The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-04-11
SAY II WOULD RUIN THEN.
POWER COMPANY MANAGERS AP-
PEAL To CITY COUNCIL
Frofest Against Enforcement ef the
Underground Wire 0rainance--A
spirited Dtseussioa Melody

ine question % compelling power com
sAnses ID place ihesr wires underground
within prescribed limits ar@5 within a sae-
siiless leagtA OF time. CAUSED an animated
discussion IN last nights eity council. as
similar propositions have IN times gone
ny Tue matter came Up on tha report u
ne corporations committee. and. IN TIA
ssTrAaeai2r OF the DAY. tAai Was IAe assish
os ne meeting as Tar as ctaer business
~ss concerned.
In explaining the report. James chair
nan of tie committee. said there wxre p.o-
Pie IN the lobby who were DESTROYS q be-
ing heard President Rln~,art asked IL
there Was anyone present wac wished 10
speak, ard upon no Gre answering inasis-
Gsateiy. he pat The question upon the axtoa-
ton Of the resolution. In the meantime Il.
c. kiltsegirne, president 0s the Union k.lsc-
trio Company. lad arisen 10 his feet. and
MAS noticed by Clerk coryell before a
vote could be taken.
Being recognized by the president.
Mr.. kilboarne made a statement Of the
financial condition 81 his company. and Of
his Efforts in aeqaainting the corporations
committee with has position il the matter.
He said 10 take down the wires that ara
Row strung overhead in the districts pre-
sertbea In the ordnance, from Xesler NAY,
along FIRST and Second avenues 10 Pike.
and along Third, from Pike 10 Main.
his company. as the greater part q ,ha
apparatus could not be sold even for
junk" that 10 install conduit system
would cost his company fully sl5s9a, all
OF which. at the present amount of oosa-
ness being done and the financial status
Of the company. would mean simply rain.
He stated that his company has been in
business for q number Of years, and had
spent a great deal OF money In improve
haStI 2xsfr, Eys
each month in salaries. The company was
perfectly willing. he said, TO conform to the
wishes of the city. but TO do SO successfully
would require time.
MIR. klIbourne said he believed the coun-
ell should place all companies On an equal
footing, and net work hAFcships on some.
He said his company would place wires UNI
foreground In any time specified II the city
would reimburse him for the wires and
poles that would have to be sacrificed.
w. j. Ggambs. representing the Consum-
ers' Electric Company. stated that his COM
pany was small. compared TO the other
companies. and that the ordinance. IL pass
ed. would drive them out Of business.
Couneiimen Ask Questions.
Ceuneiimen James answered kibourne
and explained fully what had been done In
committee and what the ordinance meant.
lie 'ontradicted number OF statements
us. by MIR. k!ibourne. and on one or TWO
occasions went so far as to emphasize state
ments With the word damn" Maldoon.
Casileman. Diller and Nayin then took
turns in plying questions at the president
OF the electric company, who did his best
to answer the fusiiiade. keeping his de-
corum at all times and only once attempt
ing a witticism. That WAS in q several
times repeated question by Dilier.
"Dr. kilbourne," said DLiler. do you ex-
peet to bring heavy voltage in from Cedar
river over those small wiresr''
Yes, Mr.. Dsiler," Was tho reply, ''the
larger the voltage the smaller the wire.'
This answer caused an audible smile In
the lobby.
After Or. Crichton had quetioned the
advisability OF passing such an ordinance
AZ this time and given his views ON mu-
nic.pal ownership. and after several more
pointed questions at Mr. Klibourne, Gill,
the Third ward councilman. gained the
floor. and said he was surprised at the
''sindicsiveness shown by certain members"
in answering Mr.. kilhourne. who had stat
ed his position fearlessy and honestly.
I've don't wan, to bully thfs thing
through" said GIN. The Union Electric
Company has been in business In this city
for a number OF years and pays good
wages to large number of men, and Dr.
KIIbourue Is entitled 10 courteous treat.
ment at the hands Of this council ana
this he has not got by any means. There
IL too much one man business about this
and / for one want to see fair play"
James made some ringing remarks which
Gin answered Just as rtngngsy,I and Null
doom finally put auie.us on the whole
matter by moving that the consideration
OF the bill go over FOR a week during
pear before the committee and state their
position.
James and GIN had another argument
earlier in The evening over an amendment
tn an ordinance compelling companies pro-
posing To construct plants To apply to the
board 81 public works for permission 20
make certain alterations The report OF
tho committee recommending the passage
Of the ordinance as amended was adopted
and the ordinance referred 70 the corpora
ton counsel for written opinion a. 10 It's
legality regarding existing franchises.
Dtiler nearly stirred up hornets nest
IN an enaeavor to have an application by
Q Wheeler for a license 90 conduct \
saloon a. ana Washington street, re~referrei
- the license committee He said he had
been told THAI he Seattle brewing and
Mating Company had made the statement
that they ownea the council. which he.
fo- one. rstutes Andrew Hers-ich and II
+ Sweeney. ~ the hrs wing cor1fsany, we're
on the bond. which fact Mr.. Diier corSiff-
cred worthy - examination, especially m
the face ~ she runner he Rad heard. The
ncenen was granted notwfths.arisne
M4vor Hfrnss sert III THE name 90
Melody Choir az a park commissioner AZ
erst there was disposition 20 put Il over
one week bat the appointment was finally
confirmed.
Other Hasiness.
Petitions acfe~' 1ncn~SrT Mary Joseph
Inc rssctrnnr. offering to pay ST. = IN set
Element of tax delinquency on certain lots.