The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1904-04-14
ZAWR HMG zUlE
N M Gas AcZNPNC
ATTACKS FINANCIAL STANDING AMERICAN I'M.
PRovEMENT COMPANY IN CORPORATIONS COMMITTEE
MgErINe-MArrgR AGAIN TAKEN UNDER AMUSEMENT

The gas trust showed tia greedy
hand az the meeting OF the corpora
TONS committee OF the city council
yesterday afternoon when through
its lawyer u presented arguments
against the granting ot the 81 gas
franchise 10 the American Improve
ment Company that were palpahly
failacious. Attorney Walter y. Ful-
ton said he was authorised Co speak
also FOR the Moore Investment Com
pany. the Denny Blaine Land Com
pany ana W. 4, Trimble, Then he
let the cat cut OF the bag by admit
ting that Trimble Is stakeholder In
the consolidated ras company.
The deep interest which tha public
feels in the matter was manifested
BY the large number OF prominent
eltisens present. Among them were
George kinuear g. n. Fowler. Will
lam Pigott. J. ". Oodwin. +. h.
Ptdduek and H. II. Coleman. Coun-
eiimen Cricht0n and Cole. who are
not memhcrs Of the committee. we're
also present. Mr. Coleman made a
strong apecch In favor OF the grant
Ing 81 the franchise. lie said.
The people OF this city are In
arms agaiuAt the robbery that has
been parpetfated for the past two
years BY the two gas companies that
ara nov consolidated. l arm heart
and soul Tor the new franchise. I
have taken the pains to talk 20 ZOE
citizens about q and every one %
them was In favor Of giving the
franchise. Why hedge the franchise
with iron-hooked provisions that win
make Il valueless for the benefit Of
few
The fact that 1890 OF them have
signed five-year contracts 20 buy
gas from the new company and that
four times that number have signed
petitions for the granting of the
franchise shows how eagerly they
seek a method by which they can
set an tiiuminaut az a reasonable
tiFur~.
"rhe grating OF this new fran-
chise r. the only way by which we
can stop extortion. More than %. o0e
people OF this city want this fran
chise 70 be granted and they expect
this council TO 90 Il. our past sx-
peFienes should open our eyes
The report that haa been elrru-
lated that the new company Il not
acting IN good faith IL false on the
face OF II. Az soon So The franchise
II granted and before IL can DO any
work tho company must put Up
SO 30 OF bonds. which will be for
fsitsd n II fails 20 pat in It's plant.
II Il falls TO carry out the provisions
% its franchise. or n u sells cat 90
n competing company. what more
couid you ASH 10 any company
going 20 throw away SO go for the
sake % getting a franchise Tor the
fun OF IT. The last franchise you
granted provided for a forfeit OF
only 81. 600"
MIR. Godwiu asa not say much.
nirsplY calling attention 70 the fact
that competing companies could not
furnish gas cheaper than one when
their mains wcre parallel. ard that
the council should make certain that
the granting o. the franchise should
be % benefit 20 the city before al
lowing thu streets 20 be torn up.
The chief point that Afr Fulton
tried 20 make was that thu American
Improvement Company has ne ample
financial haekir-thRt the men BE-
hind II are spectators who desire
only 70 at the franchise IN order IN
dispose q u for price lie snid
that Councilman Cole vas the only
representative OF the pee pie 20 whom
the officers ~ tts company had COS
rded the information as 20 shat
capitalists stood willlnE 20 take the
corurany's bonds.
The bitter experiences that this
council has had In the past iu grant
Ing gas franchises ard other fran
ehises for speculative purposes
should put you on guard against re-
peatinE such a mistake" be said
For the protection OF the public this
company should be obliged to place
on file n document 20 show that Il