The Boodle Scandal at the Falls

SPOKANE, April 13. Spokane is in the midst of a bitter fight on the water question. At a late hour last night, three pioneer citizens went before Superior Judge Moore and asked for an injunction restraining the city officials from paying out any money for an up-river water scheme. The injunction was granted, and the papers were served on Mayor Fotheringham, Comptroller Reed, and President of the Council Strobach at 2 o'clock this morning. The complaint alleges boodle on the part of the city council. The injunction grew out of the fact that the city council yesterday, by a vote of 8 to 7, refused to reconsider the vote by which it had agreed to purchase land and water power several miles up the river at a cost of $102,000, on which to locate the water-works, which are at present located at the falls. It is proposed to put in a dam twenty-three feet high in order to create the necessary power. Competent engineers estimate that it will cost over $1,000,000 to carry out the scheme, which is of exceedingly doubtful practicability. The price paid for the alleged rights up-river is exorbitant, being ten times the actual value. The city recently voted bonds of $500,000 for an extension of the water system, and this amount is ample to supply the entire city with water, provided the present system is enlarged. The proposed up-river scheme will plunge the city hopelessly into debt, and no one knows where the money is to come from to complete it. Corporation Counsel Houghton yesterday informed the council that, as a matter of law, they were paying for rights that did not exist, and that the money they were expending for alleged riparian rights and water power was as good as thrown away. The majority of the council today requested Houghton to resign, which he declined to do, and tomorrow they will remove him, a majority vote only being necessary. Public indignation is at fever heat and boodle is openly charged.