The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-04-09
wBUYOR NOT BUY
That ID the Question Of the
Hour in Tacoma
4 SETTING OF THUMB scREvss.
r Yerse Aavesssy u tAs RaSshsse ~
WISER Rlaat--Cel. 0stgGs 11GA4.
lne the scheme d 1a1noeG

WoesP Fiaat-Cel. 0Rtggs right.
Ing ne Scheme h 8asnsse.
TAconA, April A-Ispscial. AT the
Peoples party meeting tonight Jacob
Ralph staaed that one man had been prom
jsed position with the water company
and SIS 900 II b secured 100 votes favoring
the purchase Of the Tacoma Light and
Water Compsny's plant by the city. OF
these ifs5. he said. had been secured. This
did not create - much Of oensation -
might Be expected, because the rumoFs OF
bribery and free use Of money hsd been
banded about for three days. Others at
the same meeting told OF attempted
bribery. One said he had been offered
position il he would work to unload the
water plant. Another said that North
ern Pacific railroad employs told him
there vas money and . position In II An
other said friend had rome 70 work for
the water company at 3 day with the
understanding that IL the company carried
the election he would receive SIS Per day.
Names were given in most instances.
A. r. TitIow says Superintendent Hur-
ley. OF the company. stated tonight that
the company would spend 500. 900 before
the polls close on Tuesday. At the Edison
meeting later, TItiow challenged Hurley
for . joint debate With the water COM
pany's ablest speaker ct Germania hall on
Monday night for an open discussion OF
the water question. Hurley declined.
Hurley read the company's statement
showing that the company's net earnings
were Sl26, 600 annually. So far, wherever
open arguments tor and against the prop
osition have boon made, the taxpayers
show disposition to conclude that the
price asked for the water works 10 out
fageously high. The water company now
city does not buy. II il also stated that
work on the new hotel will be suspended
II the water company does not carry the
election. it, argument 10 considered
s'blufI"
At the Fourth ward meeting tonight
Vice President Tyler. Of the water COM
pany, stated that good way to estimate
the value Of the watsr-works was by the
fact that . party Of bond-buysTs stood
ready 10 pay 8, 000. 600 for it.
]. A. Shackisford in replying said. face
tiously: "If that IL 20 let tie city realize
425O. 900 By taking the works at 81, $50. 900.
the price asked. and sell il for s.. 00O. co.,"
He did not believe the company would try
% hard ~ this to lose $4,000 by selling
out to the city.
At this meeting r. L. Head spoke for
tho water company. He recently intro
duced resolution in the Tillicum Club to
investigate the water company and city
council The resolution was tabled, and
President Malone, Of the club, said Il was
considered . striker" The Ledger to-
night refused to publish the Peoples party
resolution, which had been unanimously
adopted. - follows:
Rsssjvsd. That the Peoples Party Central Club
10 and alvays hes been unalterabiy opposed 70
the Issuing Of the proposed wassr bonds. and
denouness the attsmps % ioece The present
worthless plant upon the people - IN Outrage
which should b and wiz b voted down.
This refusal rilsd the Populists. Tomor.
row secret meetings will b held, notwith-
standing that It 10 Sunday.
Tuesday there will b great struggle In
this city. Il promises 70 b the most de-
perats struggle ever sxpsrisncsd By tax.
payers In any city. Alrsedy the whitehead
point Of intensity In discussi N Of the water
bonding issue has passed, and Sunday will
find the sll-absorbing question In the
gaseous state. - tt were. permeating the
air and the citissns - we'll.
Outsidsrs may b assisted 70 partial
comprehension OF the situation By the
appended sample Of what the business
mans branch Of the water company's
workers arc thinking:
Editor Mess: No matter az such vital tmpor.
tance 10 the neychants 81 Tacoms has come be.
fore the public - the purchase OF the light and
water company's plant. and every merchant
and work himself and zee that his clerks work
for the iurthsrancs Of that object
Pro Bono PupLrca
For the 6rst time In ito career the big
mills Of the st. Paul and Tacoma Lumber
Company will close Tuesday. and Col. G.
w. Griggs, the head OF the firm, will adj
dress the smployes-the frst time he has
ever done such thing in life time. He
opposes the purchase.
Today 5000 circulars and pamphlets
were issued and scattered broadcast the
length and breadth of the city. In its
pamphlet the light aud water company
shows great cieverness and . high degrees
Of literary attainment. Here is the title
page:
Discussion
OF the
LsHI AND WArsa QussrIon
by
A WoKKMAH
sand
OrHRR CIrIasNa
Other circulars and pamphlets were ut
tered by those opposing this purchase
One Of these Is signed in person by Col
Griggs. and concludes thus:
We note with surprise the fierce eagsruess
with which the company 10 pushing aud advo-
eating The sale to the city of plant which they
cay 10 . mine OF rich revenues When man
has good thing he usually holds on. We 10
tlevs We are justified in the suspicion that the
Tacoma Light and Water Company agree with
u.s. first. that u. $4,000 10 about u 600 900 more
than the property offered Is worth Second.
that a. any price above $4,000 IL would b adj
vissble 20 sell. for new water supplies must b
reached at cncs. and the sys,srn renewed and
exienaed at an immediate expense OF from
ttno,ooo 10 100000: aa6 the company has not the
necessary funds and cannot raise them without
saorieces which III members are extremely un.
willing to make Adopted as . meeting of the
executive committee appointed by disinterestsd
citisenA c. W. GEiSSs, Chairman.
j. n CAMPBELL. Secretary.
But the peculiarity Of the situation, as
compared with elections in general. 10 the
intensity OF the factions constituting the
division of opinion. Both have the city's
prosperity - Q basis Of argument. To be-