The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1904-05-13

consideration for the public OF they
are determined to protect the Local
gas trust By forcing unjust provisions
into the document la order TO make
u unacceptable 10 the American lm-
proVumont Company. In the upin.
ton OF husinea. men who we're inter.
Viewed yesterday BY The star the
COMMITTEES Il bowling 90 tho wishes
Of the trust
Councilman Bowen. Rude. Mullen
aud Xbindrn OF tho committee are Of
practically the same mind. Hy All
inadVrrtencc Attorney John ~. Miller.
In speaking before the COMMITTEES at
one time for the American Improve
mpnt Company. Informally agreed %
submit 20 provision that would com
pei the company 20 furnish gas q any
house In Seattle no matter how far
Il might be from a main
Al the time ha happened 60 forget,
he afterwHrd explained that such a
provision would be very uurraRonHh bile.
perhaps forcing tho company 10 run
distributing pipe for mile OF more
20 supply single house. Al the next
meeting Of the committee he said that
the company could not stand Tor that.
but that II would submit 10 a fnanda-
tory provision 10 supply gas Co any
hotaae within 60 feet ~ a main The
members of tho committee are appar-
entity determined. however. to take
advantage Of thia slip TO "eineh" tho
company. Councilman Rude said yes
terdayi
s-rho officer. u the company prom
iHed us once 20 supply Eas TO every
resident Of Seattle. and I for one Ia
tend 70 make them live up TO that
agreement. What I want 10 zee Il
cheap Kss delivered 20 every person
Ia Seattle who wants a. Before
vote Tor the franchise waat TO be
sure that they are saink ~ get a.
Under the pressure 81 public opinion
have previously voted Tor franchises
and have been ehided afterNard for
not making them what they ought 20
Re. ] do not Intend 20 make that
mistake this time.
Personally / DIP not desire 20 have
the companys surety bond raised "a
sien 600. as the committee has infor-
malty decided. believing that aoos
would be sufficient nut want to b
sire that the company will d. ell
that u promises 90 do.
Il also think that the provision
which oompcls tho company to taff
over frouu 70 5 per cent % It's earn
inss g. the city durins the laai forts
ysart % ita existuneo 1. right That
gives the company ten years IN which
70 set a good start
The point that has caused mo q
b cautious In considering the new
franchise" said Councilman Ehiudsn
is the fear thai seems 20 be wsl
founded that tho company has "a
financial responsibility and that Il u
just cbmlas In here 10 speculate. Il
has failed - far to show that Il hai
any rial hacSink fear that the 81
ficsrr intend only q cell cut % th'
old company. one thing that show
that they Do not passeau the funds a
that theF have refused 90 put up thaii
81. 80 bond until thirty days after th'
time their franchise - granted them
This shows that after They set tbs
franchise they want 10 decker around
for q Inuuih IN order - sell thsil
bonds For the proteo ton II the eitJ
against any such schemes they ahouis
be forced to put up that bond tho dal
they get thair franchise
Il was in during the whole period
Ia which tho franchise has barn unaci
consideration. said Councilman MAI
lon. and am therefore not well quail.
fled 10 discuss a. I am IN faYoF
though. 81 making the company turr
over . percentage q its earnings q
the city. az does tho Seattle Electric
company. and ! want the company
10 promise 60 furuish Eas TO even
man in the city that wants IL. un.
dsrrtaud that thn company has siEasd
up contracts AL ever the city with yao-
pie 20 furnish gzs for five years Mr.
Zbindeu informs me that these con-
tracts are 50 worried as % make u
mandatory for the consumers % buy
shs Gas. hut allows a loop hole for tbs
company 20 act out Of selling the gas
II IL wants 20.
= also understand that the CON-
pAuy has signed contracts with tbs
owners % houses Isolated IN the woeds
I am certainly IN favor % forcing this
company TO dive up to every one II
those contracts. and IL apcpara under
the circumstances that the only Way
20 do Il IL to cinch IL - inserting q
provision IN its franchise which wtt
compel Il 20 furnish gas 20 even
house Ia the city. irrespective of n,
location"
Councilman Murphy. however. who
unfortunately. il not = member Of IN.
corporations committee. sees the mat
Z ter Ia a wholly different light Hs
{ views II ia about tho same light "A
I the other gas consumers Whe are DALI
f being robbed by tho trust view IL
This IL what he said:
You can say for me that I arr
/ heartily ia favor of the American I'm
prgvsrnsnt compsny's franchise. II I
/ will give va cheap gas. We need II
/ and II the company IL willing to sub
/ NIT 10 any reasonable restrictions (
should get the franchise. As far Al
/ | have been able 20 Judge as a coun
/ Gilman outside the committee and
/ therefore. not closely ooEnizant Of tn
situation. the company has ampil
demonstrated that libsrallty.
There f. no doubt IN my mind now
| though. that the committee has at las
| succeeded In placing such unreaaon
/ able provisions IN the franchise tina
/ the company will not take IL. II tn
/ Old company wishes TO retain its mo
nopoly. IL should submit 90 an amend
ment Of it's franchise that would pro
hibit IL from selling gas at more thai
81 a thousand cubic feet"
/ IN all essential points every business
| man who was seen coinolded In nj
views with Mr.. Murphy. Frank n
i Hubbel. the promoter Of the Unioi
street tunnel and one Of the hes
/ known business men IN the city. va
strong In his dsnunciation OF tn
methods pursued by the corporation
/ committee. Mfr. Hubbel until a few
i years ago held stock IN three or fou
/ Of the biggest gas companies In tn
/ United States-two OF them In Ncy
/ YeGk and one In st. Paul. lie know
/ the gas business from the bottom al
and II anybody In qualified 90 discus
/ the situation, he ls. Said he:
There has not been a doubt IN m
mind within the last few weeks tina
| tho council committee IN dolibcratcl!
| holding up tho new company's fran
chise and that u has now inserted pro
visions that will make II prohlbitlve
such unreasonable requirements I'm I
gas franchise l have never heard O
before. The idea Of forcing tho com
pany 10 put up a 10000 bond: 10 turr
over part OF its earnings to the mu
nicipality, while tho Seattle Lighting
company does not, 10 extend Its pipei
to every house In the city, no matter
how far off from a main IL may be
and many OF the other provisions
could not be more unjust
Personally. 1 do not think that ths
chances for new company In THU
city at the present tius arc any toe
good. but no such consideration shoulc