The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-05-23

JOINT TRACKS
Although CTR tide had streets give am
pc provision for terminal Tsiisay tracks.
and 70 rssnT mere are 70 eozse. thAt nosh-
ing bar fks x1s<st ard 6rSne4x policy ran
ksep - frnEa fslssng further into re error
81 rvosislrg for The roa3s nov here n
s1c8 4 manner - 70 discourage Or sraear-
rass TIE roa2s yet - roere- TIE sallvozd
sgaess ~ fse proper streets should - ~.
zSars Tor railroad 0ss ap9n slch basis
- 10 make then most useful ard convent
gnt 70 the rous6e. Unnecessary or aTf-n-
Tsorsznt r~sfricsions should not ce lsa-
form ~ a proposed Industry or % q pro-
posed railway conne<kfus snoz1t6 trz6arg as
70 slaow the laying % another rail in our
sfre~zx Hrcn any terms thai do rot leave
thar track open 70 joint acquisition and
49, uron fair teTrss ~ ang other road that
shah ohtasn permission from the City FOR
tizst purposs. ard snail have arvmngea for
fns payment % q fair xfzars OF ths invest
rs~nt NfId 9f maintenance In other words.
81 tracks hereafter laid in oar city
snc1is - a. COMMON and free FOR ratlway
uAs a. Our streets are for street sraTsc.
sGhtees only 10 4Hch nsnsra TORS an4 regsl-
lasions ar may Re required BY railway
traffic.
LIBERAL POLICY.
The CITY should secure all possible -sve-
rue and Utility from franchise concessions
within tfe limits over which ft can exer-
else ia ss.SFoi ss' sn re Tsi Z. %, q II, II,
fsress 81 th3 present and the future that
fssss port sfsouia ~ made az cheap IN fact.
a. nearly free port a. Isess .',s and
conss3er z policy OF selling So deriving
revenue from railway franchises and no
Ilinltatisn sspon re ilte ~ iranehires
The Hr1ita fioBS imposed should be such
a. viii preserve railway spaces for gen
erai railway use IN the most efficient and
economical manner. and n as shall pro-
fecf the other uses 20 which such streets
are subject and A. viii reasonably protect
life ard property where the same shall be
endangered hy the railway traffic. Re
Nfri1tionS should not ne imposed on the
ground 81 more possible need Our tide
rat district IS nov blank. Railroads ard
20 the other Their development Will he
mutually consistent II would nof seem
that iBeonvenient OF expensive restrictions
should ne placed ia franchises covering
this district where TOO much care viii he
AZ fatal 70 the general interest As an oppo-
site error.
BOILER INSPECTOR.
/ observe In the reports that the appoint
uent o. the Boiler Inspector ~ dependent
upon action ~ your Honorable Body.
which shall fix his compensation,
beg 10 urge that You give this matter
such early attention as may BE convenient.
IN order that the public may have the pro-
fectlon OF the services 81 such an officer.
cry LIGHTS.
Our light bill should be reduced. There
s. no good reason why lights IN outer resi-
street cars have ceased to run. Much an-
necessary lighting Is done on moonlight
nights and lights are located IN districts
that we should not undertake 10 light at
all 1 am advised and believe that the
city could. with advantage. provide It's
own system OF light distribution and buy
Its power upon such a basis that the pres
eHf prices paid for municipal lights would
TIA two or three years pay the entire cost OF
a distributing system in addition 10 the
cost OF maintenance and power.
HfsaFs are ~ lar q
Grating or equipped for generating cleo
trisfty that could furnish power on a close
commercial basis. No future contracts Tor
lights should be entered into without an
Investigation OF this plan suggested by
citizens some months ago.
FREE PUBLIC EMPLOY MENT OFFICE
This bureau has proven TO be not only
feasible department. but most useful
one. The abuses of private employment
agencies. as a general thing. are we'll
known. No one i more deserving of help
and protection Ia hiS efforts TO help him
self. than the poor man or woman In
search OF employment among strangers.
IL Is s matter OF regret that our employ
ment bureau cannot be gwen more Access
sible and commodtous quarters and be
supplied with more assistance. Under such
conditions It's service and influence would
be- multiplied many times with Ia year.
The report of the Labor Commissioner
shows in detail the difficulties and the sue
ceSses OF this important office. While IL
has not accomplished as much as might
have been done on account OF inadequate
facilities and uufayorable location. IL has
shown itself TO be worthy of increased APP
preparations and attention.
orders for help We're received for lsss TO
the total number OF AsS. The report shows
that the average cost to the city OF secur-
ing employment h. Bic for each person
employed. This Is certainly a good public
investment. when we consider That en-
ployment through private agencies costs
the applicant from one 10 FIVE dollars for
each situation, to say nothing OF the an
noyauces and petty frauds perpetrated by
some private agents upon their defenseless
customers. II has been my effort during
the year 90 give careful attention 10 com
plants against private ,.n. em ,,s: ss
been made, but without IN any case dis
closing sufficient evidence to justify the
ment would seem TO be a vindication of
the private agents. l would not convey
that impression. / am satisfied that on ac-
count OF the poverty and inexperienco Of
those who patronize employment agencies.
many receptions and extortious occur that
are never complained Of
beg TO earnestly commend the free en-
ptoymsnt Office one OF the most benef-
cent agencies OF the city government. IL
should he provided with down town quar-
ters suitable for It's purposes. with ample
Using IL helps and protects defenselesS
men and women II diminishes pauperism
and want and is a great convenience to ali
employers.
The financial stringency through which
We have been passing has forbidden any
OUTLAWS Tor the acquisition OF parks. In its
general cuTtaiImcnt Of the number and
power nf commissions. our last charter
commission went too Tar. | believe. when
IL replaced cur park commission with a
park committee having few il any discre-
tionary powers. our present park COM
nsittee Of able and public spirited citizens
came to tue conclusion soon after their
organization that their charter powers
were too limited TO permit the achieve
meut Of any practical results, and of the
5 members rendered their designations.
which have been held by me without ac-
ton for over q year. IN the hope that the
members Of the committee might De ia-
duced 70 proceed With their duties II finau-
ciai conditions should change as 70 al
iow the execution Of any OF the plans or
purchases which they might recommend.
1t Is 90 hc hoped that AT some future
date a park commission with the powers
necessary Ter It's usefulness will be pro-
vidca for BY charter amendment.
am in receipt from Capt q. - - VIII
iamS the member Of the Park Committee
tWho has attained distinction from tae
circumstance that ne Is Tho only member
Of the committee who has not resigned 81
a report, which he expressly states Is sub
msftsd for himself alone.
am not able To determine. TO my own
satisfaction the wisdom % his different
recommendation. and therefore submit
them as briefly a. I may.
capt Williams takes deep interest in
parks and horticultural work
He reports and recommends:
4 That the parks are ia fair order con
sldering the small sums applied 20 their
maintenance
That bicycle riding should be prohlb-
tied except upon wide and straight drive
WAYS to be specially designated
That the eva Service ralsS should ~
50 changed that odd men could be engaged
Ia wedding and dcing other light work Ia