La Junta tribune., 1914-12-26
Municipal Owncr.hip In seattle.

The Seattle Daily Times of De-
cember ith. contained the following
taken from three column feature
article on the front page:
IT'S time for Seattle to awaken to
the dangers OF Municipal Ownership.
Eleven years ago the people OF Se-
attle embarked on their first munich
pal ownership enterprise involving
electric light and power by authoriz-
Ing the city council to spend $780,
900 for the construction OF plant
at Cedar River. using surplus water
from the city's water supply.
The people at that time limited the
purpose OF the new venture to fur
nishing electric current to light the
streets OF Seattle.
Today the people have invested
their good money In and have obli-
gated themselves In the form of bond
issues for municipality owned public
utilities. including street railways, to
the staggering sum OF $7.323.s19.
Such has been the colossal growth
Of money investment OF the people OF
Seattle. without profit. In little
more than a decade. under the guild
ance Of the politically operated. high
power municipal ownership machine.
Bonds authorized for light. power
plants and railways aggregate st.-
10000. The light and power plant
owes the general fund and other
funds. e53O.00O. The municipal
railway system Is In the hole sIlI.-
900.
In 1900 there were so.s7i people
3oof3ln. Today there are ais.o.s
8 The s3nsas bureau. This
is : four fold gain.
The firsl power debt was $3.50. 900.
The present Investments and obiigs.
tions In power plants aud street rail-
ways. Including bonds. aggregate s7.-
$3.50. This IL a tweive-fold in-
crsase In burdens carried by the peo.
pts.
Like huge Colossus. the municipal
ownership political propaganda. with
It's myriads of political camp follow
crs. It's boosters. It's editorial cap.
pers and--morc vicious than all
It's deceitful bosses and It's financial
slrtsht-of-hnnd trickstcrs. today casts
its banefui shadow on the people Of
Seattle ruling men In aud out Of Of
flee with mn iron fist undrcamt of IN
the old days Of political. pnrtisanship
hossjsm.
What Justification In there for this
statement, All that IL necessary
foe the tsxpsyer-the home owner
70 do. II 10 scan the city records. 10
fIad that money has been 'kited' In
the various funds until the over.
drafts amount 10 more than $780,.
ooe.
The city's pledged faith has b~cn
hroksa and the days Of the issuance
Of Warmth for current expenses ~.
pafeaely sure 10 return. while the
Esieksoa. Ross combinations st the
city hall wieids . tyranicai power
that would make the old.time poiiti.
cal bees tusn green With envy.
Herr 10 . paft Of the exhibit of
political misrule enRineered BY
Counciiman Oliver T. Erickson and
Superintendent J. D. Ross Of the
lightine department. ~ found In the
flnanciai records at che city hall:
Total overdrasts In various city
sssds. el.see.ooo.
Money owed BY iishting depart.
neat Of genesal funds. $3.50. 900.
noaey owiae BY municipal street
rsi1ways 20 earbase aud general
fuads. eiii.soo.
Moaey required 70 meet Immediate
aal pressing needs Of city. accord.
ins 10 finance department. $500. 900.
Demanded BY J. D. Ross. light
plant perintendent 20 extend city
llght elant By day labor. eseo.0
| Any citisen can verify these flg.
nrss. They ore . matter Of record
epea u the public. All that h ~.
suiFed 10 lntsiligeace and painstak.
lag care 70 avoid the pitfalls Of the
Drlcknon hand.plcked brand os hlgh