The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-03-08
Bill DECLARED
VICIOUS III ON

yesterday.
Bill DECLARED
VICIOUS iHOW
The bin was declared 10 he the
most vicious blow ever aimed at local
se,f-goycrnment in the state. II has
passed both houses OF the legislature.
All OF the larger cities OF the state
have fought the bill from Its inccp-
ZION.
seattle alone has over $4,000, ooc
invested IN municipal utilities.
Walter +. Meier. corporation counsel
Of Seattle. declared. ''if this bill he.
comes a law. the city will lose the
right TO control its own business"
Mayor C. NJ. Ridden OF Tacoma
pointed out that the people voted
down a similar measure in 1915.
There has been no apparent
change Of sentiment since that
time" he said. III this bill is signed
by the governor. IL will he In direct
opposition TO the wishes OF the PEG
pie as expressed at the polls"
Whom the gods would destroy.
they FIRST make mad" asserted ]. NJ.
Gcraghty. corporation counsel OF
Spokane. In commenting on the
action OF the legislature in passing
the certificate OF necessity act.
ATTACKS FOLLY OF
ROBBING CITIES
Gerashty attacked the folly OF
taking away from a city the right To
control it's own resources"
A letter was read from Mayor
Caldwell. OF Seattle. in which BE- de.
eiared that IL was impossible for
him to be present at the bearing.
'sInpossiblcg What does he mean
--impoSrible9'' hristled Gov. Fart.
Caldwell declared that the bill
win give the Stone Webster interests
a monopoly OF hydro-electric power
and would prevent the development
here OF Washington's tremendous
hydro-eicctric resources.
He pointed out that the measure
would make Il necessary for a cor
porsstion. whether public or private
"a get the consent OF the director OF
p.fblic works before initiating or ca.
tending a public service corporation.
WOULD SMASH
SkAGIT PROJECT
Philip Tindail. Seattle councilman.
described tho Skagit River power
project which will develop an enor.
nous horsepower when completed
and showed where the director OF
pubic works would BE- empowered to
prevent Seattle from selling this cur.
rent TO Industrial plants at a low
figure.
Robert Evans. assistant corpora
ton counsel Of Seattle. asserted that
the bill would compel cities TO vio-
late the contractual rights OF holders
OF utility bonds. inasmuch as the
director OF puddle works would be
able 10 fix rates on public utilities
which might not enable the cities to
pay the interest and principal on the
sonds.
1T win make I, almost impossible
to sell utility bonds" he said.
That the bill would cost the state
$50. 900 to administer was the state
ment OF J. e. Dennis. city attorney
OF Tacoma
And II viii prevent any city
from developing a light and power
plant Of its own he added.
Dennis declared that many cities
tn the state are now contemplating
the construction OF municipal light
plants for the convenience Of their
citizens.
1T Is an unwarranted interior.
ence with the right OF local self.
government. William Hickman
Moore. Seattle councilman. declared.
summing up the situation. 1T robs
the cities of the right To operate
their own public service plants and
deals a death blow to the further de.
velopment Of hydro-oIectI1c power in
Western Washington
Gov. Hart announced that he
would take the legislation under ad.
yisement.