The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-02-02

"IINDsIGHT," said the wise old man. 'is better than
! foresight
to buy the traction system for s5oooo0 bonds at per
cent interest took place the mayors office Friday
September s. 1918. 1t began at IL a.
Those present A. NJ Taylor of Philadelphia. chair
of the passenger transportation and housing division
Of the United States shipping board emergency fleet cor
Mayor Hanson; S's CORPORAL COUNSEL HUGH NJ CALD-
WELL; Superintendent of City Utilities Thomas F. MUIR
rhine members of the city council A. W. Leonard pres
dent Of the Puget Sound Traction Co.. F. S Pratt chair
man q the board of directors of the Puget Sound Trac
When the proposition finally agreed upon Corpora
tion Counsel Caldwell lost no time in render
zisht to buy the system without calling for vote of the
people This merely indicates Caldwers frame of mind
cALDwEILs ADVICE AGAINST
POPUIAR VOTE NOT TAKEN
Not ny was he uncritica of the deal but volunteered
e legal advice that the thing could be finished up with
81 Consulting the people Caldwels advice in this
spsct was not taken. however. vote of the people
Had Caldwell who sat in the conferences at which the
railway problems being discussed even hinted that
he city being bunkoed it is safe assumption that
he deal would never have gone thru
Caldwell is not the shrinking violet who is too tmid 20
II himself be heard That he did not protest the deal
ihen, when he intimately involved in its preim-
Inries, is significant
srcve mentioned one newspaper gave Caldwes opinion
under the caption: "Cty Has Legal Right to Buy Cars
Article IN WHICH CALDWELL
GAVE OPINION ON PURCHASE In 1918
/ The article follows:
& aRetnng Corporation Counsel Hugh NJ. Caldwell this
Afternoon gave an opinion that the and city council
have the legal right to buy the Puget Sound Traction Light
~ Power companys street railway system without rel
The state lssau ey an s p ly 70 e construct condemn ard
pssh operate Lease % cable electric AN. and
thereof and nz alter regulate
nd control the farssa be charged thereon
pdbc utility make any additions or
thereto extensions % % % ana na' % ns the system plan
proposed and declare the estimated cost shsSa . , ,oc., or
qualified a the city provided however mat where
= she ey % h , 70 ,ns mentioned for which no general
Since ,Se charter OF the city Of seatt in Art w.
March 1912 contains the
utnity Of the
This construction Of the statute and charter upheld
court IN two test cases presented to It in s, by corporation %
n ssi and S' In these cases
specifically authorizes
ey @ coune oz onnee @ zee % ea h v % & % nouer under ,s main
Of the statute 70 provide by ordinance for making king @ addition %
.bs solely from the be derived from the system to pay
ass % a without submitting either proposition to popular vote for
above referred
M Of the the utility without submitting the
1T has
5pa when due as provided IN The bonds There can be little doubt
nat this could be enforced by appropriate act by behalf of
The day. Caldwell was quoted also as saying there
were legal obstacles in the road of the traction system
Purchase
IF holders of the utility bonds found that they were
mot getting their earnings he added they could resort
TO the courts to have the fare raised above five cents
The bondhoders would have thoro protection"
Did Mayor Caldwell know of the $150oo000 proposition?
He did.
Did he approve it at that time? Or did he protest it
Which?