The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-12-17
TACOMA'S WATER JOB.
The Important Part Played BY
Harris A. Corell.
RELATED BY HIS OWN LIPS.
He Was President of the City Council
and Attorney for Wright.
The City Got the Water Plant, Wright
Got 81, 100000 and Corell Got
si,5oo for His Services-Pierce
County Finances to Be Investigated.

Tacoma, Dec. -Special.-Harris A
Core1l. ex~pFesident of the city council
and member of the firm at Parsons, Co
FELL q Parsons, of counsel for the Tacoma
Light and Water Company and &. Il.
Wright, was placed on the witness stand
TINS moruin. IN the 81 l.Oco.es0 damage suit
The takIns OF Alr. Corelrs evidence con-
sumea almost the enSiIe day. and Was the
most import. at yet offered by the city.
The most salient portion of Mr.. CorelEs
testimony was the statcmt Mt that after
the sale the firm had suggested IL letter
to Dir. Wright that I per cent. Of the sale
price was about what they had earned in
the way Of fees for legal services render
ed. This amounted TO sl7,J0, but the bill
was afterward scaled down by Mr..
Wright and at the end OF a year and
half after the sale the firm received about
sl5.oaa. Mr. CoreI said mat by his ar
Fangement. q a partner in the lrm, re re-
co.ved 80 per cent. or about S4,5o0, his
share OF the fee. Mr.. Corell acknowledged
that he was a member OF the Arm OF FAR
sons. Coreil & Parsons when elected 10
the council, and had remained suea part
ner ever since. Witness said he thought
10 was about a week or perhaps a little
mere after the Introduction Of the FIRST, or
Murray. ordinance that his partner. Judge
Parsons. was retained as the attorney OF
the light and water company. His vote IN
the council up 10 that time on all motions
and resolutions of the council had been IN
favor OF the Afashell system. lie was then
handed a report signed by himself and
Mayor Huson as the advisory committee
To the fire and water committee. strongly
In favor OF the purchase OF the company
plant. written about January u, lSS.
Part Of the report, he said. was prepared
by Afr. Euson. the balance consisted OF
clipping from the Ledger, being letter
written to that paper day or two previ-
). 10 hon EFFE liant
OF the city council. AT the meeting of the
council on the above date witness said he
moved resolution that the proposition 10
pay SI.S50.oo0 for the plant should be ac-
cepted and submitted TO the people for ra-
tidcation.
Witness said he had voted against res
olution by Grattan in the council, making
the price TO be paid 81 .250,000. lie was a
member Of the advisory committee OF the
council, Of which Mayor Huson and toun-
Gilman Steinbach were the other members.
This committee was empowered 10 carry
on negotiations with the company look
ing 10 the purchase Mr. Corcn said he
had never visited the sources of supply
proposed to be sold. but had relied For in
formation about them on Engineer Her
ing's report.
AT the afternoon session Mr. Corell tes-
titled that on the morning after he learned
OF the $4,000 reduction made by Mr..
light and water company. the advisahiliiy
OF sending a committee to Philadelphia
to secure a further reduction. If possible.
and on the same day sent a notice 10 the
councilmen calling a special meeting with
that object in view, and a similar letter,
or nearly So was sent by Mr. Hosmer TO
the council and offering, on behalf Of the
company. 10 pay such a committees ex-
penses - the meeting OF the council, he
said he appointed Mr.. Berry and Mr.. Sny-
der, and Nr Snyder appointed him rs the
chairman of the committee. This commit
tee went 10 Philadelphia and secured an
other concession of $j00o0 making the
cOmpany's price $l,svo,W0 at whlch nSuIe
the plants were purchased
Replviug to questions by City Attorney
Wickersham. witness said he based his
opinion on the value Of what the company
offered 20 sell on the report Of the sub
COMMITTEES OF the fire and water commit
tee This was S.513,00o Judge Wicker
sham then read from the report OF EnSi-
neer Herring. who valued the plants al
ssS4 600. inclusive Of Improvements and
new conduit. but exclusive Of the fran
chises The new conduit was to cost $Ia,-
coo Witness did not know how the sub
committee arrived at its valuations, or hy
what process they bad prepared their
cooked up report as Witness snyder
had testified.
Question bv Wlckersham pid you take
quite an interest in the election7
Witness think not.
Wickersha ham-Didn't you 90 around and
ask people TO vote for the ordnance
Witness-I do not remember. I don't
Think 50. though.
Wirkershau Weren't Won most Of elec-
ton cay III the $iuth precinct n the Third
ward, az fhe polis2
Wtncss-%o. sir.
Wickersham- Didn't you work very IN
dustr.ousig for the proposition TO carryP
Witness-No. sir. ! favored the pur-
chase. auI Thought a. the hest thing the
CITY could do 7 think that way get.
Mr.. Coreu said he did not 10 any work
for The light and water company TIL the
second seymour s,;i. IN May 1895 He went
out of office April L. The city introduced
in evidence the brief in the ease of re
pamphlet. ana signed hy City Attorney
Murray and Judge Parsons.
when Juf-e Wlrkershau questioned the
witness rs 20 the fee received from Mr..
Wright. +he aefeuse objected. and the Jury
was excused while Che matter WIS argued
The -oa-t overrulel me ohiectjon and
Hf- C1~eu sai5 they ha1 received about
s. o0 - which hN got 81 f-1a No iter13zed
h.v hsa naen rendered to tho company.
and tbe ravruert was for 8li services Nr.
ra~.I zata positively 'ha. n0 charge what
ever was made f1r J3dEe Pa~sC0s' advice
f0 preparing she ordinance. which was
done while witness was president of the
council.
Tae balance Of the session vas con
sunf8 Iu reading ths spor5rn-e he-
tween the company and The council com
mittteS.