The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1916-04-10

I
coming a national question and will
be q national issue within tho next
/ few years. Is there statesman In
| the world who can successfully con-
tend against III
BILLBOARDs IN POLITICS
| One reason why the state OF WASH
inGton voted dry was because the
| liquor interests were a power in
politics which menacsd our political
institutions and the rights Of the
people.
There was . political combination
IN our recent city election which I
knew and felt its power. The BILL
board interests were in politics with
both hands and feet: in fact, IL
20 be surrendered TO the billboarda
but that is not their fault.
The reasonable and natural effect
Of Seattie's city ordinance regulating
! biliboards Is to create monopoly.
and. OF course. those who enjoy IL
wish TO retain their advantages over
others.
Every man In the employ Of the
Billboard Combine was working for
the combines candidate for corpora
tion counsel before primary election.
and for one certain councilman on
election day. IL is evident to all
thinking people that a city council-
man cannot serve the billboards and
tho people at the same time. but II
the people desire billboard city gov
eminent they should have II.
When men in public office shed
oceans OF briny tears about the peo-
pies high taxes, and keep on raising
them by vetoing measures calculated
TO bring revenue for city govern
ment from just sources. IL Is evident
that the people are getting what
they voted for.
The billboard industry should and
would pay between four and six
thousand dollars per year revenue
20 the city OF Seattle II proper
ordinance was enacted by our city
council (and not vetoed by the bill
boards representative licensing
billboards at so much per foot All
persons in Che billboard business
would then be on an equal basis.
and while tho city would profit. .
monopoly could not exist and our
politicians, who are just one degree
below the peanut type. They spend
more money now I'm elections than
their yearly license would cost them.
I have not told the people all
know about the activities OF soms
men In public office in behalf of the
billboard monopoly. and. as a word
TO tho wise is sufficient" i warn
some people that the Ice they stand
upon IL so very thin that one hot
blast would engulf them In the tenn
pest OF our criminal code.
sEATrLE's STREETS
Just before election I heard good
Joke about an institution that loves
Seattle spending 100000 TO repair
damages TO our water system from
electrolysis. 1t was raw bunk, but
so new and OF such a high voltage
that the people have not recovered
from the shock.
Tho Seattle Electric company has
refused 60 repair the street paving
between their own tracks. A trip
out Pine 20 Broadway, then to Tenth
ave, north, then on Tenth ave north
viii convince any person with sense
that this corporation is not In poll
ties for its health.
The facts are that II corporations
would spend their money in giving
the public service that they spend In
controlling legislatures. city councils
and veto mayors, oas OF the greatest
causes for seeking their removal
would be abolished.
Pike at. is unfit TO drive over
Pine at. is congested and fast becom-
ing dilapidated. Broadway 10 more
holy than righteous. and Tenth ave.
north needs repairs.
COMPANY TOO POOR
The Seattle Electric Company now
seeks to avoid the cost OF keeping
the streets between its tracks In re-
pair and also the paying Of per
cent TO the city. as provided by it's
franchise. yet their earnings and
profits were largo last year, as
shown by their own report. Why
not. when they can make jumping
Jacks out OF our state Legislature,
errand boys out of tsome) city coun-
cilmen with the flagl. and DO ia
vored by veto specialist as mayorr
Next week l shall write on Light
and Power
EDWIN J. BROWN. d. D. ..