordinance containing tha amendments
ne bad made. and that II DE t8i4 over for a
week. This motion - have BE- re- referred
VAS lost and tae hilf was placed on SIS
l. REGT