The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1904-03-02

Tyler's hall on St. Helens avenue.
Mr.. Campbell did not waste much time
over his Introductory remarks, but pro-
ceeded at once to the business in hand.
He recounted his efforts to secure cheaper
and better lights for the city, and told of
the opposition of members of the council
and the Tacoma Railway & Power com
pany. Coming down to the "investiga
ton ordered by the council in regard to
the conduct of the mayor, commissioner of
public works and city electrician, he said:
'When | heard that an investigation had
been ordered l Immediately called a
meeting of the city council for the follow
ing day, November %. AT that time two
thirds of the councilmen were against me,
and ] did not tell them the reason the
special meeting was called. A whisper
went around the council chamber that the
mayor could not convene the council in ex-
ira session unless reason was given in
the call l told them that the charter
said that the mayor should tell what the
meeting is called for after it has been CON
vened.
"When the council was called to order
l said that the mayor, commissioner of
public works and city electrician were at
the disposal of the council for investiga-
ton, but they did not investigate.
'''The long report that was copied in last
Saturdays Ledger was read at another
council meeting Mr.. Hammond stated
that the council could not proceed as the
matter was then in the hands of the SUI
perior court
The mayor then told why the Tacoma
Railway & Power company's bid had been
rejected and dropped the subject by quot
ing from Judge Huston's opinion on tina
question: "If the city had accepted the
bid of the T. r. & P. company it would
have meant anything the company wanted
it to mean"
Mayor Campbell continued: "The News
and the Ledger have attacked the city
administration, and have tried to shake
the faith of the public. The course of MIR.
Perkins is little short of infamous l will
now tell you about that prominent man
from Olympia that was grabbed up by the
police and taken to the police station,
distorted report of which appeared in those
papers, This man from Olympia was
notorious dive keeper and he came here
for the purpose Of beating the city. He
was arrested and an action was brought
against Chief of Police Fackler for $4,000
for putting this prominent man from
Olympia in Jail. Perkins was in this case,
and we had hard time to get it set fop
trial. Finally we succeeded. Mr. Perkins
in the meantime had his papers full of this
scandal and the actions of the chief of po-
lice in the matter were continually writ
ten about and the facts distorted.
''The case was pushed and the gamblers
of the city wanted to compromise the mat
ter but we absolutely refused to do so.
The result was that the prominent man
from Olympia withdrew the action just
as it was going to the jury"
A voice in the audience said: "Tell us
the story of the other man from Olympia"
and Mayor Campbell proceeded to relate
it:
"Another prominent man from Olympia
said that he was abused in the police sta
ton. The papers came out with head
lines, Police Force in Tacoma on the Rum
and stated that the man was going to sue
Chief Fackler. The case went on to trial,
nh all ~,
proved that this prominent man from
Olympia had gotten on an Interurban car
and attempted to assault the conductor,
vomited on the floor of the car, and he
was as foul as beast could have been.
Within an hour after the reporters left
the court room the News was out again
abusing the police force.
perkins sole purpose has been to
break down the administration, and in sew
eral conversations with him he has urged
me to join with him politically, and he in
return would use his papers to my adj
vantage. At all times his overtures have
been declined.
"Now. let us come to the bridge ques-
ton. which is as fair proposition as one
man ever made to another. A number of
matter over. One of the city bridges need
ed repairing, at cost of $1,000, and the
T. r. & P. company, which was using the
bridge refused to pay for one-half of the
needed repairs, and it was closed
'When a second bridge was closed,
Grosscup. Mitchell and Hammond came
and discussed it pro and con. 1t was
agreed that the city should repair the
bridges and that the 7. r. & p. company
should deposit one-half of the cost of the
repairs in the bank and await the decision
of the court Since the court court decided
in our favor the company has contributed
every year to the repairing of the bridges.
And what encouragement did we get in
this movement from Roce and Hammond,
the Ledger and the News?
Charges have becn made in regard to
the financial management of the city.
When | came into Office movement was
on foot to divert money from the water
and light fund and | raised an objection
TO this on the ground that it was un lir.
If we paid the Indebtedness of the city
ont of ba ,r,4pr and liont fund we would