The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-11-21

cccded 60 develop a municipal street
railway system. would anyone have
suggested hurdenlng the public en-.
trrpfise with local Improvement
costs or appropriating any percent
axe OF portion % street railway
earnings for other city nurposeaf II
Ia certain that the wise. just and
safe public policy applied 10 the city
water system and city lighting and
power system, would have been APP
piled without question TO tho munich
pal railway system, Surely the fact
that we have waited twenty years
and finally applied municipal salv'
age 20 a sinking private franchise
concern assuming capitai debt
obligation at ieaft 90 per cent more
than would have accumulated under
municipal development Of a similar
plant constitutes no reason for
continuing the overload and inviting
disaster
1T r. matter OF notorious mem
CRY that the private franchise con.
Germ had for several years preceding
city purchase successfully postponed.
iitixated. cvadrd and otherwise failed
Go carry out It's contract obligations
with reference TO paving and other
franchise requirements. Miles Of de-
caying plank.ng and plain earth sur
face grown with weeds between the
ties. along tho central sections OF
otherwise paved streets. testify thru.
out the city TO this successful delin-
auoncy--the only excuse offered was
tho plea that earnings OF the system
werr insufficient 90 meet these and
other obligations. Why should thu
city OF Seattle. with larger burdens
of operating expense and cost Of
ampier upksep. with heavier fixed
charges for debt obligations. irnpoa-
ing upon the earning capacity Of the
System loaA greater than tho pri'
vate corporation ever carried-why
should the city attempt 10 pcnalize
itself by doing that which they wcrc
unable coompcl tho private cor.
poration 90 do. even when bound By
specific contract obligation
Service nj Cost
Clearly the paths of exrcdiency.
necessity and justice unite In a
straight course OF public policy az
applied 10 this great strcst.raiiway
expansion OF our public utility sys.
tenn
Service at cost: no diversion OF
revenues from any public utility for
any purpose not essential 10 It's spe.
ciai needs and obligations. profits
left In tho peoples pockets In tho
form Of the lowest farcs eonsistrn,
with the cost OF furnished adequate
service. proper upkcep and renewal
81 the plant and discharge OF cap
ltai or debt obligations.
Such has been the policy wisely
and successfully applied 10 every
public utility responsibility assumed
by Seattle during tho past quarter
century. II would have been our
municipal railway policy for 20 years
pas, n there had been no franchise
granted In 1900.
AS tho public official charged
with tho special duty OF safeguard
Ing tho public interest In tho reapon'
ability OF admir- lstratlon OF this
great public utility. you have done
well TO sound tho alarm at the frs,
attempt TO divert strcetFailway
earnings from their essential pur.
pose. II IA gratifying tina, tho may
or stands firmly Tor the safe and
sound public policy upon this mat.
ter. am confident that the city
council. upon fun reconsideration OF
the proposition. win sustain the 20
nition you have taken.
III this expression Of opinion win
assist toward the right solution Of
this problem. you are Mt liberty To
use as you may desire"