The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-11-27
OPINION OF CITIZENS.
What They Think OF Increasing
the City's Debt.
ALMOST ALL OPPOSED TO IT.
Father OF the Cedar River scheme
Among the Most Out@poken-The
Debt Already Too Heavy.

rae one question which row occupies
public attentfou iu the city. With the
single exception % che charter e~iecton.
IL the election to De held on December 70
Ter the purpose Of deciding Whet3eF me
city shall increase its debt 8l.Z9ase b. the
issuing OF warrants Tor the construction
~ the Cedar river water supply system
However, while this Is the general subject
Of discussion. there 81 a strange unresdi-
ness on the part o. fally one-half of the
people 20 make their opinions good oy reg
isterinz. and thus becoming qualified %
vote. The weight Of opinion among BUSH
ness men Is almost universally against
the warrant proposition. for they refuse
- believe the assurances Of its adv0caies
that the warrants viii n1t be an addition
% the city's debt. being unable 70 disan-
guish between a promise 10 pay which Is
called a bond, and a promise 20 pay wnIcn
s. called "A warrant.
That the opposition 70 the proposition,
as submitted by the council. does nos i'm
piy opposition to securing the Cedar river
SUNNY system at some future time IS evi-
dent from the fact that Robert Moran,
who. as mayor. was among the first q pro-
pose the Cedar river system. and who has
done more than any other man 10 bring
about municipal ownership OF the water
supply. IS among the strongest opponents
OF the present scheme. II was Mayor Mo-
Tan who WAS chiefly Instruments IN bring
ing about the rebuilding and Improvement
OF the city after the great fire. who was
the strongest advocate Of the REPEATING
OF the business district, and who. with the
aid Of the energetic council which then
had charge OF the city's affairs. purchased
the Spring Hin system for the city. OK
tended the mains and enlarged the plant.
and had the plans and estimates prepared
for the Cedar river system. which the city
council now proposes 70 construct. lie
expressed his views yesterday ia the fol-
lowing terms:
What Robert Moran Thinks.
Il have not given the gravity water sup
ply matter much thought lately. as my
time has been consumed in other matters.
though ! an somewhat familiar with the
original plan proposed BY Mr.. Williams
In 1890. when / was the mayor OF the city.
The question Of increasing the debt Of the
city at the present time is a very serious
matter. While. as held by strong advo-
Gates OF the c.ty's going on with this work
now. the water rents viii pay the expense
To- a large extent. the debt is created and
the city's credit Is lowered In proportion.
The people will have an Illustration Of
what il means 10 pay for a work of such
magnitude with a questionable warrant
drawn on future receipts OF the water Of
fee, when the city attempts 10 let the con
tract on such payment as against a cash
transaction. The estimated cost OF this
work Is approximately N.Es,Gsl. which
figures are. I presume, taken from Mr.
Williams estimate IN lSsb. and IL Is safe to
say that the SAME contract coald Dc let
now for cash at not 10 exceed ~ per cent.
OF that sum, though IL Is doubtful II the
contract could bo let at present FOR the
full amount OF the estimate on a basis OF
payment by water fund warrants. as pro-
posed. even IL approved By the people at
the election soon to be held. II the sun of
s1.25s.0ao is voted by the people for this
purpose contractors who can taud they
viii be few submit proposals for the work
VIII certainly estimate a large discount on
tho warrants. and their bids viii not range
far below the $1,000 mark set by the
city. which. as ! before stated. is. in my
judgment. - per cent. too high. The war
rants will, OF course. have to he redeemed
ut par. and the - per cent. loss VIII be for
doing business on the promise to pay sys-
tenn.
I'VE are not IN condition 10 do this
work now. Let the city continue 20 pump
from the lake II the power company viii
not sell water al a lower cost than that
of pumping. If the company furnishes Il
cheaper, buy from IL. and In the future.
when the city wants a gravity supply and
can pay for IL In a ausiness-lkc way. take
the power company's plant al what 10 is
worth. il n Is suitable. not a cent more.
II the company does not want ~ sell, there
81 lots OF water in Cedar river. let the
city so and get IL and own rs supply.
all this agitation Why should tho city
be- forced 90 create a debt now, when IL
can't afford 90 30 500 Let the power COM
Iauy and The els mind their own business.
! can't see Why the city should bc forced
into debt simply 30 avoid paying less Ca the
800. EEaa- 81 a-a- .
from Lake Washington. 81 taking Wata.
from the power company row 30 is not
necessary FOR the city Ia compromise its
Fights 20 a gravity supply Ia the future.
There Is more chance FOR less o. yJe city
In attempting 10 DO something with Moth
ing than there r. in buying water at AN
agreed price. which must 5e cheaper than
what Il now costs 10 pump fgom tIc lake.
''For these reasons my answer 10 ,he
proposition 10 n voted en-. whs1t Is ia
substance. shall tae city .galte l4 add
tlonal $4,000 debt, from which ID All
realize not 90 exceed % yer sent. mex. ls,
not just now
THE city must always control rs Wa
Ter system. snd Il is not possible Tor X 20
he taken from Il so l0as "a .ts representa-
tiNes remain honest"
That Mr.. Mor8u's views are shared rv
TIE mass of thfnktrC men In tlg r-te is
shown nv the following interviews
Hon. \. y. nenuy-I an -nost decidedly
oppressed 30 assuming amy further a|urlars
In tire Way or taxation. II We tahe on
any more burden the people who have
money 20 invest VIII steer clear 90 MS ale
tegether. ! think thc present system VIII
cover tho present moods. ana gre needs for
tome years 90 come. and when Wa do
want a better system We can them better
Anord 70 hulId ono.
Hos Roger 5. Greene $50 rot 'tlnk ~
adv'ssbis 20 increase tac ,lty I,at at thts
time.
Gilbert :. Alecm-I arm decidedly opposed
- L.. ana think 81 would &e s. great ana
fatal mistake = adopted % i@ tre most
important question have ever hesa call
q upon 20 vote for ar against since I have
been a resident ~ Seattle
swan fewte-1 hate uat given Tie mat
Ter sufficient though, 20 express a de-
tailed opinion satisfactory 20 m,s,lf. Nut
! believe the city shouIi rot so any 5c,p-
sr iuto debt for amy thiug.
WIN Not Iucrta~e tho Load.
= N~tcDouraH-f vre .t,-lv VII v,ts
against tHe BOND uc ureaa~H 1 The et.y
g new loaded deNn w.ta s,ar
Can 10 Wttaout d..
h. Eoyd-f SAN Ns au ratra-e fr~ .Ne
council ever Is have egart.t,4 sts-- va
frcrcst.1n tN tne r.ty. ~ wl, hr. sS -,-.,
90 tae cour-l seem o. thak a z..,F lar-.
hat now w10y s~ei talrr~ treS Ore h1,o
sa Ithautr tsut believe sn srr rs-.
rsfsffen or individual ls1nchtr frfe doh.
sutl Is .ceauso taey can
The Warrants WonId Ro "a ucht.
j =. Howell am .Essnst quytrt-e ara.e
s. res-te1}v an fn--,1se - the cts esq.,.
st tafs ,~". ara while th> scheme -~