. Electric railway journal . ion with the city profited financiallyby tlie transaction. The jury has attemptedto trace certain rumors of corruption whichhave been called to its attention, but inevery instance it has concluded that suchrumors were founded on idle talk by indi-viduals having no knowledge of the facts. On the basis of the evidence submittedand available to the jury, however, it ap-pears that the negotiations leading up tothe purchase were characterized by slackbusiness methods on the part of the Mayorand Council. We find nothing which sub-jects the city law department to criticis
. Electric railway journal . ion with the city profited financiallyby tlie transaction. The jury has attemptedto trace certain rumors of corruption whichhave been called to its attention, but inevery instance it has concluded that suchrumors were founded on idle talk by indi-viduals having no knowledge of the facts. On the basis of the evidence submittedand available to the jury, however, it ap-pears that the negotiations leading up tothe purchase were characterized by slackbusiness methods on the part of the Mayorand Council. We find nothing which sub-jects the city law department to criticismin connection with this transaction. In view of the apparently extortionateprice paid for the properties we feel thatthe public should be advised of the factsindicating how the purchase of the streetrailway system came to be made. The terms of the contract were neveragreed upon or made known until longafter the vote of the people taken on , 1918. This vote was taken without au-thority of law. The final contract was not. NOTHING LEFT FOR PUBLIC, ACCORD-ING TO SEATTLE TIMES executed until long after the war emergency We find that if the city of Seattle com-pletes the purchase of the street car lines,according to the terms of the contract, thatthe people will pay $15,000,000 principaland $8,752,550 in interest, a total of $23,-752,550, and in the same period of timeit will be practically necessary to reproducethe system. In addition to these figures the city willhave lost by reason of the fact that underthe ownership of the Puget Sound Traction,Light & Power Company 2 per cent of thegross receipts were paid to the city, which no longer will be paid, in a period of twentyyears a sum estimated at over $3,750,000,and will have lost in the same period intaxes formerly paid by the. traction com-pany approximately $4,601,280, making inall a total of over $32,103,830. In this connection it should be borne Inmind that by the terms of the contract thecity has bound itself to purchase
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