Tacoma's Council Puts a Waterfront Deal on Hold — and Shuts Down a Fairgrounds Saloon

Tacoma, May 25.—Special.—The deal between the city on one side and the Northern Pacific railroad and the Tacoma Company on the other, by which the city is to acquire an easement for a roadway and the ownership of wharf property, is in a fair way to be settled up. Today Mayor Orr forwarded the following communication to the council in relation to the matter:

'Gentlemen: I understand by telegram that there is a letter on the way from C. B. Wright, of Philadelphia, in regard to water front matters, and that everything will be satisfactorily arranged. We have been informed by Mr. Biehler, of the Northern Pacific, that the necessary papers from the Northern Pacific receivers and the court will be here, or at least telegrams to the effect that they will carry out the proposition as submitted by Mr. Dickinson and Mr. Kendrick. In view of these facts would it not be well for your honorable body to adjourn until Tuesday afternoon to take final action on these matters? Respectfully, Edward S. Orr, Mayor.'

In accordance with the mayor's request the council adjourned to Tuesday.

The demand of the council that property owners on Pacific avenue decide what they want in the way of pavement bore some fruit today. A petition was presented, signed by the owners of sixty-one out of 219 lots on the avenue, praying that planking be laid. This indicates that the customary faction fighting between advocates of plank and those of more permanent pavement is about to ensue. No action was taken on the question.

Half a dozen representatives of the local W. C. T. U. attended the council meeting today. Hence when the matter of issuing liquor licenses was up in the regular course of business there was a badly rattled lot of councilmen in the room. The ladies were there with a remonstrance against a license being issued in the interstate fair grounds. This property has been turned into a summer garden. As a result of the protest and the presence of the ladies fourteen councilmen out of the sixteen voted against granting the license.