Tacoma's Tide-Land Shake-Up

The appointment by Gov. McGraw of two citizens of Tacoma, Messrs. Holmes and Fife, to succeed Messrs. Huntington and Uhlman as members of the Pierce county board of tide land appraisers will tend to create a confidence in that body which was wanting in the old.

Whether justly or unjustly, right or wrong, the impression nevertheless prevailed that Messrs. Huntington and Uhlman were primarily politicians and that in all things their acts as appraisers were attained by their recognized positions as politicians.

It has been asserted that Mr. Hunt, the third member of the board, has been entirely ignored in all matters appertaining to the duties of the board, and that the board, to all intents and purposes, was Huntington and Uhlman.

No one can assert with any show of reason that either T. L. Holmes or W. H. Fife are in the remotest degree "politicians." On the other hand, they are staid, successful, conservative men of business in whose judgment the people may rely.

Their appointment at this time, together with the election of men to the city council in whom the people have confidence, gives further assurance that justice will prevail in the consideration of the tide land question, and that the rights of all persons, and of the people, and of the municipality will prevail, and that there will be no invasion of individual or corporate rights either by the people or by the "Three Companies."

The appointment of these gentlemen at this time adds to the feeling of security which every loyal citizen of Tacoma must feel as a result of the recent election.