The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-05-14
HOUSES IN JOINT SESSION.
MaSel Gets More Time street Car
Franchise Extension.

Franchise Extension.
At o'clock both houses met in joint
session 10 investigate the charges against
Fire Commissioner Masel. now under sus-
pension. that ne is not a freebooter ard
is a mischiefmaker-
The Lobby was crowded with laen. many
OF whom have been interested III one way
or the other IN fire department matters.
The appearance of John Wiley with an
arlnful OF books was enough 10 convince
the most skeptical that Masel was TO do
something by counsel When President
CricAton asked IL Masel was present.
Wiley Immediately tok the floor and said
he represented him. Masel made his ap
pearanCe few moments later. and a seat
was provided for him at Wiley's elbow.
Crichton was called out on Urgent husi-
ness. elise then said that according 10
the charter IL was necessary for the pres
ident OF either the board OF aldermen or
the house Of delegates 10 preside. Mayor
Phelps being absent. President Miller. of
the board of aldermen, could not preside.
ana therefore it was best to adjourn the
trial.
Wiley said ne desired TO accommodate
the council. bat would like to nave the
matter settled as soon as possible. lie
objected 10 allowing the matter to go
over to a regular meeting. as the trial
was special order Of business.
Noigt asked why Masel did not appear
al the meeting first called. Wiley an
swered because he considered the charges
sham. and relied on the courts 20 adjust
any action of the council.
Finally II was decided to hold the trial
next Friday night at 7:30 o'clock.
The petition Of the Seattle Electric Rail-
way and Power Company for a twenty
year extension of the franchise granted
by ordinance No. .52i was then presented.
II recites that the franchise was
granted on October 10. 1880, for twenty-five
years. and nov has seventeen years five
months 70 run. 1t requires the company
10 furnish street lights along its route and
imposes other burdens and restric tons.
which. the petition says. while unusual
and of no substantial benefit 10 the public.
diminish the value of the property In the
eyes of intending investors" on the other
hand il gives the city no direct compensa-
sa ton for the exercise of the franchise
except a license OF not over s. for each
car run. The provision that when the city
paves or plaukS a street on which the line
runs the company shall improve certain
part Of 1t. is pronounced so vague in its
wording and uncertain in its legal effect"
that II IS uncertain how often and how the
city can enforce it,
The petition then relates the condition oil
the companys affairs. When the fran
chse was granted there was mortgage
dated March I. 1880, 20 secure 100000 Of
bonds. OF which 1921 600 are outstanding.
Shortly after the franchise was granted the
company reorga mixed a. the Seattle Con-
s0hdated Street Railway Company and
made further mortgage TO secure $1,000
00l bonds, OF which $iSo0p0 have been is
sued In June. 1898 the company was
placed I'm the hands of a receiver The
trustee of the first mortgage has hegun
suit FOR fore losure, but negotiations
amouE the boudholders unsecured cred
itors and stoc kholders have been begun for
reorg aDization, which would prOba bly,
have been Successful, with great advan-
taEe 10 the many residents of this city
whose interests In the property are repre-
scented by figures much larger than the
amount Of the interests held by non-resi-
dents" hut for the difficulty caused ny the
paving OF pike street. I. has hetn found
impossible 20 provide for the expense of
the ccnpany's share Of this work under
tho present franchise. owing 20 It's short
term. IFS burdens and restrictions. for
neither those now interested nor others
are disposed - invest funds iu the enter
Prise. The petition then proceeds
but & has been found. on ca.v8sSing
the sffilati that II The term Of the fran
chlSe SIS length cned. thus iusuriug A good
r,-,soa-t of +he couDany'S being able q 2
the proper time 70 refund its bonded in
dehte.ir.ss. and 4 tho franchise Is amend
80 in some other respects particularly
hv ropeali~g The obligation 10 maintain
eiecfri. lights which s. of little benefit .
the civ and IS especially burdeusome 10
she company. since = has no electric light
franchise and does not maintain an cleo
ri llsh- plant ~ rs own. there viii he
10 trouble about providing funds for Tho
veN1nC ~ pik. street promptly and $50
f,,1 .-sfnplltnrr with tbe demand NJ me
civ authorities There seems 20 Pc no
other way than this - commanding the
ree!fuI funds ara II that cannot so done
.he alternative seems 20 Aa that me city
..t.horstfes wfN have - invoke the ai1 ~
rh7 Federal court 20 direct Is efVer -
issae and sell receivers rcrtttc3.cs. a.
v-R4-av4r rufrotss discount. I'm order 70
mako provision for the pavtrE-W hich &
-4or5f Hs anti -lpate3 the Federal court
Will a, unless r has Become fully salts
rrI after hearing 81 th" question and an
trv-~t tioH OF rho rontirtl0c ans aori'iss
ttst ,ho legal construction NJ fae paving
clause - the existing fra@ h.se = such
,ra+ i- s.t}ires me company % make the
tqs-->5trrre~. t1 question.
7-. -.-..rt.n eocv cn - say thai he
-7-sr..s Aces NOT ask me CITY IN grant
-,r.rryye-trS.v ere amendments desired
4rf accept TEE tura che promise 20 lo'"
g.. -.yi-s Teke street. out asks t7at t1r
7r...r.f- ,~tlte essential 20 Ser@r' tae tN~
,.fe.ta frar--sal support fe 0}a3e SRI ' ly
- ,r. -4--E!tfauS fhst .he pavement
~ .tAo railway company F. |or.san ~ i1k@
.----s i've .,,uisrtakrr vifl.1 ts@ sro~tfs
.,-s-t.ts tfue aF.er che passage cf gre
---.-. ftt.,~s orltNsv-e. ana Ne competed
tr a reasonable ..sne 0sTne~i oE ne c',S
---..-~ T5sa company also OFFERS q
ana after -he scar ls" 20 pas fH" -.-y
-,.~..--sre ~ SIS SrrEE receipts. begin
,.,-~ "a, - .fr rens. Increasing I'm Er-
rent FRI '.., iie ger csn,- II 1911 AMI pr
---. .f 1afs ThsS f-fagc vlli. 81 -