The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-24
A Viliainous Job.

The report made by the assistant at
torney general upon the action OF Com
missioner Bridges In extending the con-
tract of the Seattle & Lake Washing
ton Waterway Co., and the determine
ton Of tho commissioner to stand upon
It put the seal OF Official authority upon
one OF the most villainous outrages that
can be found in the history Of any city
and state. The action of Commits
sioner Bridges becomes now merely
the exercise OF official authority to
pluck the public by the conflscation OF
private property for the benefit of cor
poration that has forfeited every right
TO consldera ton. He has done this
thing because he had power to do It. He
runs to the cover of a legal declaration
that he has Invested himself of power
to undo It. The people may sweat for
all that he cares. But those people will
draw their own differences, and their
conclusion is one that will drive Mr..
Bridges from public life and stamp him
with the contempt Of honest men.
Every step in this proceeding is
without possible explanation that does
not reflect upon either the intelll-
sence or the integrity of the land COM
missioner. In all the literature of con-
tracts and Jobs there is none that dis
plays more publicly the hallmark OF
chicanery Here Is a corporation which
acquired privileges most profitable to
itself and most burdensome to the peo-
pie OF Seattle. on condition OF the per-
Torrance OF certain work. That work
Il did not do. On some Of its contracts
1t never made beginning. On all of
years ago Meantime the terms OF its
contracts, too liberal at the outset have
become outrageous. If ever a concern
had lost all right 20 anything more than
the stern letter OF the law 1t is this one.
The people on whose rightful interests
this contract rested like curse were
bph huIiiltulul VI lifft uiUHtis HtN
expected and were ready for a hearing
on petition for renewal Timely no
tice was promised them positively No
notice was given. In May. more than
I'VE months before the date from which
the extension begins to run, the com
pany makes its application. 1t is one
that should have been thrown out OF
the window instantly by any honest
man. 1t openly avows that the original
contract was not in good faith. because
the work agreed 10 be done could not
be performed In the contract time 1t
confesses the same as to its proposed
extension. because on its own showing
only a small portion OF the remaining
work could be done in four years or in
Eight And It sets up as its own stand
srd OF proper progress the anlng Of
tidelands as fast as they can be market
al prohtably. when it can make it's
monstrous margin. 1t will do business
otherwise, 1t win do nothing. But ao-
Awe or lille It will not relnaulsh the
hold ~ the leech,
ON this showing and no other. Robert
Bridges extends its contract for four
years. He does not consult the other
Aar,ies In interest. He does not notify
ahem. Although the interest OF the state
d now merely nominal. and those vitality
concerned In the proceedings are the
owners Of tide lands and the people Of
Seattle whose future depends SO largely
cpon their use tor commercial purposes.
DE bargains I'm secret with this company
es II Il and Robert Bridges we're the
whole commonwealth Of Washington
as. indeed. in this procedure. they seem
% have been. H. ,,Cks nothing Of past
breach II faith, - ruinous and riiicu-
lous PROFITS at the public expense; of
the companys confession of its inabIl-
lty to perform its agreements; OF its i'm
eotence to attempt to follow its orig