The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-02-27


the city council, from the Second
ward, has issued a circular letter
to the voters. Presumably he
knows the proper caper-though
capering may not be the principal
occupation, or most desirable
equipment, for a councilman.
For example: While Mr.. Bell was
councilman an effort was made to
compel the street car companies
to pay in to the city treasury two
per cent of their gross earnings.
Mr.. Bell persistently endeavored
to have the rate reduced to one
per cent. The provision for two
per cent carried against Mr.. Bells
efforts.
Was such capering by Mr.. Bell
calculated to help the public?
The work and votes of Mr.. Bell,
against the efforts of Mayor Louis
d. Campbell to compel the street
railway companies to pay half of
the expense of repairing, and half
the cost of buildinE all bridges the
car companies used, instead of the
public paying the whole cost
thereof, was another caper which
some people disapproved of In Mr..
Bell. Such building and repairing
would cost several hundreds of
thousands of dollars during the
life of street railway franchises.
The sole reason the public failed
to participate in the pleasure of
paying this money was the lack
ing of sufficient votes to touple
them up to 1t. Mr.. Bell did his
best, and should not be blamed
for the failure of his efforts to
connect the public SO that they
might enjoy for all time the re-
sulting sensation of their pockets.
How many voters are there in
the Second ward who are dizzy
with an overwhelming craving fol-
some more work and votes of that
character from Mr.. Bell? 1t is
because Mr.. Bell has requested
that the voters of the Second re-
member his record as councilman
that l am endeavoring to be of
some service along that line. Mr..
Bell recalls, in his circular letter,
that Tacoma was in sore distress
and In need of financial aid and
strict business tactics during his
councilmanic years." If said eff
forts of his are a example of his
ideas Of helpfulness to a "f1nan-
cially distressed city," then econ
omy Is the act of giving, and of
spending.
When the public gets astride
this economic skid, having Mr..
Bell kindly swabing the track
with his latest improved ("patent
applied for") greese, it will be
useless for the passengers to ask
for or"stop-over-privileges," as this
merry road Is famous as a quick
timer, Observation-Disclosures
to-the-poorhouse.
Speaking Of franchises, of cor
porations holding or seeking them
recalls of good fortune of Mr.. Bell
in his being the local manager for
one-the Postal Telegraph COM
pany, and the principal owner of
franchise No. 339, page 994 Gre
vised Charter and Ordinances) ,
known as the District Telegraph
company, and of No. 1923, page
1015 of the same interesting
book, called the Fire Alarm Sys-
tenn. So opine that on ques-
tions before the council affecting
some franchises 1t Is a reasonable
presumption that Mr.. Bell would
have sufficient presence of mind
to know what to do without hav-
ing his mind racked with pain
full doubts. This is a decided ad-
vantage which he would possess
over Councilman Reed.
Mr.. W. A. Chambers has pub
lished In the press his withdrawal
as candidate for the council.
He gives his reason for withdraw
ing as follows: "That I could
win the nomination I had mol
doubt until John M. Bell entered
the field" He said this boldly,
right out plain. Which was mucs
better than to have confessed
"confidentially" to friend, an;
then suffered the modification of
that trusted one unwittingly leak
ing. Certainly It is to Mr.. Cham
bers' credit to be honest, and
shove board-just Hike that, in
stead Of endeavoring to hide the
act that he was the whole cheese
lntil Mr.. Bell took q chunk out