The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-06-22
FROM JUDGE JACOBS.

coin was first nominated"
FROM JUDGE JACOBS.
Concerning Certain Structures at ses-
sion Of the "Advisory Board.''
SEATTLE, June q, 1891.
To THE EDITOR: Official negligence injuri.
ousiy affecting the rights of others 10 an offense
closely infringing on the domain of criminal
misconduct. AT the called meeting OF the .ad-
visory board" at the hall of the board of alder
men on last Saturday, ! was accused BY the
Hon. George Hall and the Hon. Mr.. Jones, men,
bers OF such advisory board, of such neg
ligence. Thus far in life have successfully
escaped the penitentfary and the county Jail,
and have lived without any serious imputations
on my honor or integrity e. man. or the faith
full discharge OF my duties as an officer. But
freely concede that, no matter how solac-
ing such Q reflection may be, If the
charge be true, the security Of the
past affords no Justification. La it true?
When / was elected corporation counsel !
thought was entitled TO the management, con-
troll and superintendenee OF all the legal bust
ness OF the city, except its criminal business
But could not have the management and con-
troll OF the grade assessment collections because
OF the existence of the contract between the
city and Messrs. Ronald & Piles. When
that contract expired I promptly drew
an ordinance and sent 1t to the city
council giving to the corporation
counsel the management and control Of that
branch Of the city's legal business. What did
the city council do? They refused to pass the
ordinance and continued the business In the
successors of Ronald d Piles, and now Mr.
Hall and Mr.. Jones, not liking the diligence
displayed in the collection of these assess
ments by these successors, publicly ac-
cuse me of negligence in their collec-
toni Expressly refuse to allow me to have
anything to do with these collections-appoint
their own agents and then accuse me of negli-
gence because those agents have not in their
judgment, done their duty. Under the facts,
what does such an accusation mean? What
kind OF character or sense OF honor
does IL indicate? / offered to put all
these grade assessment cases into judgment
within one year or TO know the reason why, and
had made arrangements with two competent
attorneys to give their entire attention to these
cases under my supervision, but q majority of
the house OF delegates said no-and Mr.. Jones,
president OF that house, as am informed-said
no. and now this great man says am TO blame.
So much for the grade and assessment cases.
There were two other classes of cases that the
instinct or intuition lawyers of this advisory
board gravely discussed and on which they pro-
nounced judgments of negligence on the "cor-
poration counsel" These were the condemns
ton cases and the city warrant cases. As to the
first, their legal status was fixed long before I
became corporation counsel Objections to the
awards of the arbitrators had to be made within
twenty days after said award was filed with the
clerk of the district court. The city made no
objections in any of these cases-so far then a.
she was concerned she had no right to question
the justice of these awards. Many Of the per-
sons whose property was condemned did file OBJ
jections to these awards, and nine Of these cases
have been tried since have been corporation
counsel, with the result generally that the
amounts Of the awards have been slightly
increased. These trials, with such results,
showed to such litigants that there
was no profit in such litigation, and
hence lately they have all been taking iudg-
ments on these awards. Do these wise men
propose to employ special counsel to contest the
validity of these later judgments? man is an
incurable ignoramus who proposes such Q
thing. The city of Seattle has not money or
credit enough to hire a reputable attorney to
attempt such thing.
Secondly, as to city warrant cases. I have,
since have been corporation counsel, tried
quite a large number of such cases. In every
one the result of the trial has been a Judgment
for the full amount of the warrants, including
interest and costs. Some of the very ablest
attorneys in this city have been heretofore en-
ployed by the city to defend, but
all to no avail. Their employment, as
am informed, went further, but so overwhelm-
ing was the proofs OF negligence on the part of
the city, that no further steps were taken and
the judgment remains. Yes; hire special coun-
sci! AS the great firm of Hall & Jones seem to
1t clearly-hire them-give them a big
fee proportionate to the greatness of their
intellect aud the accuracy and extent
OF their legal knowledge, but by ell means
make it contingent These gentlemen say
confessed judgment in two of these cases
while accurately speaking / did not, yet for
lear Door mortal like myself might not fully
understand the meaning of language, confess
to the following III the two last suits on these
warrants, to save the city from $50 to 800 each in
cash, made the attorneys bring to me
the warrants Tor examination and then care
fully examined the records, not only of the CITY
clerks office but the records in the Office of the
clerk OF the district or superior court 10 see
what the city had done towards the collection
OF the assessments on the streets for the nav
ment OF the improvements of which the warrants
had been issued and was convinced there was
no defense to the action. Ought to fight if ont
and let the city pay the cost? Or save
| the cost and allow the Judgment tn 90
without such cost? chose the latter courss
Now, DO my accusers know anything about the
facts OF these cases? Oh, mol Do they know what
cases they were? No Yet they were prensreo
to make public charge of negligence What ia
character-what is reputation or honor in the
estimation of such men? Yet it is such broad
the city of seattle successfully through the
financial breakers. God save the city!
mere were few minor actors at this advisory
ooard-a bank manager who gave a luminon.
statement of what he for long time did not
know about city warrants The statement
excited no astonishmenti By the way, are bsnk
managers members of this advisory boardP
Mr.. Ames, the city treasurer, also took hand
IN condemnation and accusation think ba
possesses excellent qualities for city treasurer
but did not know that he had sufficient leisnrs
.ime 10 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS himself with the legal
business of the city so as TO form and pronounce
accurate judgments in the affairs of that
department. would advise the retrepehment
committee to see If there is not surplus of
clerks In the treasurer's department Let him
turn the full focus OF his mighty intellect n,
the tressnrer's department and all will be well
Mr.. Ferris was formerly city clerk With tbs
. .scofa ne kept as such clerk l should suppose
that modesty would TO him be a virtue.
o. JACOBS
SHE CAME AND WENT.
Il n fWip from k;-s