The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1914-09-11
COM M 6 RClAL
CLUB PROBES
RENTON DEAL

at all Rather. Il would Increase.
because by tho agreement the In
tcrest must be paid from the 20 per
cent allowed for operating ex-
penses. BUT 1T REALLY RE-
ouiREs IS PER CENT TO opER.
ATE, OPPONENTS OF The DEAL
SAY.
The agreement isn't n purchase
at all II is "A franchise TO the com
pany for rs years. with the city
guaranteeing n princely net income
every year.
City Takes All Risks
Not only that. but the city takes
all the risks. Witness another
Joker;
The agreement specifics that
the city pay the costs Of main.
tenance, rehabilitation, etc.
Hence. the loss resulting
from elty.wide fire, wlplng
out the cars, barns and shops.
and damaging the tracks. wild
be footed by the city. ne
COMPANY WOULD STAND
TO LOSE NOTHING.
The agreement Ia filled with jok.
ers, entanglements and pitfalls.
Hatched In star chamber sessions
OF part OF the council--sessions TO
which Councllmen Erickson. Mar.
BILE and Lundy weren't invited. be-
cause OF their municipal ownership
leanings-with Councilman Dale In
the lead. the agreement, came out OF
It's shell suddenly. with feathers all
dried. when the council. In commit
tee OF the whole. met Wednesday
morning. presumably TO open nego-
tiations with the receivers.
Immediately Accepted
In the face OF vigorous but use
less protests from the three dissent.
ers. the agreement was Immediate
ly accepted for consideration.
First reading OF the instrument
began forthwith. with Assistant
Corporation Counsel Howard Han
son offering suggestions. A new
draft was submitted yesterday and
second reading completed. At noon
the committee adjourned 10 Satur-
day morning. at which time II Is
presumed all differences will be adj
justed and the agreement made
ready for submitting to the council
Monday.
The agreement provides the city
is 10 take over tho line oCTo-
BIER 1.
With SIX voting In It's favor and
three against. n II not difficult for
the citizens OF Seattle 20 see what
they'll DO mp against.
IT'S All Cut and Dried
Nothing can stop the agreements
going through. unless the minority
In the council gets two more votes.
But the s., r. a s. receivers appear
TO have tho council majority Sc.
curely spiked.
THE WHOLE THING rs CUT
AND DRIED. With minor exeep-
tons. tho agreement In it's present
form was drawn up months ago.
And now tina, II has been sprung.
the receivers and their council sup
porters arc working frantic2iiy 90
get It through before tho public
wakes mp.
INV. r. Crawford. ex-president OF
the road, speaks too long on =
clause. Scott Calhoun, one OF tho TO
ceivers. touches him on tho arm and
whispers, Hurry. hurry"
Councilman Dale. at tho head Of
tho long table. constantly urges
speed. and gets H.
A Dangerous Gamble
The city council II gambling
with all the odds to the other fellow
ii 1t takes over the s.. r. q s. on
the present terms.
The receivers say II the city
doesn't purchase the road now.
there VIII be legal proceedings 'as
yet unborn" which will keep the
city lawyers busy until Gabriel
comes down with his trumpet.
Why not" asks Councilman
Erickson. let them keep their road
and even. n they succeed. raise
thor rates, TO meet the heavy losses
the road In experiencing Drop
them cold, Rainier valley folk need
not depend on street cars II the new
rates displease them. II the city
must expend $500. 900. let the city
buy motor buses. Facts and fig
ures prove the motor bus Is far
more efficient than the electric
railway"
The Commercial Club Is said TO
favor construction Of q parallel troll
ley line.