The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-11-17
To Investigate the Great Ia
coma Water Swindle.
CITIZENS SIGNING PETITIONS.
Officials Charged With Criminal Ac-
tion in the Deal.
A Great Enort Reing Made 90 Hush the
Matter up-Evea if the City .was
ssaakoed. the Bseaiers say. Let It
BE Kept 0aies.

TACOMA. Nov. i6.-TSpecial. 1.-The tax
payers have finally realized that the Posr-
isTgLLIGgScER told the whole truth re-
garding the <f.0o0oo water steal, and
have asked that special grand jury be
summoned 10 investigate the frauds perpe-
trated by derelict city officials. Inside Of
few hours the petition was signed BY be-
tween sixty and seventy taxpsyers. al
though IL was the understanding that the
names OF only twenty would be necessary.
City officials are cited as criminal in addi-
ton to being derelict. The petition is as
follows:
.sTo the Honorable Superior Judges of
the County of Pierce--tfenflemea We,
the undersigned. taxpayers and citizens OF
the county OF Pierce, aud the city of Ia-
coma, situated therein. do respectfully
show TO your honorable court that we are.
as such taxpayers and citizens, deeply in-
ierested in the welfare and good name Of
the community In which We reside; that
within the past few months certain pub
lie questions have been before tho people.
and that owing TO our system of govern
ment il has been necessary 10 leave the
adjustment of these questions largely TO
the honesty, uprightness and integrity OF
our chosen officers: that subsequent facts.
have developed that great frauds have
that some of our public officers have been
parry TO these frauds; that said
public officers are and have been
dereiiet, and, as we believe. criminal IN
the performance OF or failure TO perform
their duty to the public; that there Is
grave fear that further frauds are about TO
be committed, and that in order TO pro-
teet the public interests, IL is, in our opin-
ion, necessary TO have complete and
thorough examination into the public sf-
fairs by a legally authorized body. We,
therefore, respectfully petition your hon.
orabie court TO Immediately summon
grand jury 20 take into consideration such
matters as may be brought to its atsen-
tion."
Just as soon as the manipulators heard
of the petition there was a commotion,
and every effort was made to squelch IL.
All sorts of arguments and harangues
were employed 10 drive it to the wall. In
the first place il was claimed that even
though the city paid so very much and
got so very little. still IL would not do to
Investigates: that the city 10 not In con-
ditton TO warrant il. On the other hand,
taxpayers who could stand OF the inhu-
fiuences of those who have prepared TO
fatten ~ their expense. said: "Amen. Let
the investigation of an intelligent
grand jury go on. The condition Of
the city which others claim does not war
rant it. are just the conditions that do
warrant II. II steals and jobbery are TO be
put an end 10. then there must be investi-
gaticn Granting that the city Is In q
critical condition financially. then the
time is ripe for a general cleaning up, in
order that what is left may be saved from
the hands of the despoiiers."
Ii the influence of those who unloaded
the water plant upon the city. and did not
hesitate at the commission OF criminal acts
alleged in the petition for grand jury. is
not underestimated at this time, there will
now be show down."
As it was, the petition had to be pre-
pared and signed with considerable haste
In order that the despoilers might not
head it off and kill Ii.
Ii the work Of the grand jury. il one Is
secured, does not end with the water works
steal. and its services can be utilized to
fumigate the city offices all along the line,
taxpayers not interested in feathering
their own nests will breathe easier and the
price of city warrants will most assuredly
appreciate in value.