The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1914-03-10

patent rights to Moore. I had told
Moore that Seattle would always
have perpetual patent rights with
out paying royalty. Moore did not
show up at my office for some
time after sending said assign
mont. Later he came and told me
that he had paid for the patent
and should get H. ! told him that
! wished TO protect the city and
would not sign. Thercupon he be-
came furious. but refused 20 MS
sign him more than the right To
manufacture. which later gave
him free of charge. This patent
covers only the pole base. The
Third nv. poles were made In Chi.
cago. have not received any
royalty whatsoever. although many
Of my evenings were spent on city
work for which ! have never re-
eeived anything extra In salary.
INVENTIVE WORK 10 NOT ONE
or NV CITY DUTIES.
Moore's recent unusual and alb
normal activity relating 20 this
entire matter seems 10 be due to
the fact that he failed 90 get the
contract for the Fifth nv. cluster
light system. which has just been
let TO the Westerman Iron Works
In the recent Fifth nv. cluster light
work. Moore's bid Was the only one
received. and suggested that Il
be rejected and re-advertised, and
that the city purchasing agent ask
all fonndries 10 bid. This he did,
and the Westerman Iron Works
was low bidder and was awarded
the contract
Another apparent reason for
Moore's vicious activity Is found
In connection with the bid for n
crane for tho city's steam plant.
Last Friday, Moore appeared with
Mr.. Furth before the board Of pub
lie works. In IN endeavor 70 have
the bid Of the Vulcan Iron Works
accepted for the crane for the
city's new steam plant. Their bid
was s32S higher than the lowest
bidder. Moore said the new Cham
Der Of Commerce would pay the
difference. " we rejected the low
bid. realized that any such sub
terfuge by which bidder could
come In after bids were opened
and meet the low bid by cutting
his price. would destroy compc-
tition. which In required under our
charter. There was nothing shown,
ms far as ! know. from the Cham.
Der OF Commerce. to substantiate
Moore's statement therefore
recommended that the lowest bid
be accepted.
while under the law and. I be.
lieye. In the eyes of the people,
am entitled to royalty on patent
of my own. yet have never re-
ceived any. My object In covering
this pole with the two patents
which ] have taken out was 10
protect the city and the public. and
to insure n uniformity of design
and harmony In the beauty OF Sc.
attle's cluster light system. I
have never received a cent. or any
other consideration, directly or in
directly, from the city or anybody
else, from the sale OF any OF these
designs or from my patent rights
thereto Installed or used any
where within the limits Of the city
Of Seattle.
Mr.. Peters has been n partic-
ular friend of mine for many years.
and had previously worked In the
light plant. He was working his
own way through the university,
and ! went his security on a note.
Mr.. Peters was not In the employ
Of the city at the time the contract
was let. The power OF awarding
the contract In question was lodged
In the board OF public works and
! was not at that time a member
Of that body, but was electrical
engineer Of the light department,
and under civil service. IL Is "A mat.
ter OF fact and record that Mr..
Peters was the lowest bidder.
Both the construction and inspec.
ton work under the contract was
solely in the engineers depart.
ment. The bookkeeping and ac-
on all such contracts is
under the engineering department
and the comptroller.
was. therefore, In no way con.
nected with the letting OF said
contract. the construction or in
spection work. or the bookkeeping
and accounting, | have never been
In any way Interested. directly or
indirectly, In this contract.
J. ID. ROSS,
Superintendent of Lighting.
Seattle may have a branch so