The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-11-27
W. o ON WATER.
MAJORITY OF Chamber Committee OPP
poses Increasing the Debt.

VIZ
poses Increasing the Debt.
AT a meeting OF the trustees OF the
Chamber of Commerce yesterday there
arose A controversy over the reports OF the
appointed 10 investigate
the proposed gravity water system. A ma
JoFity and Il minority report were sub
mitted. but neither was adopted. and after
tue trustees had held two sessions the en-
TIRE matter went over until Friday for con-
sideratIon by the chamber. the secretary
being instructed TO withhold both reports
A0m publication.
The committee 10 which the question had
been referred consisted OF Joseph Shipper
(chairman), Lawrence J. Colman, Frank
Twichell, ". T.. Boone and Charles b.
Crane. and until yesterday II was thought
that all the members would agree. But at
the morning session of the committee Mr..
crane differed with the remaining MEM
beers OF the committee, who had determined
to report adversely to the plan, and sub
mitted a verbal report from lead pencil
memoranda. explaining that a typewriter
copy would be submitted later in the day.
At 3 o'clock in the afternoon both reports
came before the trustees.
The majority report. signed by four
of the nve members. states the ques-
lions thus: First, is the city in a
position 10 proceed with the pro-
posed extension? Second. is there
1AAE AS'h161AN1 W EAaAt a.
the present time? As TO the first propo-
sition. the city is now in debt something
like $Jp0,00 over it's constitutions limit of
10 per cent. Add TO this the proportion OF
the county debt which properly belongs
TO the city 10 assume. and the deb OF
school district No. /. and II makes an as
gregate debt of over A,0e0.0o. These facts
make IL plain that only the most extreme
necessity would justify any such PROPOSE
ton at the present time.
The second question resolves Itself into
this, Have We enough water for public
and private use at the present time, and
for the immediate future? There is no pre-
tense of proof that the water or Lake
Washington is not as pure and wholesome
as that of the majority Of cities IN the
United States. and more so than IL the
most OF them. The supply At present g
ample for every demand. and while II may
be necessary 10 increase the plant TO some
extent to keep pace with growing neeos.
such increase and extensions would ne
necessary in any case. as II VIII never 10
safe 10 discontinue entirely the puhlpins
station al lake Washington. II WIZ 10
necessary 10 retain TINS plaht as . a.
Of safety in case OF any acci0eht 70 ~
rrayt,v svstem. should IL be built ana put
. summary the report says the city
connot AFFORD II. there Is no pfeseh' neVSS
sitv for an such supply. either IN po'ps "a
quality or quantity as Is proPoSeu' 80 -
-, ~ the fact Of the heavy mnhlcilHaA
81 tha heavy interest bearing m
SStrt4,at debt. IL Is deemed ineNpedleht az
~ sfre ~ add this load 10 an already
ovprburdencd community.
TN. verbal report OF Mt. Irahe s1ke
.,.,r reasons in general terms wy WY
t.a,-a should be supported by the peo-
vy,,en me written report was
F,,N~t,tas there was noticeable a consul
Ne d{srrepancy between the Two me
,atta~ following closely the heNIes az
,eaeonlnr given IN tho Invitation 70 p+"-
te~s" formulated last spring and AFTER
,.sr,i brought up at a joint w'thS @.
~ committee. The Invitation
,r, s.,omnanyinE figures have alfeaaF
80 printed in tho Post-inteatGenCtF
wan The renorts hually were before the
,,aetfnc Alonzo Hull moved the a"9p''oo
~ the minority report tiaHAv
- ne floor and said he DOUBTED the
r,r-fsty of the action. wins 70 tne small
r~se,+ara Of the chambers membership
,r.seot snt he then seconded the notion
ana e~raeaxored 10 secure Us aAel'l''H-
rrbs reports. however. were ooth het' over
until Friday night, waen they ar
srbm4tted 20 a full meeting OF the cAah-
~, .hiS last motion there arose some
a.e,.sst,n y = Day criticised the ma
i.,rirv ~sport. saving T. evidently HaI
drffad in favor % the Seattle fo"tt
economy \ motion Wa Ilfh MAY N
80. renorts both he given out IoF quot
-a,ion. but a motion 10 amend Vas H'7,'s
90. rbe names of the committeemen oe
vt-.5eld. So that the public would De M
,h,s - determine from what source t'e
r.r,rrs came or bow many members oI
,er signed each. Mr. Shippeh,
SHERMAN OF the committee stated thaL
- xas authorized 0y tbe siEuefs ni tHe
wsioritv report 10 say that tney ali were
,-fTirr that 10 should Dee prlnfeSi over
- signatures. as they considered Il
..,hl,> property ana Of general interest
49,, NcGilvra took the floor, ana IN
st.,s5 on speakinE upon the subject mat
~ ~ the reports. and finally Vas 'aiitd
or7er hv : l. Crawford. chairman
80, declined 10 allow hlm 10 pi"'r'tl-
~ motion to amend Nss carried. mat =
-. the reports be printed without loe
t--,t.rss n the committeeman la~h
80, acton as amended was voted down
,s ,eis negative action was eonNltafI
go r~os.ttve instruction that hotaHh@
wns+e,.r should ~ given OUR concerning
the meeting. .Na
large attendance Is expected Al -
,,-.r~,mlre session. an1 N y tAo@H.e
go ne merits 81 the Two reports VIII q"
49,, ~ haustlYe4X.