The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1901-01-08
4 BATTLE
OF WORD.
Al Meeting Of City (Oun(
Telephone Franchises
Discussed.

Tho city council was TIE scene Of
lively debate last night over the
question Of grauuns = ssse4as
franchise 10 Geo. g.. Hunt fef
period OF 20 years. For two hoa
the city fathers discussed paru.
mentary rules and finally killed =
ordinance by vote Of 7 to 8.
The ordinance granting J. 4. y
Groarity and others a teiepao
franchise, was returned to the ecu
ell with the mayors veto.
Mr.. Hunt and Mr.. Me0roarity a.
both anxious 10 secure franehlae
and their supporters ia the eoung
are about evenly divided. To oxei
ride the mayors veto nine votes 81
required. bot only seven were seeuf
ed. This was victory for the IN
etnies % the McBroaTity meakul
who had been defeated when aup
porting the Hunt franchise.
When the mayors veto mrRea
was presented by the clerk. aide e.
frances, Vice and crime petition
were dropped awhile. All MettIf
down To night the franchise hualrel
I the end, The mayor vetoed q
ordnance because no provision h.
been made In II for the bpftermsn
Of our present. system. In tn
mayors opinion the only reason wls
new franchise should be srants
would be 90 better the old service
and II the new company were ~
compelled 90 DO that. II would 3
useisar 60 grant u franchise.
Blake u the seventh ward. maf
ed that the comptroller be request
Cd TO publish the message. The NJ
ton was carried.
The Hunt franchise was next cor
sldered. Tho majority report 81 e..
corporation committee advocate
the granting of the franchise. ar
the minority report. signed b. nlHia.
and Vincent, advocated its inHenr
lie puatp0nsment. cnunelinaaf
James. u the Fourth ward. heKnf
the attack on the friends II the Hun
franchise. Mr.. James eaid the com.
mittsr favored the franchise II thu
81 hcIroarity was also granted
This agreement" said Mr.. james
vas not lived up 20. as IL seen -
the minority report"
Councilman blake moved to can
cider the minority instead Of ~
majority report. The motion Ne,
carried by vote Of 7 tos
The FOURTH warder then arose ar
said; Il am sorry to see the ma5cr
tty II this council take the stand &
hna. IL looks as II the body i.
aAhaFnsd ~ have these two frAnehlx
ea published aide by side
A fnai vote was taken on the mo
ton 81 Blake. 90 adopt the minority
report advocating an Indefinite post
ponemsnt 81 the bill. This WAS car.
tied J 60 s. James then changed his
vote 10 yea" aud slEnifed his IN.
tentian 81 making a motion 70 re.
consider the bill AZ the next meet
ing. This move vas shrcwdIy hauik
ed BY Crirhton. who moved To- -.
consider Immediately. The motion
was iost and the hight ended.
In speaking ~ the matter TO :
Star reporter this morning. Mr.. Nc.
Grnarity said, The fact Of the
mayors veto hae been thoruughls
discussed by my supporters and my
seif. Tho position Mayor Humes hss
taken. and the reasons he gave faf
his veto message r. now well under
stood. wish TO say that am most
willing 20 acredr 20 every demand
the mayor makes. and. further. I vii
promise. With unqucstinnabie back
Ing, that " the council viii give M
n franchise the city will have teis-
phone system second % none I'm the
United States. People want \ ~
perior service: an able competition.
and they shall have e.
when this veto II published i've
daye, I shall again bring my request
before the city council. with one and
at 81 the mayors objections set Al
rest"