The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-08-01
WATER LITIGATION COMPROMISE.
City COuncilmen Think They Have a
Chance To Get Good Terms

City Councilman Think They Have n
Chance To Get Good Terms.
Special Dispatch 10 the observation-disclosures.
TACOMA. July 3l-The topic OF SPECIAL
city official interest and one that has
created quite little sensation on he OUT
side, Is the proposed compromise Of the
million dollar suit" The publication Of
the facts. given 10 the public this morn
Ing exclusively IN the Post-1n;elIsencer
mas served 10 freak down the barriers
OF secrecy which certain officials seemed
to think ii a part Of their duty TO main
tam. and talk is now general As 70 the
probable outcome OF the proffer for A
settlement OF the suit out Of court
Peculiar conditions exist n connection
With this big suit. in which thus far the
city has secured judgment for three
quarters Of million dollars. and now
that the news OF a probable compromise
mas become public property a general hub
ouh has ensued. Politicians are seeing
10 1t that Their interests shall. not suffer
city officials talk OF the matter Is IL
they were treading eggs and A gen
erai anxiety as TO the outcome Is mainly
n eV dence
So far "a members OF the council will
express themselves on the subject they
indicate that the sixteen representatives
Of the eight municipal districts Will stand
solid for the very best terms possible 10
be secured from the defendants 10 the
big suit. They today make no bones"
of their feeling and OF a determination
10 turn the screws 10 the last thread in
order 10 get "A profitable deal. II the pro-
posed compromise ia effected. As Was
referred 10 In the Post-Inteilse1ce- OF
this morning, the city fathers have a de-
Cided partially for what is termed, legal
". the "reStduary property belonging
tostens'bly) 10 the defendants Ia the sui;.
All who have anything to say drift INTO
talking OF this property. and how the city
IL entitled 10 IL. From wha. is at this
time TO be learned the property - more
than likely TO become material factor
in the settlement Of the case.
The property in question consists of GER
tain realty. The PuyaIlup water works.
the plant OF the Tacoma Ga. and
Electric Light Company. What The city
now wants. according TO the statements
OF certain counCilmen who decline TO he
interviewed. is Cinch or the light and
water business. Ever since the purchase
Of the city plant the company which sold
the plant has done a damaging opposi-
Ton 10 the light business. The opposition
company is named differently from that
which dumped the plant on the city. but
the personnel Is the same. and The latter
hope TO make hay fpienty) in he sun
shine OF the proposed compromise, by Sc
curing control Of the opposition plant.
opinion openly. they are al agreed that
II the million dollar suit" i settled cut
Of court Il must b. 50 arranged 50 10
cut off the existing opposition TO the city's
Lighting business. This seems the main
ISSUE with members Of the council. and IN
d.cat!ons point TO a combined move In
this direction when the compromise Terms
are explained 10 the council in she GUS
tomary forma! manner.
Al the special meeting Of the council
early this week the proposals coming
from credited agents OF TIE (. u Virgin,
Estate VIII be heard. as WAS announced
IN the Post-lntel!.gencer this morning
The presentation Of the matter u the
council IL looked upon strictly for
mal.ty, and VIII tie done solely % bring
the city fathers % position where they
may act 50 far as the two c0m2rom.ss
propositions are concerned. IL tae words
y a city Official they cut no ice " What
The council wants is the property whch
now tnterferes with the city lighting tt.ei-
ness. and az important a tais feature con
sldered that = is alleged no proposition
for an amicahle ssttjemer; viii lie CON
sider-d which does no; iNc!u9e transfer
81 the opposition plant 70 the city. All
who talk officially demand TINS. ma
cry TIP obtainabie hints Of this condition
e affairs
one o: The several important features
which must -ssar.ly ne considered ~
event of 4 compromise Is the zee tine 70
ex-t'fty Attorney N.c.erSham. Nho 10! j.
i contact WIKI The city proyi1 ias ina
- receives u per cent Of fhs Judgment
In ths sgtt * biz compensation. because
- to compromise proposals no: 81: hay
- come uP Ia official form. Attoraey
Wteaef<harn declines ;o 5.scuss ne mat
ter rs!t there - lit'.- reason 50 doubt
hls agrseucnt with 80 city nay prove
13~ ~ tHe kuottv points n The aew deg,
The c.1y administration. xh3se ga
vors :ne settleneo'. hut only 3as iines
tAat viii hr3Hr - fae cf.v she pant -
ne opposition Lighting coMpA1y- The
re+.ouarv property e which :hs ght
pant = declared - paT.. Is wanted ~ al
"no think ere city l.aA' ar ~ made
urofitt9.e investment How Qgch he
-.tr may %. willing - sac5 Zee . other
directions in order 20 cut oT .alS opq3-
-tian IS ar sell prob.erra'icaj bat si5 - he
i<st1a- ne matter d }ars 10 fsv1r .1f
mixing tae compromise pr125sais
fgi-aas % k.jrug the commercial -o1upaay.
TIE statements II expert show tha'
thts ,uHca-.sikei-of resitaarY property
ran - fairly app,sl>ef q; about {'l@1
tbs estimate iuel3ds.a az tng property
Which .ae r:tr hofss 81 possess IS ) part
Il me purchased plant. t4c opposition
asAt u5An1 be.aE cA3ef feature tfIe-s9f
Ia. .ounc WI nee, tomorrow evening.
Barring a change u pEasrawn4r. - Of
~rtaay /. .nto ;h~ proposed senpr 9rn.@e,
sr1 ~ interesting SESSION tz predicted
R.nr@s@nt4ttv@s e tAs &. T. "rs n; ss-
faf@ VII he neaod from 81 length. sad
the temper - taes~ of ne c.Iv fs.aers
~no LAX IN Advance ln*caI~s nat t~e-e
49, l.~ ~ },r@rence q oVia.Ga - tae
council IS - VIVA, he defertsn, % ne
suit mus, c1,scese As stated, taey . a3t
gap jsgn, psan; q he opposition c9n5-
psny. ard wEi probably "bucK a.yniust
znv proposal wa.ch does ROT iaSST.s ogate