The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1913-02-17
What This Home Rule
Bill Means to YOU

Home rule for cities is imperative urgent ano
lust need. 1t is measure of relief tor Seattle, la
coma and Spokane, and other cities, which they
must have in self-preservaton.
For two years these cities have chafed under the
rule of the public service commission 1t was oreS'eo
to correct the abusive policies of utility corporations
But il has failed woefuly in that purpose. 1t has
only served to harass and hamper, and hedge about
the freedom of cities to regulate their own business
Instead of protecting the people from the gougihs
methods of the corporations, this commission has
been the means, on innumerabie occasions OF tight
ening their strangle-hold.
Fixed rates in city franchises have been sweep
ngly brushed aside, and higher rates have been ex-
acted with the consent of the commission City ordi
nances have been thrown out OF court because they
did not have the commissions stamp OF approval
Telephone tolls have been boosted Gas rates have
been raised. Interurban fares have jumped up
And now the enemies of the people in the legisla-
ture want to give these three public service commits
sioners, appointed by the governor and owing no
direct responsibility to the people, greater
powers.
House Bill No. 3O2, by William Wray, is the
initial step in that direction. AT present, the public
service commissioners have jurisdiction pub
cy owned utilities Wrays bill is the entering wedge
for such control. Wray wants publicly owned ferries
put under the commissions jurisdiction The purpose
is obvious. 1t is intended to enable the commission
to boost the rates of the King county ferry that the
business of private competitor might not be inter
fered with. Wray's bill will logically pave the way
for control of the city light plant and other ctyowned
utilities by the commission
This will mean that the commission can tell the
city that it cannot reduce light rates. the Seattle
municipal light plant has twice done in year, and
forced its competitor, the StoneWebser concern, to
do likewise. Wray's bill is only "feeler' in the
present legislature 1t is dangerous and vicious one
and will be followed by others vicious
Even it stands the Wray bill may be construed
by the courts fears Corporation Counsel Bradford, to
include all public utilities.
so THE TIME HAS COME FOR A DECIDED
CHANGE. SEATTLE, WITH ITS 100000 PEOPLE,
AND TACOMA, AND SPOKANE, AND THE 9TH
Err BIG CITIES, ARE BIG ENOUGH AND INTEL
LIGENT ENOUGH TO CONDUCT THEIR OWN
BUSINESS. HOME RULE is THE ANSWER 1T
is PROVIDED IN SENATE BILL NO. 229.
Already the forces of special privilege are lined
up against it. The Washington Water Power Co. of
Spokane, represented by its attorney, Will Graves;
the Puget Sound Traction, Light & Power Co., by At
torney Brockett; the Northern Pacific, by Judge
Brown, and the other big corporations, have plainly
told the senate committee they against home rule
for cities And Chairman Lee of the public service
commission agreed with these sleek corporation
neys, in spirited speech before the senate committee
that the commissions power cities should be ex
tended instead of limited.
But the people want Senate Bill No. 229 to pass
The people in the cities want home rule. The time
has come when, in selpreservation they strike
the shackes which feer the cities to the tricks and
trades of petty state legislators who do not know the
needs of the cities, and care less
We have struggled along after fashion, I'M
der the present system. But problems are becom
ing more complex. We have a municipal light plant
in Seattle. We building the first link in mu-
ncipal railway system in Seattle. The city govern.
ment is touching and more closely our every-
day lives.
SEATTLE WANTS HOME RULE.