The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-04-16

Special Dispatch TO the Post-In.eliigercer.
TACOMA. April 1s.-s-Tacoma has be-
come a huge moral ieper.''
These we're the words OF Civil Service
Commissioner Teats In the course OF
conversation with the Post-Intelligencer
correspondent today.
Mr.. Teats Is nothing II not energetic.
As member OF the civil service commits
sion he has earned a reputation for en-
regy and push II is this characteristic
that impelled him a few nights ago to
go Summing"
What Commissioner Teats saw he viii
not say IN explicit language, bat it is evil
dent that his Parkhursting trip put him
In possession Of enough information TO
make him fairly boil.
Il am tired OF seeing the weak and I'M
fortunate made TO pay the penalties OF
the crimes OF the strong and wealthy"
said Commissioner Teats. II have seen
enough OF little girls In short dresses en-
ticed into the back doors OF saloons and
debauchei.
There Is a condition of affairs prevail
ing IN Tacoma today that beats anything
the city has ever experienced. While the
hard times have driven the fast women
OF the town 10 financial straits, and, in
measure. reduced their number. there
has followed in the wake OF the depres-
sion a vicious condition OF affairs which
is simply appalling. winerooms in the sa-
looms In the tenderloin have become
snares and traps for the unwary. Foul
dens Of all kinds have multiplied under
the very eyes OF the police. They are
nlled with the very scum OF the earth.
Meanwhile members of the council are
proflting by a system OF messenger SER
vice which is a direct violation OF the
law. The poor. senseIess, drunken log
ger or miner is rolled and druxged and
then robbed OF his money The simple
minded offenders are thrown In and made
10 pay the penalties OF violating the law.
while the rich and influential 20 scot
free"
When Commissioner Teats had deliver
ed himself OF the above he stopped short.
realizing that he was talking to a news
paper representative.
Well. how are you going 10 help your
self ?" asked the correspondent.
Wen see" said Commissioner Teats.
and then he cut the conversation short.
II Is notorious that the police have aI-
lowed a most vicious system 10 grow 10
under their very eyes within the last
twelve months. When Chief OF Police Hoge
came and assumed his office under Mayor
! Fawcett, the first thing he did was to give
his consent TO the keepers of a notorious
hawdy house to move from Opera alley.
20 which the unruly element had been
confined for several years. to D street. d.
reetiy opposite ST. Leo's Catholic church.
Since that time the sporting element has
| had fun sway in Tacoma When Mavor
| orr VAS seated as the result Of the cecl-
sion Of tho supreme court Chief HoSe
gave way for a short time to Chief y. O
| Smith. The latter's tenure % ofrce was
soon after cut short BY another decision
| OF the supreme court BY which the civil
service amendments TO the charter were
| sustained.
| In spite OF the efforts OF the admlnistra-
tion the force became dlsorganizea. since
| Chief Hoge again assumed his star. about
/ a month aso. the lawlessness has con-
tlnued and grown apace. \ number 81
| low-class variety houses run day and
| night. and are frequented By the worst
class Of men and women. Gambling is
| carried on both day and night In tho very
| presence q the police. Card games In the
| rear q the cigar stores flourish. while
| ''vsgs." thugs, con" men and nrehugs
| eongrcsats n shc town ana bask under the
! eyes - the police.