The Great Seattle Streetcar Standoff

A deadlock exists over the proposed blanket franchise. Jacob Furth received a telegram from the franchise promoters in Boston to the effect that the stockholders cannot accept the street railway franchise as proposed by the City of Seattle. The project for a consolidated street railway franchise has been pending for three months. Representatives of the street railway syndicate brought forward a draft for a 50-year franchise, but the council committee modified it materially. Among the critical changes made were two of special importance, introduced by Councilman McMullen. The first regulated fares and provided that six tickets should be sold for 25 cents. The second provided for a minimum employee wage of no less than 12 cents per hour. Councilman Jones, chairman of the special committee, stated: 'The matter at present is deadlocked. The representatives of the consolidated company do not agree with the Council on the questions of employees, and fares.' If no decision is reached by the end of the month, the matter will probably go over until after the Council's summer break.