The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1909-02-10
S. +. co. HAD A HAND
IN THE FRANCISE
MEASURE.
Planned to Swipe Valuable
Queen Anne Prop
erty.

The cat is out of the bag at
last
House bin 30. III, introduce
ed under such suspicious cir
cumstances IN the legislature
al Olympia, which would not
only give corporations a right
or way 70 extend street railway
lines through private property,
but would make the property
owners pay for the damages. is
a scheme Matched up by the Sc
attic Electric company 10 get
a free riQht-oi-way for its Aloha
81. extension.
Surveys for this right-of-way
have already been completed.
Under ordinary condcmna-
ton proceedings this right-of-
way would cost the Seattle
Electric company not less than
$4,000
If the corporation could have
managed 70 sneak this bill
through the legislature without
arousing suspicion, the people
Of that district would have been
compelled 10 pay for the entire
route.
The Seattle Electric company
would have simply announced the
completion 0f itg survey, one Of the
corporation agents would have in
PRODUCED an ordinance IN the cOun-
ell institltlng condemnation pro-
ccedinRs. and
The PEOPLE WOULD HAVE
BEEN MIXED FOR HALF A MIL
LION DOLLARS.
Jacob Furth has not claimed pro
prietary interest in this bill By
q process Of elimination II has been
traced down 20 l.. II. Wheeler. a
resident OF East Queen Anne hin.
designated a. an attorney. and who
seems 10 have drawn the measure.
Applies Only 70 Seattle.
The bill only applies 20 cities in
the state with $50 900 or more pop
ulatiou How many cities are there
in the state outside of Seattle with
that populations
Three years ago Mr.. Wheeler
was nghtIuE DR.. J. r. Crichton, the
councilman from HIS ward. and the
Seattle Electric company. lie up
braided The corporation in the
most e1travRgHnt terms.
Councilman Sparkman. who was
criticised last week for not com
pelling the Seattle Electric com
pany 10 give the district better
service has a strong supporter in
Mr. l. ~ Wheeler now Mr..
Wheeler apparently stands today
as apologist for the Seattle Electric
company
Why this change Of heart?
Are Not Endorsed.
Mr. Wheeler and his bin are not
endorsed by the residents of Queen
Anne hill The bin received the
support OF few citizens az re-
cent meeting under false pre-
lenses and Just as certainly as
two and two make four The Star
advances the charge that the bill
vas drawn either by or directly for
the Seattle Electric company. and
is so constituted that the people
viii have 90 pay for the company's
right-ofway on this Aloha St ex-
tension. amounting 20 half a mil.
lion dollars
Immediately after the expose In
The Star last evening prominent
citizens OF Queen Anne hill began
teiephoning each other. and spe-
cial meeting of the Queen Anne
HIN Improvement club will be call
ed within the next "a hours to take
steps 90 KIN the iniquitous bill.
viii Protest.
Either "a delegation will be sent
Go Olympia or the interested prop
/ erty owners will sign their names
20 strongly worded protest which
viii be sent to every King county
legislator.
The Aloha st. extension con-
demnation would include some Of
the finest homes on Queen Anne
| hill. among them the residences Of
Health Commissioner Crichton,
Mayor John r. Miller and others,
worth from $4,000 10 $4,000 each.
ND AWWVNYWN~ wMV