The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-04-02

II 10 rather am4minG to notice how vio-
lantly tho so-caIlec resorm&rs are bang
wrsncsssd over the dlscio~urs Of wha, 10
them appears 10 b . condition Of dressfui
corruption and fragrant official tnefrcttncy.
Any one VINO n acquainted with ue real
pisty Of these people win be In position
20 appreciate the actual seriousness q
thszr mock protests against dishonesty.
The unfnisiatsd. however. win no doubt
regard their Iausentatsons as oatbgrsss
from honest hearts OVERLOOKING with sin-
c~ffy. One OF the latest sensations the
popul,sts have brought 10 public view y
In connection with the conduct Of the state
land cffsce. and the miuaic purisis grow
v4olens Ia what they attempt 20 show 70 be
. gross and rascaily piece OF deceit aSd
wrongdoing.
Since the meeting OF the last legisiature.
when the rerormeru met TO revolntionlze
the methods of tha state administration
and purify politics generally. tho average
member Of that bard has had little to say
about the Shortcomings OF his political aa-
ysrnaries. The senatorial election ard the
subsequent handling OF state Legislation
saas made the ordinary ftsionist no.
foriop before the people OF thu state that
the members OF that curious political com
bination have como to the conclusion that
tho iess said about matters political the
better.
The state commissioner of public Lands
has caused Il 10 he sent forth broadcast
over tho sta,o that there have been ali sors
OF hsinous offenYes committed In the sais
of tide lands along tbs Seattle water front.
and his Popuiistie brethren In ditfereut
parts of the state have responded with the
usual II told you 10" All the prominent
Pops attempt TO mako q mountain out Of
the mole hill. Tho cheap Popuilst orators
together with thu brtefcs lawyers. pere-
grinating editors. ward workers and parry
grafterr, have taken the tip and talk rob
berry as II such thing was strange and
horrible to them But the people Of the
state have become 80 accustomed to Popu-
list bunco and fakir work since the Eiiens-
burg platform was adopted and thrown
overheard that there IL little likelihood Of
their present pretended CONSERVATION be
Ing taken at all seriously.
The facts In connection with the Seattle |
tide land matter. concerning which 20
much Of haliahaioo is being made. are
very clearly set forth by Messrs. Prosch
and Mckenzie, who were members of the
local board Of tide land appraisers ar-
pointed by Gov Iaughtcn at the Request
OF Gov. Ferry. The blocks In question
were given a valuation which they thoosht |
was fair, and which was generally coz |
sidered 10 be right by all those VINO passed |
upon their work. II was claimed 60 be TOO |
high by tho improvers thereon. but the val /
uation was accepted and has never been
questioned until tho present day. Adjoia- |
ing owners and .mprovers In the same " l
entity paid about the same price. and l
there win never be any doubt expressed /
rs 10 its being a iust appraisernont. unless 1
1t be from the ordinary everyday kickers
compiainers and n1isoaAef-makeEs. who /
have nothing else 10 do.
The purchasers Of the tide lands had &C.
cupiea them for years. and made valuable Il
improvements upon them. ard after thsy /
had acquired title they We're able under
peculiar circumstances 20 sell them FOR
railroad terminals al high figure. TSs /
Ma their good fortune.
The whole matter IL a piece az poii,ixl /
bunooube gotten mp by tfsoss who have 10 i
interest In the city and are unaeo ssintea
with local conditions ard ssissogy. Ith
one OF tho awkward aftemptS OF IRE
sponssese Pop dlstur. ars to make the pres
snt farce Of reform appear real by an ct.
axseraiion and raisihc-tion Of the rea.
facts Tn the case.