The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1916-01-17

uFio 10 tNat OPINION
II. IN the coming campaign. Mr.
Erickson can derive any credi,
from tho complete breakdown Of
what might have been tho only In
dependent profitable line In the
city. thru a wanton miasppropria.
ton OF fund which by all honesty
belonged TO Rainier Valley. and its
use thru a section OF the city hav'
Ina no need OF car service. merely
for the sake OF seeing some wheels
30 around. then 80 far M ! am con.
c.rnod. he will get IT,
certainly shall do my beat 10
lliuminAt. Mr.. Erickson's financial
methods. and the taxpayer who Is
being called upon 10 pay approx
matsly $3.50 per day for tho fun OF
the thing. viii. In my humble
opinion. do the proper thing TO Mr.
Erickson and his co-laborerA In the
eaus. when the time arrives.
With automobile transportation
taking the cream OF all % pressu,
business from the private company.
nobody but freak would seriously
consider any extensions of street
car linea in this city now
Says Ae Gave Good Reason
Mr.. Erickson complains about
the tau upon this street car line.
but does not mention tho burden
upon the taxpayer.
lie complains because vetoed
an ordinance authorizing q private
individual 10 run a bus limo into
Ballard In conjunction with the
city line. tho bus line taking our
profit
gave = good resson why II
should not be done. principally be.
csus. the city would be- liable for
all the jitney accidents Of the line
The reason atm holds GOOD.
Mr.. Erickson also COMPLAINS be
cause our neighbors outside Of the
city having grievances against the
in,erurban car line ala not receive
IN extension Of our light plsnt TO
that suburb.
Mr.. Erickson did &c, thru the
council an ordinance appropriating
$4,000 for that purpose.
II was estimated that the resi-
dents Of this district outside ~ our
city would pay II hack At n rate
which would have reimbursed us In
iG years
vetoed this ordinance.
II was passed over my veto. but
has been Ineffective. because
have refused TO allow the city en-.
pioyes 10 spend the money. My 20.
si,ion has always been. and Ia ard
will be. iha, every surplus dollar in
the ligh, plant should be used In
extending our lines within the city
timita. until every outlying street IL
we'll lighted and every outlying
home in the city has ligh, II II
wants r.
am not running the lirht plant.
nor any other utility or depart.
ment OF the city. TO redress gricv.
ances NJ anybody.
arm trying TO run them as bust.
ness concerns. which are the prop
ertv OF the taxpayers OF THIS
CITY. The residents OF Tukwila
and Mr.. Erickson's eminent back
er from O'Hrien. Mr.. Bridges. have
no claim upon any Of this city's
utilities nor any Of It's funds while
they remain outside Of the city.
Says Rates We're Reduced
As 10 the statement OF Mr. Erick-
aon that. II elected mayor. he viii
increase the revenues OF his street
car line and other things. no one
knows better than he how little
power the mayor has.
He viii be called upon 10 explain
why he has not done something
constructive ms councilman. mas
much as his letter assumes in a
modest way that whatever the
council has done, HE has done
/ never stated at any time that |
reduced light rates. for the reason
that | never assumed the power to
lead.
The records will show that we
did reduce tho rates when ! was a
member OF the council.
Discusses Reniek Law
At the time the last legislature
convened Mr.. Erickson designated a
member OF Mr.. Bradford's staff as
the official lobbyist for the council
was not consulted In his selec
] ton.
Tho day before the Renlck Law
was passed I was asked by the
council to 90 TO olympia and try to
stop it's passage.
II was passed before could get
there.
In the meantime Mr.. Erickson
and some OF his colleagues had
spent considerable time In Olympia
for which II will be found they pre-
scented bills 20 the city. Whether
the act was good or bad Is In nc
way an issue here.
Mr.. Erickson also complains oi
my non-membership In his Referen
DUN club.
Outside ~ the question OF wheth
err | might think the. purposes oil
that club were commendable, have
always felt that the people OF this
city, having elected me mayor at q
very substantial salary. was mayor
OF all the people OF the city. and
that | had no right TO Join organiza
lions which might be deemed out
side Of my duties as business head
OF what should be large business
conducted as non-partisan, non
political, unaelfish organization. M
| have consistently tried to make II
during the past two years.
Job Requires All His Time
I have put In eight hours at this
city hall where Mr.. Erickson has