The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-09-15
JEST AND EARNEST.
Chapman's Bill for City Owner.
ship of Street Railways.
City Council In Session - Councilman
James Goes East on . Thirty
Days Leave.

II Councilman Chapman IS succeesfu, in
| a plan which he iraEgurated as. night.
the Fexeu question that has been bother.aS
several Of the Sea tie street railway con.
psrles recently as 10 how 20 figure out a
balance on the right side OF the ledger an.
bring expenses wital the limit OF receIpts
VIII be solved ~ municipal ownership OF
the lines in question Al. a regular meat
ing o. tle council last night DR.. Chapman
Introduced a resolution looking in inls
direction. and in support of 1t delivered a
philippe against t1e corporations for the
hearLess way IN wnich they have aous-si
the confidence and large-hearted generos-
!ty or the city government. The reso.l.-
ton was adopted unanimously. and or
the SPECIAL committee therein provided for
President Crichton appointed the mover ot
the resolution and taas members OF The
committee on railroads. The docunesl.
introduced by DR.. CHAPMAN Is as fosloas:
Whereas. The cltlze1s OF Seattle real
iZe that their city is second to none in
the Northwest am Is expected TO take
the lead IN municipal progress. and.
Whereas. The advancement OF the
times demands. and the urgent request Of
more than thres-tourths Of our citizens IS
that we move out OF the old rutS of the
past administrations and put ourselves n
tas vanguard OF municipal legislation:
and.
Whereas. May vaiuabls franchises
have been granZet fy the city TO rich
corporations AMI large subsidies have BEEN
granted by the people, and,
Whereas, Many street railroad conira-
MES have shown a disposition 10 violate
Eheir contracts and oolig iIi ms in running
their lines as oa.v suits thei- pleasure.
consulting their own convenience ratner
than the public good. and in ut;er dlsre-
gard 10 the relnonsiraaces g: the people,
and.
Whereas Said compAn ies having o.
tanned OF the city these valuable fran
chlses. which largely Increase in value rs
the city grows. and BY tAe.r action as
sumo no obligation ana irel- with ap-
parent indifference the Appeals u lie
people made through your honorable body;
and.
Whereas. Certain railway companies
have refused 10 cor. " with their fran
chises. and one company. operating IN ms
city for years. IA. % eAiressel us tbs
pleasure by saying ,hao Il C.ln't wish the
franchise on terms eXDr asSed by the rail-
road committee, and fas been running It's
road TO suit its OWN pleasure. thereby
violating the rights Of other asp.rants.
and.
Whereas When the Cellar river water
is brought down INFO the ely there VIII
be sufficient power generated 10 operate
a municipal plant ana provide power fer
operation Of street railways. anG.
Whereas, The sentiments Of the people
were expressed by the city charter In ia
vor Of the city owning its own railway
systems. thereby wasting no motor en-
ergy; now, therefore, be II
| Resolved. That these resolutions be re-
ferred 10 a special committee appointed
by the chair. and that il in their Judgment
any company has been running and had
reasonable time 10 acquire francnise,
/ or if any companies have not lived up to
| their obligations. said committee sRah
| take steps, the council concurring.
| TO make null and void ali obligations and
| put in operation said roads under the mu-
| nicipal ownership of this city. fast as
| the council may deem advisable, also,
| DC it
| Resolved, That any roads having had
/ a reasonable time for receiving "A fran
| chise, aud having violated their rights
| shall. after condemnation, be charged
| rental per month for the privilege OF
| running over the streets of the city untn
| the city shall claim said road TO put into
| municipal operation. Said committee
| shall. after due elaboration, report back
| their proceedings a an early day"
| DR.. Chapman was still further in evl-
| dence when as chairman Of the commit
| tee on lights he submitted a report favor
| ing the purchase Of a photometer for test
| ing the city lights. The report As adopt
| SANN-tNNN-"NN
| is as follows:
| ''Mr. President: Your committee on
| lights. TO whom was referred the matter
! Of inefficient service supplied the city OF
| Seattle by street light contractors, would
| respectfully report:
| That the contract for the majority OF
| incandescent lamps is for i6-candle power.
| but that as a matter OF fact the bril-
| liancy Of a light falls with the deteriora-
| ton Of a hlament. which becomes notice
able within few hours from the time
the lamp is installed and steadily in
| creases until at the so0th hour Il will give
| but about l2i4-Candie power. Your COM
| naittee is OF the opinion that owing 10 the
| failure OF the contractors to make lamp
! renewals as frequently a they should
| and % neglect in washing The lamps ire
| Quentiy, the service has become very on
| satisfactory. falling far below the re-
| Quired candle power.
| Your committee also finds that the
| board OF public works has no appliance
| agth which % test the efficiency OF the
| service rendered nv the contractors and.
| therefore. IS not in position % order
| lamp renewals when the minimum Of
| efficiency that should De allowed IS reach
| ed The same condition also exists con-
| corning the are lighting.
| your committee finds That on March O.
| lsS the committee on lights Of the former
| cornell. in passing upon this matter in
| connection with a letter from the enEln-
| eer (which letter Is herewith submitted as
| a part of this rep0rt1. recommended that
| 2 photometer he purchased At coss Of
| $50 for the purpose OF enabling the boari
| e public works 70 make accurate tests
| ~ lights. TO the end that the contractors
/ may De required To comply with the terms
| 81 their contracts and furnish lights both
| arr and incandesrent. OF required candle
| power and briilaney.
| Your COMMITTEES therefore Ypr0rg1 ~ 81 q
| shat an ordinance ~ 9as~ed authorizing
| The purchase Of a photonieter and anoro-
| prlattug So therefor. Sach an ordinance
| has heea prepared ans Vii be submitted
! by your committee Also that when this
| appliance Is procured the boar1 OF oslal{,
| works ~ instructed - vigtlaa;iy pr0sa-
| cue suves.i gallons concerning he rs,f.
| SEW ~ AMI soc max the Contracts n0H
| in eneet ara enforced. and 10 report their
| findings - the C5ty cornell"
/ The entire tone ~ tAe meeting session
| las niEht VAS a curious medley Of tia ha-
| yac-ous ARR tae serious. on the latter Side
/ might - reckoaea ne fiery .rvecttve -
| far. E1apraan against corporations ard
| tie "arrsst running DEBATE in wh.eh
/ cona- irnen ~Toref after p sure ana g@a+-
| lo,e ne,Aoa q reo.aaksnS one az La
I Sc Ing business Strs@ts of tne asfy o1
| tAe o-asr. tAe T~esafen. wss zently cd
| t1c me ta~i:o~ fo~ no. aHiux III the ny
| n oD tae otf1~ssl :esSs. au5 various -.
| & gl30S AZ q c1e~s we~a sars5ns- er,verttv
| z~yi- 5he rcerB Ike hait-hH3en smiles
/ 1wtfr0g r. t,e >1rn-rs cf ones --srrrA
= 7sS's fer srnt.ren Ny tnis rsav<si
| n ~r+ banded rhe reporter -ae following