, 1874-07-23
2uget Sound 9ispatth.
Moral Reform and Public Econ
Orny,

Moral Reform and Public Econ
omy.
There never was a time or place when
and where the necessity of free, inde-
pendent and outspoken public journal
was more manifest, than here and now,
when the effort is being made to muzzle
the press and reduce it to subordination
to personal or party--dstetidA sythe
power of money and personal lnfr-
ence.
Two years ago, when we opened our
columns to the vindication of public
decency and morality. by assailing the
strongholds of vice which had grown to
wealth and power by public liberation
during the early organization and un-
settled condition of society, the people
were astonished at our temerity: many
who applauded the courage. doubted
the discretion of the act, and feared to
openly identify themselves with meas
ure which they believed would provoke
retaliation. The chief object of our as
sault was what was notoriously known
all over the Sound as the "Mad House,"
a place devoted to RIGHTEOUSNESS. and
then one of the most prosperous and
profitable business houses this city
The proprietor of this infamous den of
prostitution was by education and natu-
raj instincts far above such difreputa-
BILE business; his personal department
was unexceptionable. his Integrity in all
business transactions outside of his vo-
cation unimpeachable. and his public
spirit and private generosity were pro-
verbal; he had acquired considerable
wealth which he contributed literally to
all public enterprises and associated
him with business men of reputable
character, and united with his personal
qualities, had given him standing and
influence which blinded many to the
nefarious character of his business, and
while all decent persons regarded his
house as the greatest curse and public
nuisance. and greatly deplored its exist
ence, none had before dared to declare
open and exterminating war against it.
From the day we opened war upon that
house its fortunes waned, though the
columns of our cotemporary were OPEN
ed to its defence, and many o. our busi-
ness men, who had become tolerant of
vice by association. deprecated our as
saults as tending to no practical good.
and only calculated to drive business
and money away from the place; while
the radical reformers wanted to seize
the opportunity of forming local party
on that issue and place all who were en-
gagged in the lawful business of selling
liquor in the same category. We lis
tened to the counsels of neither, and,
of course. lost the sympathy of both.
But the work went on without the aid
of either. Public sentiment was arous-
ed to the enormity of the business and
its fate was sealed. The proprietor,
having become nearly bankrupt, finally
offered compromise by which be offer
ed to abandon his unlawful and disrep-
utable business upon the condition that
the county would purchase two of his
unoccupied lots for $4,000. Though
this was double the value of the lots, it
was tacitly assented to by the people for
the sake of getting rid of public nui-
sance by anicable arrangement. Thus
far, there was no demonstration of pub
lie opposition or complaint. The peo-
pie Of the county were only to be taxed
a thousand dollars or SO for suppressing
q public nuisance in the city of Seattle
which could have been removed at any
time by the enforcement of the laws.
But it now appears that that was not all
of it. Mr.. A. Macintosh, professional
land grabber, appointed by the County
Commissioners to procure suitable To-
cation for the county buildings. entered
into conspiracy with the proprietor Of
the "Mad House" to defraud the coun-
ty, by the sale to him of the county
farm. worth not less than $4,000, for
81 900, in part payment for said lots.
For this service, Macintosh, while act
ing as agent and attorney of the county,
was to receive one half of the said farm.
We are authorized by Mr.. 81. L. Yesler
to say, that he has offered and is yet
prepared to execute q deed Of block go,
gratuitously, for county buildings; or
he will sell to the county two lots on
block 80, for 81 900, and take the coun-
ty farm at $4,000, paying the county
the balance of $1,000 in gold coin.-
These lots are situated on Mill street,
within three blocks of the Occidental
Hotel, and in every respect more Gen.
trally and eligibly situated than those
purchased at the instance of Macintosh.
The difference to the county in favor of
this location would be $4,000 in gold
coin. This amount is added to the bur-
dens of the people of the county and is
taken directly from the pockets of the
tax payers. Now Mr.. Macintosh makes
himself conspicuous as reformer, in
Weighs against high taxes and misappro
pristion of public funds. and tells the
carrier of the DISPATCH not to leave that
"rag" at his Office any more; while
true to his instincts, he steals from 9th
srs the news for which we pay, not for
our own advantage, but for the benefit
Of this community. He finds in our
contemporary a paper after his own