The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1907-07-09

James, Scott Benjamin, w. " Rino.
hart. jed g. Blake. Or j. u. Crlch'
ton and William MMphy,
on the Side OF the People.
or these Mr. Navin. az a member
OF the preceding council, had or
posed the consolidated franchise 10
the end. voting against Il on final
pasaagei Or Criohton had opposed
Il until the anal concessions were
made which included the cent
fare, and William Murphy and Al.
pheus hyera were candidates OF the
independent movement organized ia
protest against the granting OF the
franchise former defeating by two
votee. II, G. ON. whose insolont
language had offended so many fair
minded people during the franchise
fight, The other nine members
we're all more or less subsequently
obedlent TO the wishes OF the com.
pany.
WIN II, Parry. who represented
this spirit IN tho highest degree.
was elected president and James A.
James chairman OF the finance com.
mitteo In which position DO became
the watch dos whose chief duty
was 20 see 20 Il that none OF the
city'a money vas expended on such
foolish undertaking as a city
lighting plant,
Throughout this tera OF office
Charles H. Baker. who had devel.
opad the water power OF sroqual.
mie falls. was more or less con.
stantly before the council IN an 81.
fort 70 procure such an amendment
60 bis lighting aud power franhcise
a. would make Il possible for him
70 compete with the Seattle Electric
company but without success. The
preceding council had granted the
company a franchise but u forbade
the company TO increase any rate
once quoted TO any customer. and
required Il 20 give every customer
light or power At tho same rate aa
the lowest rate granted.
Now. on their face. these are very
excellent provisions aud should be-
Ia every such franchise. But they
we're not IN the franchise under
which the Seattle Electric company
vas operating. consequently the Sc
attic Electric company. being per.
mltted 20 give one rate 10 one Gus
toner aud another rate to another.
and being free to raise n low rate
a. the expiration OF a contract. was
[ able simply 10 whip.Haw the Sn0.
Iauaimlo company out OF existence.
Kept Out Of Market
Mr Baker bad developed a mag
lnlfieeut power plant At n cost OF
several hundred houaand dollarr
Ia the expectation Of being able q
supply current 10 Seattle customer
but on account Of the dog lathe
maugeF policy Of the Seattle eity
Icouncil he vas unable 10 enter thit
market. took what current he could
70 Tacoma instead and sold the rec,
a ruinously Low rates 10 the Seattle
tslsc tic company.
ssafsls should erect q monument
70 tfIa rssmory Of Charles n. Baker
No rsnsfAln the history Of the city
ever undertook 10 honestly. 30 e.
iflcientiy and 80 uneeifiahly 20 sup
A ply TO tbs eltY az minimum cost ln
large quantities one Of the great
necessities Of modern industrial rx
iaisnce and wan 50 miaireated b.
The city. 30 opposed on every hand
and 80 Ills rewarded In the end
Over and over bla business friend,
aud associates advised him TO "gf
into ponslea# as bis competitor had
done4 for the achievement Of hii
amdax aud he testified before ths
KTana lWFy % 1903 that W. ~. gnll
Ilyl white. well known a. a polit
icai rrcF had. on one occasion, an
preached blm with a proposal q
procure from the council the fran
chlne be- desired for 4 consideration
inf $4,000 nus Sir. Baker rejected
ali this advice. operated his maEnif
lcsnt plant for q while al a loa4
F permitting the Seattle Electric
company 20 enjoy the profits from
the sale Of the current which h,
manufactured.
His application for franchlss
vas san before she council wher
that grand fury convened and after
The jury had investigated the mat
ter thoroughly II G. f'igo;t. lts fore
man, weut before the city council
one night and urged that Il b.
granted
We have heard a great deal Of
scandal about this transaction
said Mr. Plgott. "and for one an
willing 20 confess that I am not i'm
/ preased with the excuses offered by
members Of this council for not
granting the franchies. Mr. Baker
is offering us competition IN light
/ ING and power rates. he is offerins
as cheap power for manufacturing
purposes. ! am going TO ask yor
10 grant him a franchise under
which he can do business and IL Il
IL not granted shall take the pains
10 invite you gentlemen 20 come az
on the hill and explain why"
Franchise Granted.
That Was the end Of the argu
ment and the franchise was prompt
ny granted. but IL came too late &,
protect the interest In the plant o.
Mr. Baker. The money for the con
lstructIon Of the plant had been fur
lnIshed by Mr. Bakers father In a.
lcordanco with a verbal agreement
that the son should have a half "a
ltereHt IN the enterprise. Thi,
agreement was never reduced &,
writing. the elder Mr. Baker. aftcr
marrying a second wife. died IN
testate leaving the property TO hts
wife who in turn left Il to hel
heirs. 1t passed to other hands
nov being controlled by n. n Har
rls q Co. and rumor has u that 81
ia soon to pass 20 the Seattle Eloc