The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1922-01-31
LETTERS
to the
EDITOR
Erickson Answers
Carroll
Editor Tho star

NdffOu
Editor Tho star:
A week awo SUNDAY. Councilman
]. y. Carroll opened newspaper
campaign against the three cent car
fare initiative ordinance. His closing
paragraph implies that l am promot.
ina a plan 60 confiscate homes and
drive industries from seattle. That.
along with other points he has raised
impels me 70 take up the gauntlet he
has thrown down.
came to Seattle more than 20
years ago. built a home. and stili own
Il and live In Il. l organized man
ufacturtng business. gave ten OF the
hest years Of my life TO its develop
ment. and sim retain my interest
therein. For what purpose does
Councilman Carroll assume that I
would have my home confiscatcd and
business dcStroyedf During my ae-
tivity In business the Manufacturers
association honored me with office
and promotion from secretary TO vice
president and then president. Does
IL seem reasonable that the manufac
turcrs Of Seattle should have intrust.
cd these positions 20 one ignorant
OF or indifferent to their welfaref
With 20 years OF experience In
manufacturing. know something
about the extent TO which taxes en-
ter the cost OF production. have
learned that office seekers and land
spectators howl more about tho
taxes Of manufacturers and working.
men than the manufacturers or
workingmen themselves,
citation. saw Industries come into
this city that were bled white by
these land spectators. who are con-
stantiy sobbing about high taxes drfv-
Ing out industry. I have seen offic.
seekers on the stump weeping for
manufacturers. And have seen
them In action In tho city council
after their election.
For several years I have worked
~ chairman Of the utilities commit
tee to get car line to the manufac-
turers on the Duwnmish waterway.
One Of the councilmen much con.
cerned about manufacturers taxes
Joined hands with a railroad corpor-
alton to block the building OF this
line. and Councilman Carroll sun
ported him until the manufacturers
were forced to come 20 the city hall
In body and protest.
have worked and voted TO get an
cffpeak electric power rate for the
manufacturers OF the sixy. which the
Thomson ordinance nnk away from
them We have had letters from the
superintendent OF lighting and petit.
tons galore 10 give the rnanufactur.
ers this off-peak rate. The increased
power rate OF the Thomson ordinance
ruined one industry and drove others
TO taks business away from the Hight
plant. I pushed 70 q vote an ors'f.
nance restoring fs-p>ak rates. and :,
wss defeated And Councilman Car.
roll helped TO give the manufacturers
this slap on the nose.
We have q city department that
has no useful function since the pub
lie service commission vas created.
TIA street railway 10 the largest de-
partment In the city, collecting and
distributing over 5000, 900 q year.
and II has no charter provision for its
management Last year tried 10
have the useless department abol.
ished and transportation depart
ment created. thereby saving manu-.
sacfurers and home owners $4,000 or
$4,000 year In tax-s. Councilman
Carroll succeeded In having my reso-
luton defeated Before following his
leadership az a tax.saver. rnanufac.
turers and owners should stop, look
and listen.-
Manufactures have as much 10
gain by low car fares and good scrv.
Ice as anyone. High car fares or
poor service means a high turnover
In the working force OF a factory.
And that turnover alone may be
more expensive In a factory than the
added taxes under our three-cenf far,
plan. The manufacturers OF the Du.
vanish waterway expounded that
principle to my committee last week.
What manufacturers and home
owners should consider IL that they
are now paying $4,000. 900 a year for
transportation. That two-thirds of
all the lots and lands In the city are
vacant and contribute nothing 20 this
vast sum. That under the three
cont fare ordinance these vacant lots
and lands must bear a portion OF this
transportation tax of six millions
and 20 that extent tighten the burden
Of industry and labor.
Councilman Carroll argues that
more car lines and more travel on
the cars spells more cost and catarn.
ify. III that Is true. the reverse
should bring less cost and prosper.
ify. Assuming that Is good logic, our
or service should be stopped and
six million dollars a year saved. Can
any home owner believe as Council.
man Carroll does. that paying $40
additional taxes and saving $50 on
car fare, Is going to confiscate his
home?
Manufacturer and home owners
should borrow no trouble about the
hobgobling Of no fares. whether de.
sirabIe or not. IL cannot be consid.
cred until the bonded debt IL paid.
.Outstanding bonds run for rs years.
and at the end OF that time there
may be nothing left Of our trolley
lines except the last payment TO
Stone a. Webster. Anyway. 10 years
u long enough TO discuss fully tho
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