The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-11-10

The city council held ife regular meeting
/ last evening and transacted considerable
routine business. The petition from the
owners Of the Bs-iey building asking for
two feet Of Cherry street provoked a long
discussion. and was finally refused. pc
sftl0n was read from the employees OF the
Union Trunk Ene requesting the council
TO not enforce the law which provides that
each car snail have two men. The cause
OF the company was advocated by two OF
It's employees. and after long discussion
the prayer OF the petitioners was granted
As DR. Crich;on was absent when the
meeting opened. the chair was occupied
by AcArdie-
Following are the details OF the proceed
sngs.
petition was read from the agents Of
the Bailey building asking that the side
walk on Cherry street, between First and
Second avenues. be widened two feet, so
as to give the tenants better access to the
building on the Cherry street side.
The city engineer suggested that II the
expense OF widening be borne by the prop
erty owners the sidewalk should be
widened. The city allowed the owners of
the building to put In area entrances
which occupied four fee, of the sidewalk
and left only eight feet for pubic use. II
the telephone and telegraph poles were put
inside the curb Ii would cut down the size
Of the sidewalk to such degree as to rem
der II difficult to walk along the walk
when there was a crowd
James favored widening the sidewalk on
the north side as well as on the south.
Herman favored this view also. as there
were areas on the north side, too.
Dr. Crichton asked If the poles could not
be dispensed with. and II the work would
be delayed by letting the matter go over
a thAF NJ - -
into.
The city engineer did not know whether
IT would or not Nav.n did not favor de-
lay. He did not think that IL would be a
good plan to grant the petition.
Herman asked what the plan was for
wiring poles pursued In this city The city
engineer said that poles were placed every
eighty feet.
James asked II wires could not be
stretched from one building to the other.
At the same time he was willing 10 give
the two feet to the Bailey building. Ray
mond said the question was. what the
space was needed most for. pedestrians or
vehicles. DIR. Chapman said there was
principle involved.
On motion of James the petition was re-
fused.
A petition was read from the employees
of the Union Trunk line protesting against
the enforcement of the ordinance which
compels the employment OF two men on
each car. They stated that no accidents
have occurred on account of the absence OF
conductor during the past six years that
could have been avoided had there been
two men on each car. If the law was en-
forced II would result In cutting down the
wages OF the employees.
Conductor Bates spoke in favor Of the
petition. He said that the employees were
working now for a tride over is cents per
hour. and If the company Is compelled to
pay an additional sun for more help the
expense would fan on the employees. and
not on the company When better times
came the company will doubtless pay the
men higher wages and employ two mon on
each ear
DR.. Chapman thought the matter should
be investigated and go to some committee
that had some stamina about 1t. James
said the Union Trunk line had managed
to keep out OF the receivers hands and
the stockholders had managed to do so by
putting their hands In their own pockets.
Such action was commendable. The road
was run carefully, and there Is a splendid
set OF men on the road. capt. Taylor said
the men were afraid that IL two men were
put on each car their wages would be re-
duced.
Jones moved that the petition be grant
ed. Herman asked Mr.. Bates why " was
that the Madison street. Front street and
Yesler way lines could AFFORD to have two
men 10 each car. Mr.. Bates replied that
the Union Trunk lire was operated over
a rough portion OF the city, and because
an electric line WAS more costly TO operate
than cal bic line.
Navin moved as an amendment that the
matter be referred to the committee of the
whole. DIR Crichton favored the granting
of the petition. but said he would like to
have few days to consider the matter
Superintendent Bruce. Of the Union
Trunk line. stated that the management
OF the line saS the council two years ago
and last year. and that on both Occasions
the council decided TO not enforce the law.
Navin's amendment was lost by vote
OF 20 5. The motion OF Jones that the
petition he granted was carried by a vote
OF 10 ayes to 3 nays.
A petition was received from the Third
Street and Suburban Railway Company,
asking 10 be permitted TO give half
hourly instead Of q twenty minute service
on that system. Chapman opposed the
measure. and said that there was a threat
OF three fares to Ravenna park The peo-
pie would be satisfied with any reasonable
service but LEI II he something certain
and definite. He moved that the council
go into a committee OF the whole and IL
the council granted the petition after look
ing into the matter he was willing 10
n
twenty fsve-years' franchise. and some
thing was due the public. The matter
had been put into the hands OF the cor
poration counsel 10 enforce.
Hurd moved that the matter be referred
to the committee on corporations. They
could look after the matter and report tho
result OF their Investigations TO the COM
mittee Of the whole.
Gibson moved that the matter be referred
~ committee made up OF the chairuen
OF the committees on lights. corporations
streets and finance.
Gslscns motion was lost. and the mo-
ticn OF Chapman thst the matter be re-
ferred TO the committee OF the whole.
which will meet AZ the call OF Chapman,
prevailed.
A communication was read from the civil
service commission In reply 20 resolution
Ne. 4S TO the effect that the commsssio,
had no Jurisdiction TO rotate iaberers in
csssce. that that was a function OF the
appointive power. placed on file.
A communication from the civil service
commission replying 10 resolution No. A.
a. 30 the accessibility 90 the public en-
pIoyuens of'sce. was read stating that I,
was centrally located and accessible hss,
that II would he better II II were located
or the ground floor ard a room provided
where employers could meet with thosa
they proposed 20 employ. and confer with
them. referred TO the committee or labor
~ - .arss H. a f.