Seattle’s City Council Rejects Public Power in Favor of Private Monopoly

The city council refused last night, by a vote of 4 to 3, to pass a resolution offered by Councilman Hough, calling upon the mayor and the clerk to act in order to prevent the possible solution of the city's water supply.

Councilman Gill spoke in opposition in short hand which he said that he will not bind the city to any such condemnation proposition until the City Engineer had made report upon its advisability. He declared that 'such a thing newspaper howling' would not affect him in the slightest, as it was written unjustified that the present status is in favor of the condemnation for the interest of three old power companies, though that it would be high time to pass such a resolution as the one that has been introduced after the city council had reported that it necessary, but not before.

Councilman James spoke in another strain and declared his opposition to being bound into any scheme that his local did not recommend. Mr. James called attention to the fact that he had been of the commission of citizens of the Associated company when it was trying to sell the river involved in a 'great fur' for water and power from Cedar River, but he is not prepared to bar that company out of the Cedar River now in order to help the latter to secure a monopoly privilege, unless he is convinced that such action was necessary in order to preserve the purity of the water supply. He did not know yet what the article might be and could not vote for the resolution until convinced that it proper and right.

Upon the first and second time called, seven members—Councilmen Hough, Gill, James, Vossland, Taylor and President Ginn—have all referred to the fire and water committee. The council virtually dropped the 'Seattle Water Power Company' by deferring its action. It will be that committee was expected to report upon the larger power from the company on account of its own interest in institutions instituted against the city to prevent the loss of the public river water supply.

These suits having been dismissed in the courts and in contracts let, the councilmen appeared to feel that it not worth while to call such people to further account.