The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-10-08
YOUR UNCLE JIMMY"
Chief Kellogg Accuses Foster of
Interference.
FIRE DEPARTMENT TROUBLES.
One Commissioners Said to Have Used
His Influence on Behalf of His
Own Favorites.

Chief Kellogg said yesterday that pur-
ported interview with him which was
| published in the Telegraph was misleading.
In the first place, he said. he never had an
| interview with telegraph reporter, but
some remarks he made to James Foster in
| the course of a private conversation must
have been overheard by a Telegraph re-
| porter, and from them a distorted inter-
| view woven.
81 did not say I intended to resign"
said the chief, NOR do I think it proper
that casual conversations should be pub
| lished in that manner, but since it has
been done, desire to state the matter cor
rectly. did not say that there were four
| factions. / said that it would not do to
have commissioners saying my man.
referred only to Foster. He was my friend,
| but since his election to the commission
| he has interfered and meddled till will
stand it no longer. Not one of the other
| commissioners attempts to interfere with
| me. All they have to say Is said at the
meeting, and there it ends.
Now, Foster will say at the meetings
| there must be no favoritism and no politi-
| cal influences used against good men; and
| when the meetings are over he will look
me square in the face. put up his finger at
| me and say:
60 you. don't you NEEDLE with
| my men; I've been your friend, but I'll
| resign, and then you'll see.'
"And he will come up to headquarters
| and tell me to fire that - Scanda-
| hoovian' in order to put some friend of
| his own on. / understand that he goes
around to his men, as he calls them. and
| tells them: You stand by your Uncle
Jimmy and your Uncle Jimmy will stand
! by you.'. l would rather resign than be
| tied up any more that way. 1t has been
| going on for some time, and is getting
worse all the time.
"The public look to me for the perform
| ance of certain duties and / am hindered
| by having inefficient men put upon me.
When it comes to the point that | am un-
| able to give the public the service expected,
then think it is time for me to resign.
find it impossible to conduct the depart
ment in the manner in which I think it
| should be-"
| The chief continued in regard to the
makeup of the department by saying that
there were men in the service who were
totally unfit to perform the duties assigned
| them, and nothing but drag on the eff-
cheney of the department.
Commissioner Kahaley was very frank
and good-natured about the matter, but
denied most positively that he had ever
sought to improperly influence the chief
| al take pride in the department" said
Mr.. Kahaley, sand since l was elected I
have tried my best to vote just the way l
| thought best for it and the city. 1t is quite
| surprise to me to find Foster talking
| about his men and my men. The only
man have personally tried to get on the
| force was man who came to
| me with a strong recommendation
| from Dexter Horton, and l think
man who comes with that kind of endorse
ment ought to be considered. We cannot
| possibly know all those personally who
apply.
| lone thing may say, and that is that
discourage the men from coming to me on
the street with their grievances. I tell
them to put them on paper and send them
| to the commission.
''As to my putting men on the depart
ment to suit any politician, / think it is
pretty well known that 1 cannot be de-
| pended on to run when any man on earth
rings the bell.''
Commissioner Faegre, who was standing
by, concurred so far as the statements APP
| piled to him.
THE only possible excuse there could be
for Foster saying that had any particular
interest was my effort to have Nelson
promoted when a vacancy occurred. He
| is one of the oldest firemen in the service
l know very little of him personally, but
| his good conduct and experience entitled
| him, in my opinion, to the preference.
| My efforts were quite unnecessary as it
| turned out, because at the next meeting
the chief informed US that Nelson was ell
| titled TO rank by seniority. l have never
asked the chief or any man any questions
about any fireman except in open meet
| ing"
Mr. Clark said that the report must be
grossly exaggerated, because Chief Kel-
logg had no grounds whatever for such
censure of the commission.
"The statement" said he, 'that there
were four factions represented by the four
commissioners, each of whom had his
iavorites, was a great surprise to me, and
| fail to understand why such a remark
should emanate from Chief Kellogg.
Since have been member of the board I
have never asked any favors from the
chief for the men whom have nominated,
either at or outside a meeting of the COM
mssioners. To be exact, there are two
men in the department in whose appoint
/
those men, whose names are Fred Gillian
and Ralph Cook, have the chiefs word,
given yesterday, that they are among the
| best men in the service"
/ When asked as to the matter of favorit-
ism shown to members of the department
who were known to be unqualified to fill
their positions, he stated that from his
| conversation with Chief Kellogg in regard
to the reputed four factions, he cleaned
the information that Foster had intimated
to the chief that Foster and Kahaley being
long-term members, they were the ones to
| whom the chief should cater.
Mr. Clark continued that the chief had
stated positively that he never made the
statement concerning the factions, and in
| other respects was grossly misquoted.
Several attempts were made to find Com
missioner Foster. but he could not be
seen. 1t was ascertained that he was
| closeted with Chief Kellogg 70: consider
able time during the evening, but after
that he disappeared.
| TWO WASHINGTON PIONEERS.