The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1918-07-08
TRACTION co. TANGLE
GOES TO CITY COUNCIL.
HANSON LETTER
TO A.W. LEONARD

| Declaring that tho traction com
pany should pay employees n scale
equal to that paid by tho city q
muny car employees. and offcrine
concessions by the city In order that
service may be improved to meet
war time needs. Mayor Hanson sent
the following communication 70
President Leonard OF tho traction
company Saturday,
| IL Is absolutely essential that the
city and traction company and the
employees of the traction company
set together and come to some
agreement In order that the people
OF Seattle may secure efficient
service on the street cars IL IL alb
solutely essential that tho men and
women who work for living should
ride to and from their work with
safety. speed and comfort The pres,
ent service Is such that war workers
arc delayed in an aggregate OF thou
sands OF hours each day by being
unable to secure adequate transpor'
tatlon.
Must Cooperate
We all know that these are the
conditions. therefore in view OF the
fact of our country being At war.
and II being impossible under pres.
ent war conditions for the city OF Sc
attic TO purchase. by condemnation
or otherwise. your street car syr
| tern. which ~ course we must even
tusliy do. we must cooperate In Sc
curing in every manner possible a
settlement OF our difficulties and an
Improvement OF traffic conditions.
Tho city's rights. OF course, aS wen
as your company's. were definitely
established In our franchise contract
with your company; but We feel that
wherever the city of Seattle can dur.
I ing this period Of war. assist your
company in improving its service by
allowing you TO Us. your capital for
that extremely essential necessity.
we should waive temporarily some
OF the terms OF that contract. Il be.
ing Understood. however. that In all
negotiations or settlements 10 be
rVdc between your company and
tho city OF Seattle. u IL but a TEN.
porary affair for tho period Of tho
war only. without any waiver OF any
right whatever on the part 81 the
city or on tho part OF tho company
We therefore make you tho follow.
ing proposition. subject TO ratifica
ton by the city council by ordinance.
skip Stops
The city % Seattle will inauEurate
a system OF skip stops satisfactory
10 your Mr.. Richardson. head OF
your transportation department.. and
20 our superintendent - public utiii
ties. Mr.. MurphIn.. Mr. Murphine
informs US that this win greatly IA
ciiitaie the movement OF cars and
will enable you 20 make your trips
In shorter time and will save your
company. In his Judgment abou,
500. 900 n year.
Remove Autos
The city OF Seattle will not allow
motor cars TO be parked on First.
second. Third or Fourth avenues or
on Pix. or Pine streets In the busy
districts. This will enable the traffic
on these streets to move much fast.
er. and expert traffic men inform us
that IL will save your company
time, which. II measured In dollars
and cents. would mean between SIs.-
600 and 500 900 annually.
The city OF Seattle will allow your
company common user rights OF our
new 18th ave. y. W. bridge into Bal.
lard I'm exchange on a fair basis for
common user rights on First. Second
or Third ave. which may be needed
BY our municipal line In serving the
shipyard workers. ANY other com.
mon USER rights which may Be nee
exsary TO service by either your.
selves or ourselves must be agreed
on by both parties in order that eff
cheney in transportation may come
about in this city.
Transfer
We viii agree to adopt n system
OF universal transfers on all lines
with your company on n fifty fifty
basis.
Idle Cars.
We will agree that II any idle car