The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-10-02
TACOMA HARBOR LINE
To Be Established in Spite Of
the Northern Pacific.
THE BOARD OF EQUALIZATION.
Gen. o'Brien VIII Not Ecsign-Mysteri-
Gus Death OF . Tacoma Msn-The
Seattle Ship Canal.

OLYMPIA, Oct. 1-fspecfal 1-The members OF
the hnrbor line commission are not pleased with
the course pursued by the Northern Pacific at
torneys IN the Tacoma harbor line matter.
John II. Mitchell, f., who took up the time of
the board on Wednesday arguing question
which his frm had that day taken into the United
States court without notice to the commission,
again appeared before the board today and
spoiogized for the institution of legal proceed-
ings He declared that the suit was brought
without his knowledge and that it would be
withdrawn. The attitude of the commission
with regard TO the matter is described In the
statements made by Colonel Prosser, the chair
man, in an interview with the PosT-IsTKLLr-
GEscxR correspondent today with reference TO
the complications. The colonel said:
Speaking for the entire commission. can say
in regard to the suit begun by the Northern "a
cifc Railroad Company at Tacoma, that this
commission has nothing to demand or request:
That company may act on lie own luagmein,,,
without reference to us In the least we Will
simply go on and perform the duties enJoined
upon us by law without being affected az Ia
coma by bulldozing methods any more tnan we
Disposed 20 make was against MI. Mitch
ell for apparent discourtesy and frifing
i, m,tn taking up ,r SnT ame in behalf Of
his company's position, while at the same time
his partners were instituting the proceedings at
Tacoma We had invited a., . the parties 70 sp
our custom at all points, and we thought that
Mr. Mitchell had not acted in good faith. Mr..
Mitchell, however, came before the commission
this morning and explained that he was not
aware that proceedings were being instituted
at Tacoma at the time he was addressing the
commission, and he apologized for his action
in that way. This was all that he needed
TO have said, but he went on to state
that the suit would be Withdrawn
and the sat. quo ante restored, which was en-.
affected by the "bluff" Of the suit, nor by the
mock magnanimity of its withdrawal The har-
Dor lines will be located at Tacoma. the same as
elsewhere, entirely in accordance with what we
consider 10 be TO the best interests of the state
and the people thereof. If, on carrying out
what the. supreme court has very aptly de-
nominated ga great state policy" we trample
on. the toes of the Northern Pacific
raiioad managers or the managers OF any
other company that seeks to maintain
city in order TO prey upon the industries of the
people, why, 30 be it Mr.. Mitchell may leave
his presen suit as IL is, or dismiss 1t now and
vcnience, without any advice from this COM
mission. No matter where or when II Is begun,
however, we will contest to the end for all the
doubt whatever that the supreme court
of the United States will sustain
our position as fully as the supreme court Of the
Company may create delays and play with the
interests OF the people OF Tacoma, as certain
parties have done with the interests of Seattle,
but they will be beaten In the end.
THUS far no action has been taken regarding
the location OF harbor lines in Tacoma, as the
maps are not yet fully completed.
Regarding the charge made by Chairman
Prosser, Of tho harbor line commission, at
Olympia, today, that J. II. Mitchell, attorney
for the Northern Pacific, had acted in discour-
teous manner in trifiing with the commission in
discussing proposition when, In fact, he had
had an Injunction suit brought in the United
States court at Tacoma. Mr.. Mitchell said to-
night to q Posr-INTELLIGENcER correspondent:
did not make any reference to the injunc-
ton case, because had tclegraphed to Tacoma
TO have IL discontinued. The suit would not
have been brought If the commission had
granted a hearing to the company. Our move
is no bluff, and we are not pursuing a bull
doxing policy. We shall demand and insist
upon on. rights a. granted by our charter. This
calls for 200 feet on each side OF the road, in
Guiding Tacoma water front as far 40 the Ia
coma Mil Company's property.
1t IL said one reason why the Northern Pacific
was 30 anxious about their rights IL the belief
that the harbor commissioners fled a plat of
Fairhaven harbor and then allowed interested
parties hearing. when It was too late to secure
any rghta
TACOMA, Oct 1.-fspecial. 1.-THE case began
yesterday by the Northern Pacific railroad in
the United States circuit court to prevent the
harbor line commission from fling Its plat of
the Tacoma harbor was dismissed today, ar
rangements being made by the commission to
give the company hearing regarding its claim.