The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-02-11
20.
A 'Caldicell Opinion.
Suggestions for City.
An ActiUe Counsel.
No Shrinking Violet.

A FEW DAYS AGO The Star had
"A occasion 10 remark that Mayor
Hugh NJ. Caldwell Is no shrinking
violet who Is too tlmld 10 let himself
be heard
The star made this statement In
connection with caidwelrs uncriticai
attitude towards the $4,000. 900 rail-
way deal at the time tho proposition
was put forth Caldwell was then
corporation counsel OF Seattle and
was member Of the conference that
dealt with the railway problem in
1918 and at which the si5.ooo.ooo Of
fer was made by the city.
Caldwell was not there merely as
a spectator. lie WAS there because
he had been active In such matters,
because he was the city's legal ad.
wiser. and because he was reputed
not 20 be afraid Of raising hts voice.
II need be. on matters of policy.
DIDN'T SHUT HIMSELF
Up IN HIS OFFICE
Caldwell was not the kind OF cor
poratlon counsel who shut himself up
In his office and said he was a lawyer
and would be glad TO render legal
opinions. and do nothing else. He
was far more energetic than that.
Thus IL is that on June IS. 1918.
more than two months before the
final railway conference. we find an
article In n Seattle paper entitled;
Suggests Plan 10 End Traction
Troubles Corporation Counsel Hugh
NJ. Caldwell Outlines Steps Toward
Peace With Company"
IL seerns that Caldwell volunteered
. lot Of advice TO the then mayor and
city council In a letter which follows
.-on Aprff %. 1919. the Puget Sound
Traction. Light a Power Co addressed a
letter 60 the mayor and the city council
calling attention 70 fhr fart that thn
<entenfion % tn municipalities that the
yuhite service ccznrissior had no suthort-
" to set aside the various frMnchlsr obH-
gaxtocs Of the street railway companies
had b<~n upheld by tre supreme court
and that any relief obtained hT the eona-
psny At this time must b from the lssis-
istive body Of the city.
sUesEsTsoNs FOR
ENDING LITIGATION
IN view Of ihe fact ths. ~. body has
b<sn. and n sow. handling avast amoun,
VI litigation hctwesn the company aad
eve city. alt % which was reviewed IN q
REORGANIZATION addressed 20 the chair
man cS the Judiciary and frareass~ eotn /.
Nay ~. 1914. I deem Il not improper for
me 10 make the foilo-s1x suggestions as
affsrdfrx 9 means % terminating said
H'fwasssn and as srrpismsntsl 10 my
said letter or May ~.
There can s. no question hu. thai.
the t-action company has purrusd a
shorts ghtef policy In dealing With the
city. especially In following far afi~id
without tangible results. the ingenious
but legal untenahIe course mapped cut
hy It's rssourc~fui counsel Neither can
n be Questioned tsst the company In
seeking 20 secure a mofifira ton cf It's
franchise obligations hiss shown an TN
willingness 70 give anything 70 the pub
lie IN return for valuable concessions
phieh ~ has sought and 10 nov seeking
w hills various public officials are
6oubtlens Justified under existing provo
cation IN expressing their personal opn-
sfon Of the traction company and Its Of
ficiaIss Il 10 doubtful whether the city
government. representing the public. IL
testified In permitting the depiorsble
transportation situation TO continue with
out AZ least NgxHestirg constructive 80
fufIon which. while granting relief to tbs
pany for transportation, will. nt the sans
time. safeguard the interests Of this pub
lie In other respects.
fEdiforfs Netes-Thus u may he
se~n that Caldwell did not shrink
from voieing his opinions and offer
Ing sarr~~tious on general matters Of
city policy. The fact that he later
eat In the conference at which the
city offeved sf5.0oo.e0e for the rail
ways, and that he uttered not . syi-
Iaffe In criticism Of the deal that
important occasion. s highly sixnifi-
can't
'Tn Its communication Of April 20 1915.
h~reinhefore referred 20. ths company
states that u recognizes It's responsibility
and will e-ideavor 20 meet ~. Its letter
concludes with the statement that ~
viii vsioou1s amy suggestion from you az
to q practical plan OF solving this prob
lem which fz vital 70 the community. the
sompsny. and the nation
TOREsEEs PRACTICAL
AND LEGAL OBSTACLES
''From my familiarity with the legal
questions now Involved. can foreaee
certain practical and legal obstacles
Nfifh rftI arfaa ffnlana An atfUaffUouf