The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-07-06
ENL|vENED BY NOT DEBATES.
Council Has a Session Filled With
Incidents.
FIGHT OVER FIRST AVENUE,
COunriiman James and COrp0ratSon
Little Repartee Over the Claims Of
Frances Root ana Isabelle Jones
for Damages Telephone Com.
Dany's Eranehtse Causes . Row.

| The meeting OF the council last evening
| was enliyened by two hot debates in which
| II was evident that the opinions Of council
| men were at a decided variance.
| James told CORPORATION Counsel Hum
| phrey that It was the council alone that
controlled the purse strings OF the city
| and that he had no power TO assume its
| functions in this direction in connection
| with certain claims for damages to First
avenue property. located along the cut.
| CORPORATION Counsel Humphrey said
| that he had no desire 10. nor intention to
usurp any OF the councils functions. but
| he favored the payment of the claims Of
| Frances A. Root and Isabelle Jones for
Est damages each to their property be-
| cause the claims were just. 1t had been
| his desire to avoid lawsuits and in the
| present case, while he did not fear an IN
| junction he favored the payment as mat
| ter Of right.
The trouble arose. just after things had
| quieted down following a tDt between
| Navin and James over the granting of a
| franchise 10 the Sunset Telephone Com
| pany.
| Attorneys Richard SAKE Jones and W.
| II. White, representing Isabelle Jones and
| Frances A. Root. owners OF lots at the
| highest point ON First avenue and Affect
| ed by the cut. were present. and asked as
| to what had been done or was going to he
| done l,you. a settlement. Mr.. Jones said
| inf
| would be presented having for its object
! the adjudication Of the affair. He said
| that papers In q suit against the city
| had been prepared. but withheld In antici-
| patton that the city would settle on an
| equitable basis. He said that he hoped 10
| avoid litigation as II wouh pc IN sls
| form of an Injunction and thus stop work
| ON the street Owing to the absence o.
| Judge Hanford II might delay work until
fall. He desired some expression from the
| council to keep the people interested from
| becoming uneasy.
| About this time the ordinance was FOUND
| on the corner Of the clerks desk. 1t was
| raas and then Corporation Counsel Hum
| phrey spoke In its favor
| Crichton, Humphrey and James.
criehton asked Humphrey where he got
| his authority TO settle on damages. hum
nhrey said that he thought il was IN nis
province to compromise any suit. In the
present case members OF the board OF pup
| lie works had been out and made an IN
| snectlon. While Assistant Corporation
| Counsel Won Tobel had been directly IN
ch,rge Of the details Of the matter from
n law standpoint. he understood that all
| agreed "a TO the equality OF the damages
| claimed He said that sometimes man
baa ~ act ON his own Judgment
| James arose and said that he desired IL
| understood that the counch alone nao coH-
troll OF the citys purse strings. me mat
ter Was an important one as there were
more lots than two interested IN the case.
He didn't know but IL might De as Wen
| % sanra ,lp the street and let the in1onc-
| ton threatened come
| Humphrey replied that he hau TO uesirs
70 control the purse strings and 1ad no'
| attempted to 90 such thing lie s'ni-
| riv favored The settlement as being r'gh'
ana ha thought the council ought 10 agree
! 30 Il. g..
! names said the ordinance ought 10 fol-
/ low the ordinary course, and after Crich"
| ION had spoken about it being desirable
/ that the committee meet az an early date
| and come to an agreement, Uaue a is"
| remarks against iog rolling.
6-richton replied tina, there had been ar
| in,imation that the North end was not
! being fairly treated. II IL was aimed al
him he would like 10 know why any such
| statement was made.
| President Rlnehart said that the differ
| ence Of opinion was probably due 10 mis-
| understanding and that he was satisfied
! Cooperation Counsel Humphrey had not
! gone outside MS authority, As lie uHdef-
! stood f.
| Mr.. Jones said that Mr.. Humphrey had
! not made any agreement or stipulated rs
10 damages a. all. lie Lonesi presented
the estimate, etc and X met with the APP
prevail O, Mr.. Humphrey. The ordinance
was referred 10 the committees on finance
ard streets
The new telephone ordinance granting i
franchise - the Sunset Company came Up
The new franchise differs from the orig
iaal franchise in the following points;
Ftrs;-The duration % the franchise IS
Emitted "a a period 90 twenty i've years
she original grant being perpetual
/ Secoua-f2sc Rev franchise provides fuI
/ placing al Wires in the business portion
of tho citv in underground conduiis, arid
ire removals - &H poles from tie STREETS.
Tair& TIE pew franchise provides fol
iha uSe uf twelve phones ~ public Offices
and the free use 80 twenty-five phones 20.
IRE alarm aud po.tre telegraph purposes
TIL, present franchise provides for uo fr~s
'peaHrS - hateNe".
James said e ~aS one ~ ;ha mos, fsla
franchises ever asked ~ a corporation.
Nayin sad it migat - soo1 franchise
I hat - Saw weak points in Il. The com
iauy eould charge sio inoalh. Il had
3 monopoly aud Nouli have the city bs
the ueck fer tweutv0re years.
JAMES Thought differently and GIN agrees
wsgn hin3 danes advised a vote 4, So,
uae F,rr 'he ordinance sAauiE lie puts
5stss4
Marble Git not Nsrt ths yo;e. as tht
CHARTER sA.4 81 must - published
>avgn Sock rhe f'o5r again ard Ca
called fer 3 gNs;Is - or8rr
it'ii SAL thFfv wss SD uhies, in pat
trg 90 excessive ozirdsas "a lsra a corpora
1t"a w4S trying - 50 y sat l.. ha4 beef
asked - 10 lauS ago
The vote was taken ard clerk Cvvyel
ANNOUNCED 'AaS >aytn VAS the oniy on,
Notl.g asa.nst re nmAltaatlnn. T.. vaf.