The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-02-23
MAYOR TO
Blame FOR
CAR MESS
Political Future Depends on
Systems Failure, Former
Mayor Tells League
SAYS OLE HANSON.

Mayor Tells League
-Four things can solve the street
car problem. ole Hanson. former
mayor. told the Municipal League
TucNaay noon. lie did II with plain
ntAfement and sarcasm. ridiculo and
argument. And these are the things
he named:
Il propose first. that not ono single
collar shall hereafter be taken from
the general fund TO carry on any
publlr utility: second. that ono OF tho
hest and most experienced transpor.
tntion experts In the United States
b. obtained by the present city gov.
eminent and told to make good on
the csnr line. third. that the city
street railway department imucdL
ately put into effect the economy OF
ene-msn cars. and fourth. that the
pubuc utilities be removed from
p0iit1cs. With these four things ac'
cepted our troubles are at an end"
HANSON RIDICUI.ES
DEPRECIATION FIGURES
Hanson found his audience. which
had g.lthercd at Blanc's cafe. eager
for his words. lie talked fully an
hour and reviewed the car situation
from every angie.
there is no business man In this
oUmmunity.- he said. who will agree
mai after you have spent si.2oo,ooo
In maintaining tho street car lines
they have deprecated In addition
thereto sss3 900 plus szs6.oco.
the fact Is that money has BEEN
spent and charged to maintenance
which should have been charged to
capital investment. The fact Is. there
has hren waste. The fact is. there
has been incfficiency. The fact Is.
there has been a slowing up OF cars
The fAct is. there has been poorer
service. The fact Is. everything has
hccn done that could have been done
TO employ as men as possible in the
operating department
SAYS MAYOR INJECTS
POLITICS INTO CAR SITUATION
1T sccms but fair to mo that with
. mayor who says tho city entered
4A40 N Atlk.frcAhAt WIN A+As Htao
proachrs II with a feeling OF antas.
unism and hatred. whose political fu-
turc depends upon tho failure OF the
pubIIr utility. tho street car lines
should be placed m charge Of some
man Who Is competent and able and
Who Win run tho lines free from
politics 10 make them pay. and not
70 mnke them fail.
Il - not charge that tho street
enr Management at tho city hall.
~ fns head OF which Is the mayor
- tn city. has praeticed sabotage.
buf want TO call your attention
% Tn fact that amounts have been
owpeuded for maintenance alone that
80 double the expenditure for main
finance in other cities. and more
Uhan sufficient to cover depreciation
md maintenance. according to bond.
ING companies handling securities Of
Dab,is utilisiep--
Hs11pn launched into . vehement
oFgxlment against persons who claim
~ cfty made e contract. unfair to
ttsefE with the Puget Sound Light
= Power Co. He declared that tho
ongt ~ producing the current. n
mnds IT the city light plant. ls nearly
t1Tfce IS much as the contract price.
and added that on this item the
city hss saved In one year sses.4ss.
payfsg Sss7.2is for a thing that cost
.0.11k.7f2 to produce.
Making point Of inefficient man
nGement Of the lines he said: I'VE
took IN. in 1890. $3.50. 900 moro than
- 1913. ran In the last nine months
$4,000 car miles less than In 1919.
md expended 100000 moro money.
~ spfte OF the fact that the reciuc-
Hon h car miles should have saved
Sver $500 900.
~Ffom the fact that s.3s. 900 was
charged off for obsoIescence. in ad-
aifioo 20 heavy charge for de-
precta1ion, in my Judgment. the
street car lines OF the city Of Sc
attic can be operated. maintained
and oil interest charges paid on
approximately $4,000 per day.
This. leaves $4,000 plus per day
for TIE retirement OF the bonds as
they fall due. II In my belief that
with the Inauguration OF one-man
cars on 30 per cent OF tho lines
Ne win gain another $4,000 This
viii, OF course. shorten and reduce
tho payroll and not only reduce the
OBLIGATION faster but, In time. re-
duce tho fare to the car rider"
In the course OF his address Han
rson made two offers He promised
to pay $1,000 year for five years
toward the salary OF an expert
manager Of the lines. II the city
said It needed II and he offered to
debate the question OF the car lines
with Mayor Hugh NJ. Caldwell any
evening at the armory.
In connection with the latter pro
posal he said he wanted the mayors
eecrctary TO act as chairman Of
the meeting and to have charge OF
the distribution OF the tickets 80
that none OF his G5anson's) friends
might be present-'if," he FASTENED