Tacoma Voters Hand the Mayor a Council — and Unlock the Water Fund

Tacoma, April 2.—Special.—Today's election passed off quietly. The vote was lighter than expected, and much lighter than at the general municipal election last year. Rain was largely the cause. There were elected one Populist, two Independent Republicans, four Republicans and one Democrat. With five Populist and three Republican holdovers the political complexion of the new council is: Republicans 7, Independent Republicans 2, Populists 5, Democrat 1. Coates, one of the Independent Republicans, has Populist affiliations and on many questions will doubtless train with that party. There is no doubt that Harris will be re-elected president, and the Populists will have considerable voice in the organization of the council.

The election is considered an administration victory. Wickersham will be reappointed city attorney, and the mayor's appointments in all directions will be confirmed. Chief among them, it is supposed, Fred N. Zeiber, superintendent of streets and sewers, will be appointed a member of the board of public works, in place of D. L. Demorest, whose term expires. Demorest is regarded as an anti-administration man. The anti-administration people charge tonight that the administration people, through the aid of the police force and other means, combined with the Democrats in the First, Third and Fourth wards and defeated the regular Republican nominees. Considerable feeling has been engendered over this.

The councilmen elected are: First, Harris, Ind. Rep., majority 116; Second, Norton, Rep., plurality; Third, Alexander Parker, majority 54, plurality over Bonbright 240; Fourth, Coates, Ind. Rep., majority 2, plurality over Weller 150; Fifth, Bulger, Pop., majority 109; Sixth, Kleeb, Rep.; Seventh, Rice, Rep., plurality 71; Eighth, Whitty, Rep., plurality 73.

The water proposition carried [by a] tremendous majority. In addition to the election of the councilmen the proposition to divert the water extension fund from building to the Thomas and Patterson springs to building to a source of supply to be determined by the council was voted on. By the vote of the people in the light and water purchase election, this fund was created for the express purpose of building to the springs named. They having been found inadequate, another vote is required to enable the money to be used for any practicable purpose.