The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1904-05-12

~ AHEE hNAaHAA ~ - HNNAAtAh W AAANNAA III
The American Improvement Conn
pany' 81 gas franchise 80 many un-
suSt restrictions that the company
VIII refuse 60 take It. thereby al
lowing the Seattle Lighting Conn
pany to maintain It's present monop-
oily Is the opinion freely expressed
today by leading citizens seen by
n reporter on The star. These pro-
posed changes have all been fig
urcd out by thu committee in secret
meetings az which City Engineer
Thomson was the only other person
present They were unknown unln
exposed In The star.
The more important OF the pro-
posed changes in brief are the fol-
lowing;
The company must pay from the
hsginniug per cent OF It's gross
earnings TO the city annually. This
rate Win be gradually increased I'm
al 1915, being per cent thereafter
IL must furnish a surety bond Of
100000 to insure the carrying out
of every provision OF the franchise.
Any Person whose building Is
pipcd for gRs can compel the COM
pahy 20 run a pipe to the building
and furnish Eas within 80 days after
applying for IL.
The board OF works h made sole
nrbiter % the quality OF the gas fur
nished by the company. II the board
finds that the kRs Is OF less than
2s-eandle power At any time II can
place a fine OF 500 against the
company. For a like offense within
seven days after the previous fine
the penalty is increased 20 s25a. II
the company fails TO pay within five
days thu whole plant Is forfeited to
the city.
Such provisions ss these the COM
mi;tee would insert into the man
chise. while II has not even sug-
gssted amending the two franchises
now owned by the Seattle Lighting
Company. although u has power TO
do 80. one OF fhose franchises il
perpetual The one formerly owned
by the Seattle Gas and Electric
Company is perpetual 1, does no,
even stipulate the price that must
be charged. giving IN. company full
latitude In the matter. The only
bond that II provides for Is enc Of
$4,000. Il has none OF the provl-
sions proposed for the American Inn
provement Company's franchise as
stated above.
The Citizens Light and Power
Compauy's franchise. also owned By
tho trust. does Just little bit better
By regulating the price that can be
charged 10 $50 for Illuminating
MAS and ti.5 for fuel gas. IL ia
stipulated IN this franchise that Il
mus, build a pant capable Of pro-
duclns 250.ee0 cubic feet Of gas
day. while the corporations COM
tnlttec would have the new company
erect a plant capable Of generating
] 500. aoe feet a day. The Citizens
company In its franchises was
obliged 10 construct only Is miles
Of mAlnA The committee would
make the new company construct 50
miles Thu company has already
agreed 90 extend the mains 20 every
ward % the city and TO connect any
building within 600 feet Of any Of
Its main arteries or distributing
pipes These VIII aggregate nearly
Doe miles.
Chairman Bowen OF the corpora
lions committee and the other menu
tsrs. Couaeilmsa Rade, Mullen
BENJAMIN. Zbinden and Burnett. ex-
plain their action in much the same
Nay. Chairman Bowen gives his
reasons for his attitude as follows:
! want cheap gas Just as much as
any other user OF Il in Seattle. But
/ DO not iutSnd 20 give a valuable
franchise away to any corporation
until am sure the city - going 10
be benefited By II. Before ! vots
6or the granting of the American
Improvement company'H franchise.
want 70 be sure that every one OF
yts provisions viii be carried out
Il Is very apparent that from thu
way the people Of the city have been
treated by companies 20 which fran
thises have been granted In the past
ehAt the city council cannot be too
tareful in giving away such priv
1sEea. Moreover We cannot Be
bponsors for the mistakes OF the
rOuncils Of former years II IL our
scuty 70 see that any franchise We
Rive away Is the best that can be
BOT.
! personally I would be IN favor
lbf selling franchises to the highest
Bidder. II that we're done the people
Jrould not complain OF the council
sftervsrs Il u were found later that
he franchise was deficient. In large
kastern cities whsrs the municipal
Bile. have had experisnes I'm these
tnatfers. they are now limiting the
senKth OF franchises 10 10 and u
gears and they are providing that
ths holders turn over q certain per-
fsntage OF their earnings 20 the city.
The American Improvement
Company wants a 5o-year franchise.
T. It's case I want 70 be sure that IL
rll give everything that II prom
tsss 70 give. I want 20 be sure that
fha company has ample financial
-.-f
YsUil Pay 100 Per Cent More
Profit TO some u the stores. why
bot buy your hats and mems fur
uishiuzs where the qualities and
prices are absolutely correct. Try
u =. y. Brooks & Co.. 1881 Second /.
avenue. Arcade building. 80
STYLISH CLgrHEs HERALD.
s3Ze Second. 90.