The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1918-08-30

presenting Its ultimatum yesterday
afternoon "a the traction company
Letter To Traction Company
We have received your counter
proposal % yesterday asking the city
to authorize the collection of
straight scent fare for a continuous
ride and an additional charge Of l
cent for all transfers issued. TO pro
hibit the operation Of lItncys over
the streets occupied by the company.
10 waive all paving and other con
s,ruction requirements. 20 relieve
from further payment OF gross earn
ingH tax. amounting TO about $4,000
annually: to grant tho free us. Of
bridges. and 20 relieve from various
other franchise requirements. and TO
cooperate with the company In sc
curing such further increase In fares
or other relief. II such further help
Is necessary: TO guarantee To the
company net earnings. after pay
rnent Of taxes. IA that averaged
over five years ending December 81.
1917. plus interest. depreciation and
insurance on new property added
since said date. plus an amount nee
eAsary to mako the cost TO tho street
railway system / cent per X. w. III.
for all power used in the operation
Of the system. In return for these
various concessions. under which the
city would virtually guarantee n
greater return TO the company than
that which IL has heretofore received.
the company merely offers. by i'm.
pilcation. to pay higher wages and
render better service and to under.
take the negotiation for the sale OF
the line To the city on terms which
might, or might not. be agreed upon.
Decline Proposal
The city hereby declines your
counter proposal and reiterates It's
offer OF tho Goth inst to lease the
company's lines for the period Of the
war and six months thereafter. and
10 provide In said lease "A guarantee
that the company will receive the av.
erage net earnings made by 1, during
the years 1913 To 1917. inclusive. ON
It's street railway system. to pay the
company the amount which 10 has
charged itself for power used in the
operation of Its lines and 10 provide
for returning the property to the
company in as good condition as when
the same IL taken over by the city.
ordinary wear and tear thereof ex.
cepted. The company's interest as
TO maintenance and depreciation In a
fair manner will be safcguarded In
the lease. The wages which you pro.
80. In 90
tative agreement between the com.
pany and it's employees will be paid
by the city.
Service Wanted
Your general counsel has openly.
In conference with the city,
taken the position that the company
cannot legally charge more than a 3.
cent fare. and that the city Is power.
less to authorize an increase of this
rate. condition arising by virtue
OF the public service commission
law. which. admittedly, was fostered
and is still defended by the public
utility companies, including your
own. II your counsel takes this
view. It has occurred to the city
that the legal complications result.
ing from the plan suggested by you
should be avoided by your leasing
the line for operation by the city
Of Seattle. which latter can charge
whatever rates are necessary TO fur.
nish tho people transportation at
cost plus the average return which
the city has indicated It's willingness
to guarantee to you. No legal objec.
ton can be raised 20 the municipal.
ity charging n rate adequate for
the aforesaid purpose.
our only interest In to secure
adequate transportation service for
the people Of Seattle. which your
company is admittedly not furnish.
ing. and to obtain fair working con.
ditions for the company's employees.
We are absolutely convinced that
the only way to solve the present
difficulties is for the city TO lease
your properties and the properties
OF the Seattle and Rainier valley
lines and consolidate the same into
one unified transportation system In
conjunction with the city lines. This
Is course which the federal gov.