The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-12-22

A rand Commissioner Robert Bridges
u Ia Seattle yesterday investigating
y Whaffage charges on local docks
21uS extsnd along the harbor strip Of
kSfS lsnd, and over which the state
IA commission exercises Jurisdiction.
~ ~ net result Of those investigations
bridges has reached the conclusion
"a re wharfage charges imposed by
7 IN dock owners who have state leases
4 3. hiehcr than the tolls prescribed by
! e state land commission in its latest
nhiet Of rules and regulations.
2f Bridges further stated yesterday
& r. Re should Immediately notify the
a owners to reduce their charges or
R the forfeiture Of their leases.
u 4 BRIDGES Investigations and his an
1EDeraent yesterday are expected to
3 }kva rather sensational to dock owners
II Is people whose business brings them
iFfouoh with local shipping interests.
4 ~ - least interesting part of the mat
h s TIE fact that in some quarters the
LION Of the power OF the commission
(|fS9tiiate wharfage tells on docks To-
IA "a the state strip Is seriously Ques-
~ ana It Il not at all unlikely that
Il after will be tested in the courts.
~ latest move OF the state land COM
tiioner, who Is something of an auto
~ IL Is claimed. in his way, brings to
IA the whole controversy between the
~ front owners. including some OF
Y hreest corporations In the state, and
y board OF land commissioners. The
Il owners applied, 1t will be remem-
IA, to the war department for q mod
ation and relocation of the hafb0r
=. 4 nxed by the state land commis-
- - I Srsa, ha. "a ~ Trrtted atete.
Poly ~ = ove, uos'p 49, ,ssSs,
neers, eatapiisnea = pier neau ing
t1ch practically cut the stare STRIP IN
secretary Not RecOgniaed.
& w q acknowledgements xafs,sna - ran.
Es Enu cu '.nn.a'.e ~ . -
49, tine autnority OF tne secIctay VI
~ to modify the existlns maroon hnes'
just a. q legal clash between the
SIsr seemed Imminent the matter was
.I~..S ~ ,a~s.,a Arr. q, tha vnerrttvne
SFeeoss ~. ~. - X. -. s~ss ~,
lhYns se0uceu tne rentai - p0 pau ~
49, .S wmsrg sss,n,ar cyairc. thot IN.
e{SsisSion. which includes himself as
1'rtuan: Secretary OF State jenkins and
~ Buperintendent OF Schools Browne,
00W8f leases
q etate strip siven by the state to the
AZ owners. II the wharfage charges
~ not made In accordance with the
70 PROMULGATED by the commission.
n Bf3dees, In effect, threatens TO re-
~ srantsd 10 the dock owners whose
M charra more thar the maximum
- made hv the land commission.
\ ne rate Ia % cents a ton for ordinary
I
.2mmissioner BRIDGES declared 1yester-
4 q 81 ma learned from personal IN
v7ieation that the charge was 30 cents
/ - on several docks for coastwise and
fXgn BUSINESS and Is cents a ton for
shaii notify the dock owners to regu-
u their char9es in accordance with the
n 81 the land comrnissiOn or forfeit
i&r leases'' M Bridres said. Then the
Ia cornnnissioner re9iected a moment
II added: s'If 10 cents a ton is too low
Ss ~. - sHpw y, 90 ~. VEL FL ~ ~ 4p ne
III ow,,ars ~ AZ h,,atnass a. q Ioss' but
< state, land commission nronoses to
3 that no imposition is made on COM
1rce and No Observation-Disclosures either.D
:. -
Ehat there Is some question as to the
lWer OF the commission, under the laws
1899 to determine what charge shall
\ ltauS Ny til9 WHdINcS, 10 iHaiHtuAhSo W
fll known corporation lawyers Of the
~. It appears that under the laws
fesed prior to 1899, the commission had
hdisputed right to Ak the wharfage rates.
p attorney who has no interest In the
tatter. after examining the code and the
tws Of 1882 yesterday rendered the fol-
Pwfng statement of the law governing the
|. The state of Washington. in article XIV.
r. n ars eon is, declares tnat none OF
ma ~ ,ts.ns pelween any halpor Iins
sith,n ~, ~ ths OF prainary nisn uus' UNI
a. ecss ~ -. .ess .ian NY lest no[ "vLe
Il nm Az, ~. VI sugn naIpor isnv Nas .l,e
|srrrirs, ~ sotniiilssioners snan ueur
.tata ~, ~ Silail pe soiu OF sIanteu py tne
,nnu,shna 's aisnt 70 cohtr1l inc same re-
ssss.,,as - put such area snaii pe forever
sshss - 81, Ut ianuines wnarves streets ona
rzrTa ~. sn.sncSs ~ havisatIon anu c9n-
nrovsSa e ~, .ne iegsiatuIe - Iequireu 20
HIN ~ f H,,;,a Jaws LOT tne ieasing Q, tne
Syd NM u s.. aau MAINTAIN wnaTves, JOCKS
EnaS 'e' structures upoh the AREAS men
esrhs =. =. ,oo-
IN x ae ~ VI rss., cnapier l.AhAiA:;' sec
Ise az aneh1eu oy the act OF 1889,
~ me BOARD OF state land commission
aintain wharves. docks and other struc-
Ne upon sne harbor areas for such rem
bIrd y. Jnn ,s susn general ru,es as me
pfiS ss that notwithstanding any
doss he es ana SeeI the hs nsSt
os nt 10 rates be 9f s iba aa
fAr 1T. 49,.