The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1916-04-17

SEATTLE MADE NOTORIOUS, NOT
FAMOUS
seattie's light And power plant
has been fought at every~turn OF
the road by its business opponents
and tho peoples enemies yet II
emrrges from the fray q marnffi-
cent demonstration. manifesting the
success or collective ownership even
though controlled by its enemies.
WHAT sEATTLE'S ENEMIES SAY
The Public Service Magazine on
page - OF its March number, under
the caption. The Tale OF TIVE
Mayors" states: "Glii. of Seattle.
states the facts regarding seattle'c
mnnicipsi lighting plant while Dom
deals with fiction"
Mr.. Donneiiy. mayor of Trenton.
who visited Seattle. has referred TO
our light and power plant TO illus-
trate the success OF collective own
ership and in a frantic effort to dis
credit Mayor Donnelly, OF Trenton.
the magazines quotes Mayor Gill. az
follows:
ITO say that the Seattle lighting
plant is money-making concern IL
wrong. Contrary to the statements
which have been made, tho Seattle
lighting plant was not built with the
proceeds OF the plant. but was built
bond issues, none of which have ma
tured.
These bonds are a lien against
every foot of property In Seattle
whether that property receives the
benefit of the plant or not
The Seattle Times, which like
Mayor GIL is on the ground. and
ought TO know as much about this
situation as the mayor OF far-orf
Trenton, says:
The cost OF producing CONNER
cial lighting Is placed at AIS cents
per kilowatt hour and the average
revenue at Sis. leaving a profit Of
y. mills per kilowatt hour Tho
commercial business Is ST per cent
OF that handled by the city.
IN other words, a reduction has
been made In the rate for CONNER
eial lighting. which comprises 81 per
cent or the business OF the city plant,
10 the point where II is necessary TO
Increase the rates for street light
ing. comprising only IS per cent of
the ~bnstness, in order 10 wipe out
an overdraft OF nearly SIS. 600 and
pay the general fund a long
ing debt OF siTo.O0o.
Why should the Taxpayers be
penalized in this way In order that
commercial lighting should be fur
ranted by sound business prao-
ticesT"
Yet awhile viii Seattle slumber
and then the deiuge.
Starting with less than $1,000. 900.
Seattle has now city Hight and
power plant that has saved its ctti-
zens hundreds OF thousands OF dol
lars by reducing the cost of Ilght.
The institution has never cost Seat
tie one penny. because the plant
earns more than enough To nay thu
original cost. and also the bonds ms
they become due. besides reducing
the price FOR light ana power to our
citizens.
YOU never heard Of stock sambiar.
trying to water our city light pIanf
stock, did your Well. that Is because
there is no stock except the bills
issued for light ana power 10 the
people and the dividends are repre-
sented by the ever reduction In cost
ny pledgirg the credit OF our city
water and light plant. Seattle could
buy all her public utilities and nav
for them from the earnings and
even then the credit of these tusti-
tutions would not be pledged for an
amount equal to the amount OF stock
that would he issued n our water
and light plants were owned by pri-
waite interests and run for profit
Next week l shall address a lettsr
10 our civil Service Commission ana
City Employment Office.
EDWIN J. BROWN.