The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-31
BRIDGES Makes Confession.

Bridges Makes Confession.
Commissioner Bridges has addressed
TO various private individuals and to
the newspapers that have visited him
with righteous rcprobation letter writ
ten in the style of the schooiboy ana
with as debonair an air as any man
who ever scuttled ship. We commend
It to the attention OF every honest man
in the state OF Washington. Like the
petition filed by the company whose Of
fetal benefactor he has become, 1t Is
Infinitely more damaging TO its author
than the severest comment that might
be made upon 1t. 1t does not deny
or explain one Of the offences OF Mr.
Bridges that have astonished and out
ragged the public. 1t 10 a full and free
confession. Mr.. Bridges wears his dis
grace with the beaming delight OF a
willing servitor Of shame
First of all, he ignores totally the diff
ference of conditions between 1894 and
1900. He quotes the prices at which tide
lands have been obtained from the
state. and the estimated values placed
upon them six years ago when people
believed that the promises OF the Seat
Ale Il Lake Washington Waterway
Company were made in good faith. He
Is not ignorant of the representations
made at that time. Our people were
told that $1,000, 900 were ready to be put
into the work. Their cash subscriptions
were invited on that basis and condi-
toned upon its completion within FIVE
years The work was not DONE the val
ue not realized.
The petition OF the company for an
extension does not promise its compile
ton In Ave years or in twenty-five. 1t
only as fast "a a market can be found
for them at the prices which this enor-
uous burden necessitates. 1t is per-
fectly true that II the company had ex-
ecuted It's plans originally In good faith,
abe tide lands would have been made
exceedingly valuable. The law and the
contract were justified by ciroum-
stances then existing, II ia Just as true
today that the prices paid with this In
cubus upon them represent the loss 70
holders incurred by this contemptuous
failure to perform. There will be no In
crement OF value at the end Of the ex-
sension. as Mr. Bridges well knows, be-
rause the company cannot and does not
intend 10 complete ITS work In that
sime As well pretend that vacant
acre lot has the same value as one sur
rounded by business buildings To the
Inquiry whether owners Of property
were not aware that the lien upon Il
rouia be perpetuated by extension OF
che contract. the NJ reply is that NJ
bwner contemplated the incumbency OIL
any land commissioner who would b.
guilty of such an act under present
conditions. Mr.. Bridges may congratu.
late himself upon having exceeded nj
Expectations. He could not have beer
roreseen.
His reliance upon legal authority B.
the most impudent bit Of his graceleS.
confession OF iniquity, He argue,
throughout chat perrnissive statute (,
mandatory as Well The assumption
chat. because Tho law left something t,
his discretion n became obligatory
mould be naive II IL were not imbeclie
''Does the official act OF ministerial
rficer." no asks. complying with III
requirements OF the law under the al
vice OF the attorney general constitute
soAndalr' The law. as quoted b,
himself. says simply that the land com
missioner may grant an extension
upon q showing OF due diligence. Th
attorney general says, OF course tina
shas invests the commissioner with tn
only authority and discretion. But 1
Is not hts power. but his right, TO max
Ghis betrayal Of public interest to pr
Yate advantage that is called in cues