The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-06-17
THAT RAILROAD SPUR.
THE CAUSE OF MUCH DISCUSSION AT
THE CITY HALL.
Private Conferences Durin1 Most Of
cfimen and Owners at Property
Anecfed-The Ordnance Co De
Published for Ten Days Before
Final Action Csa be Takenx

There Is another bridge 70 be crossed be-
ore the franchise granting the Great
Northern railroad Y.sht OF way from its
Present terminus on jackson street TO the
east waterway Is passed by the city eoun-
CT AccoFd.nS 20 the appearance OF things
around Mayor Woods private Office At the
ciss nsll hale yesterday afternoon. there il
something il, tie wind. and I. relates to
the franchise IL question,
Ihere were all kiEds Of conventions In
the mayors ONCE. but the presence of a
reporter did not appear 20 be required
1ne mayor thought i, unnecessary to make
public the pith of the business. but admit
sec that Ii had something to do with
new clause 70 be added to tie franchise
X IS supposed, although there is no au-
tsortty Ter the statement. that this clause
Is aimed ar Uniform rates, and provides
tnat rates chargeabie by any railroad
company Gpsn freight destined over any
portion OF its line. not included within this
franchise, TO or from any point or points
outside OF the city % Seattle. to custom
ers at points along the line Of this fran
cnise. shall never be greater than the
schedule or terminal rates OF such COM
pany over such portion of its lire TO or
from Seattle. whether such rate be a sim
gle or q joint rate: and neither said Seat
tie 6 Montana Railway Company nor any
@tAAfdtsf GS4LS Tie TRACKS embraced With
in this franchise shall carry or permit the
carriage OF freight over the tracks en-
braced In this franchise for any company
making switching charge upon custom
ers along the line Of this franchise until
notified by the city council that it may
again handle the business of such guilty
company This provision shall not be
held TO prevent the Seattle & Montana or
any other company using the tracks with
-
stated from charging switching rates to
other companies. the intent being that
such switching rates or charges shall be
absorbed by such other company whose
freight is so handled"
AS was reported in the Post-Intelligen-
Ger yesterday morning. the city council
took up the franchise Tuesday evening
and acted upon 1t section by section. At
the close OF the meeting the situation was
as follows. The council had approved the
ordinance granting the franchise. and or
dered City Comptroller Parry 10 have 1t
printed in the official newspaper
The impression went forth through re-
marks at the meeting that the council
would meet again yesterday afternoon and
put the measure on final passage As a
matter OF fact, the city charter has a pro-
vision that makes such a step impossible.
and the meeting really adjourned subject
10 call
Section thirteen, article four of the char
ter. under legislative department, provides
that 10 bin for the granting of any fran
ehise shall be finally passed within thirty
days after its introduction, nor until 1t has
been published in the Official newspaper
or the city at the expense Il the appli-
cant, for ten days.
II VIII be seen from this that no final ac-
ton can possibly be taken until after the
publication. which commences in this
mornings Post-InteIligenoer
The action OF the trainers OF the charter
was evidently aimed at doing away with
what is aptly termed .'raiiroading' =
measure through. Not long ago an In
stance of this kind came up in New York
city. and before the public hardly knew
what had taken place valuable franchise
granting valuable rights for practically
nothing had been passed. A vigorous fight
was made by the press OF that city. and In
the end the city's rights were preserved
The trainers of Saat;le's charter took
step In the right direction by making II Inn
possible TO put bill on final passage with
in thirty days from It's Introduction, and
as an additional precaution made Ii COM
pulsory to publish the bill ten days IN the
official newspaper at the expense OF the
parties applying for its passage.
The bill in question has been before the
city council about four months. so there
fs no chance for a city official or taxpayer
to object on the ground that they have not
had opportunity 70 investigate 1t.
That there Is interest In the measure
which must be passed before the construc-
ton Of the Centennial MILL be commenced.
was made apparent yesterday afternoon
BY the number OF people who visited the
city hall in anticipation OF a meeting OF
the council. When II became known that
the meeting was not to take place things
appeared 10 quiet down Later a reporter
happened 10 walk into the waiting room
OF Mayor Woods Office. and discovered
that there was a lively discussion going
on about railroads and tracks ard switches
aud spurs In the mayors private office
Many OF the councilman were present
The reporter wanted TO so in, so Private
Secretary Edwards inquired about the
matter. The reporter was not admitted.
He went away and came back later.
only 10 find that the mayor was busy with
Robert Moran, OF Moran Bros. who have
big holdings In the southern part OF the
city. Mr.. Kerry. OF the Kerry Mill Com
pany; one OF the Stetsons. OF the Stesson-
Post MIL Company, and perhaps others
whose names were not obtained. While
this session was gcing or Private Secre-
tary Edwards was seen TO come out and
ride OF on his bicycle. After while he
came back. and soon Mr.. Thompson. Of
the Centennial, mill. appeared on the scene
and was ushered into the MAYORS office.
II VIZ also whispered around that the
presence OF Judge Burke OF the Great
Northern railroad. had been requested