The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-12-28
RUNNING THEN DOWN
Col Griggs' League Exposing
the Tacoma Piunderers.
Ex-MAYOR husoN's TRIP EAST.
Confession of a Murderer Exculpates
Man Once Accused-A Farmer
Killed by Tree.

Tacoma. Dec. T.-SpeciaL-Aithough the
results Of the Investigations Of the LefoW
cornuattee OF fne Chamber % Commerce
were not all that mad been expected OF
that body, the work % reforming Tacoma
has gone steadily forward. II the hoys
committee did not accomplish what the
public had been lead 10 expect. the Tax
Payers League. OF which Col. c. ".
Criggs IL tne president. IL quietly putting
IN some very hard Hicks a. the ualsfac-
tors in office, and a4ding in strengthening
out the finances Of the city, county ana
school district Incidentally tne league IS
watching the prosecution Ok the late Off
cials who have been arrested as result
of information furnished the prosecuting
attorney BIZ one Of the committees OF the
league.
From small beginnings grow great end
ings. Few people ia this city realize thar
the Tax Payers League has between 10"
and Loo names on its roll books. 80 quiet
ly have the officers and executive com
nittee OF the organization pursued It's
work that It's remarkable growth from a
body Of fifty determined men 10 one OF
nearly I600 has not been noticed by the
general public. The members all have the
requisite property qualification for joining
and the list includes ali political parties.
II Is free. however. from the names of pro-
fessiona1 politicians OF any political faith.
WOrk
ton Of Tacoma's CRY and county govern
ments has been prosecuted with vigor ana
in a thoroughly Systematic manner. In
the system adopted by the executive COM
ml,tee under which ~ works. the league
Is peculiar. There are six committees,
each with special task assigned IL. These
report regularly TO the executive commit
tee. OF which President Griggs Is chair
man. This committee meets regularly in
be ,fafg4~ saf N8fil1fnE
Wednesdays. II has thirty-one members.
To one Of the six committees was as
signed the duty OF digging up the records
OF ex-City Treasures @. w Boggz and j.
W. McCauley, and furnishing the prose
cutting attorneys office with evidence on
which TO prosecute them. Judge w +.
Reynolds. who is also a member OF the
Lexow committee. and Il. G. Hudson were
employed as counsel by the league to as
s!st this committee, OF which Samuel VIII
keson IL chairman. This sum OF 800 was
allowed the committee for expenses An
other committee was assigned the duty OF
making n thorough Investigation OF the
schools. This committee was composed OF
four members. and did It's work admirably.
IL was at work about the same time that
the special committee OF the Chamber OF
Commerce was instructed 10 report on the
schools This committee reported in favor
Of reducing the "a mill levy for school
purposes to ] mill. which would net the
district about s26.000 The leaguers report
"a In favor OF reducing the levy TO IA
mills, which the board Of directors has
adopted. considering IL adequate.
Another committee has been for some
weeks mast aiding the city council In franz
Ing a new charter, and still another has
been watching the repeal OF ordinances
granting street railway franchises which
have never been fulfilled. One OF the COM
mIttees has quietly made a complete and
thorough investigation OF the county gov
eminent.
strong movement is under way among
members OF the league 10 have a mass
meeting called at the Tacoma theater
when the six committees have finished
their tasks, at which full and exhaustive
report Of the work or the league and its
results will be made public. The project
IS looked on with favor by the members OF
the league, especially in view OF the expe-
rience OF the Roys committee. which held
secret sessions lasting six weeks.
Following are the Officers OF the league:
President Col G. w. Griggs: frs vice
president. W. J.. Reynolds; second vice
president. Samuel Wilkeson: secretary, o.
n CosDar