The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1920-05-28
Mayor Caldwell Brands His
Statement as "UnquaIi-
fiedIy FaIse"on Car Deal

The mort and ugly word was
applied Friday TO Ole Hanson ~
Mayor Hugh NJ. Caldwell, wihe
branded the former Mayors stnte-
inent that he had consulted
Caldwell on the traction deal -
"uDqualificdly false"
Some people think that Ole wns
brought back 10 hamper and dslAy
my investigation into the street car
deal Caldwell declared. '-Ols has
started his smoke screen By attempt-
ing controversy over our work In
Washington. d. C., on the gkagit
river. project
The mayor announced ssaf sbe in
vestigation into the street car deal
would not be abandoned because Of
the efforts of Hanson-or anyone
else-to discredit II"
Caldwell characterissd Hanson's
statement that he had dtaappeared u
Washington af the time the 6lkngit
river bond project was baeure the
congressional COMMITTEES ~ . 49,
tardiy attempt II charactsr asnnan1-
nation
IF Ole wants 10 comment on Anys
ones disappcarancc.- the mayor eon-
tinued. he might ten where he W1a
vhsa Councflman r. H 1hsmnDo
and remained In Waahingtou, vork,
Ing on data for the gUvsrnuant
Hanson left the washington lu1tel.
where we were staying. and ssveral
days later reAppeAred It the fashjon-
able Willard hotel He later toad me
OF the sumptuous quarters being
maintained by the Stone-Wehss1R
people at the willard"
LAUGHS AT IDEA THAT
NE WAS CONSULTED
The statement that he was consult
ed by Hanson on the purchase OF the
street car system was laughed at by
the mayor.
Our relations were such that Ole
went up and told the editor Of q
morning paper that he was going TO
remove me as corporation counsel.
He was advised not to start anything
he couldn't finish"
Caldwell said that the matter Of
purchasing the street car system was
not brought to his attention until
shortly before he resigned as head
Of the city legal department on Sep
tember 6. 1918. He Indicated that the
discussions up 10 the first part of
September were all to the effect that
the city should lease the railway from
the Stone-wcbster interests.
"As attorney for the city. / had no
say as to the policy to be pursued"
he pointed out I'm the preceding
February / rendered an opinion in
which ! asked the city council to APP
propriate money for a valuation of
the Puget Sound Traction company's
properties. in order that We could
meet their contention that certain of
their franchise obligations should be
rescinded by the city.
I'm this communication I scoffed
at the idea OF the Stone-Webster peo-
pie that their property was worth
SIS. 900. o0O."
EFFORTS HAD BEEN
TO OBTAIN LEASE
Caldwell went thru the official
files Friday to prove that the ques-
ton of buying the lines had been lit
tie mooted before the offer was actu-
ally made by the city. Letters sent
by shipping board representatives to
the mayor and city council on the
last three days Of August. 1918. were
produced to show that all effort
made at that time to obtain relief
from intolcrable traction conditions
were based upon the idea OF leasing
the lines from the private corpora.
ton.
In answer TO statements made this
morning by ole Hanson, Mayor Cald-
well declared that the statements
were as accurate as Ole's usual ut
terances.'
Engaging in controversy with Ole
Hanson" he said, lis like getting in