The Newspaper Called Tacoma’s Council Corrupt. Then It Refused to Show Up.

Tacoma, March 26.—Special.—As predicted in the Post-Intelligencer this morning, the management of the Ledger did not appear before the city council this morning in answer to that body's citation. Accordingly the following resolutions were passed: 'Whereas, The Ledger having made grave charges of incompetency and dishonesty against the members of the finance committee of this council, and having called for an examination of said matters by a grand jury; and 'Whereas, This council has demanded that the editor and proprietor of the Ledger appear before this council and give such facts and testimony as would enable any member guilty of crime to be singled out and punished, and the said editor and proprietor, though notified, have refused to appear; therefore be it 'That we do now denounce the charges made by the Ledger as untrue and unworthy of credit and maliciously made for political purposes only. 'Resolved further, That we join in a request for a call of a grand jury to investigate any and all defaults of city officials, as well as the investigation of a charge of the loan of warrants belonging to the city by Hoggs to Bennett, for the purpose of enabling Bennett to secure a loan thereon and the failure of said Bennett to return said property to the city.' The News comes out tonight with a two-column head on the article in relation to the matter. Here it is: 'COWARD, LIAR AND CONSPIRATOR. The Libellous, Lying Ledger Is Such Confessedly. Fails Utterly Even to Attempt to Justify Its Slanders. Neglects and Refuses to Prosecute Those Whom It Charges With Crime.' Then follows another attack on the Ledger and its proprietor. At this morning's meeting of the council Harris, in answer to the Ledger's charge that he had not paid his street and sewer assessments, produced a certificate that he had paid in 1888 and 1891.