The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1907-10-23
", ". P, MERELY ASKS
FOR CINCH ON ETERNITY
That Assured 1t Will Consider Con-
tribution to New Bridge.

Henry M. Richards, president Of
the w. w. P. Co., sprung some
thing on the council in regard to
the Monroe st. bridge last night
that is rather unique in the corpor.
alton joke line. Probably the really
unique feature was the tender of
it as business proposition.
The council merely referred 1t to
committee of the whole meeting
next Tuesday night and proceeded
with other routine business.
In brief Mr.. Richards agrees to
contribute 100000 toward the cree
ton of a new Monroe st. bridge,
providing
The state supreme court decides
that the company has a perpetual
and exclusive franchise to use the
bridge for streetcars.
Instead of the so years franchise
1t now holds the company merely
wants an everlasting right to use
the bridge forever, to the absolute
exclusion of all other corporations.
There is also another proviso.
To attain to the w. w. p idea of a
fair proposition the city must also
waive all claim to payment for past
repairs on the present bridge, an
item of something like $4,000,
which the company is now held
liable for.
And even that Is not all. The
city must agree to keep the bridge
In repair at public expense forever
and forever, that being the period
set for the life of the new franchise
desired.
Mr.. Richards modestly prefaces
this outline of his pleasant little
project with the modest assurance
that his company is ready to per-
form any contract which may be
fonud binding upon it.
Evidence that the w. w. p. Co.
doubts its alleged title to use of
the Monroe st. bridge is furnished
in the request that a suit be insti-
tuted in the supreme court to de-
+, termine that right, and also to es-
tablish the fact that this right lasts
for all time, is perpetual, never
ending.
That point settled as the COM
pany wants 1t settled, and all prob
ability of further expense for main
tenance of the bridge safely elm
mated, the w. w. +. Co. will be
prepared to favorably consider the
contribution of sum not to eX-
coed 500 900 as the purchase price
of franchise designed to take hold
on eternity. Naturally the company
figures that such bargain would
be worth making and taking.
From the firm attitude assumed
by Mayor Moore and the city coun-
Gil toward the power monopoly in
behalf of public interest it Is rea-
sonably certain that this ridiculous
proposition barely amounts to the
paper 1t Is written on. Through it
the company attempts tot enlarge
limited term franchise to a limit
less period, at the same time put
ting the burden of practically all
cost upon the public. In exchange
for what the company Is willing to
pay-only on condition, however,
that it be granted perpetual exclu-
sive rights-the city will be per-
mitted to expend 100000 at Mon
roe ST., or sum exceeding that
with which a purely public bridge
could be constructed at Lincoln and
Front.
And the cost of the latter bridge
could In all probability be cut in
half, as there is little doubt but the
Traction Co, will be wiling to stand
half the expense in order to obtain
franchise across such a bridge
Mayor Moore unhesitatingly de-
clares the w. w. p. Co. PROPOSE
ton too one-sided to merit serious
consideration.
Pres. Pratt. of the city council,
is equally outspoken in opposition
to this plan of corporation assiml-
lation OF everything in sight. He
is certain the company can be held