The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-05-23
SEATTLE, MONDAY, BAY 23.
MAYOR RONALD AS A LOGICIAN

Mayor Ronald displayed some peculiar
methods of reasoning in his recent assault
upon the board of public works.
1t will be remembered that at the time
that Mayor Ronald filed his charges
against Messrs. Heilbron and Rinehart.
the Republican members of the board of
public works, he declared that he could
not file charges against Jesse Cochran. the
Democratic member, because the official
record of that gentleman presented no
vulnerable point. There was nothing
whatever, in Mr.. Ronald's opinion, for
which Mr.. Cochran could be called to ac-
count.
In the somewhat remarkable document
which Mayor Ronald filed as his finding
in the case OF Mr.. Hebron, occurs the
following:
That for year last past the city of Seattle.
through its board of public works, has been en-
gagged in the construction OF tunnel from Lake
Union to Elliott bay as a part of the general
sewerage system OF the said city OF Seattle.
Upon said tunnel said city, through said board,
has expended upwards OF fifty Thousand E00,0OO
dollars for labor aud materials. That during all
OF said time said George ii. Hebron has been a
U
some parts of said tunnel present very great
difficulties in engineering that large amount
OF money has been expended in said tunnel in
unnecessary prospecting and experimenting,
aud the work has been characterized in
some instances by incompetency, and en-
tailed upon the city unnecessary and ex-
trayagaut expenditures, and has resulted in
the loss Of human life: that during all this
time said George II. Heilbron has been a men,
Der vi the board of public works of said city,
under whose direction and superintendent
said tunnel was being run; that IL was the duty
of said George IL. Heilbron, member OF the
board of public works, to inspect from time to
time and to use his utmost endeavors and his
lest intelligence toward constructing said tun-
mel in the best possible manner and ct the least
possible expense, and to furnish to his associa e
members of said board the benefit OF such intel
lgence and advice. aud to cooperate with said
board in said construction: that the said George
II. Hebron, being unmindful of his duties In
this respect, has never visited said tunnel to ex-
coed two times. and has been in said tunnel but
one time, and then only few feet from the
shaft and that being subsequent to the filing Of
the charges herein.
This, it may be said was the principal
reason--or rather excuse-advanced for
the removal of Mr.. Hebron.
During all the period in which the sewer
tuHtlci HIS bccu COHetTuCtiOn
Cochran has been q member of the board of
public works. During almost the entire peri
cd he was the chairman of that body, and
upon him devolved the greatest share of
responsibility. Allowing, for the sake of
argument, that Mayor Ronald's statement
of the condition of the sewer tunnel is
true. one may fairly inquire whether Com
missioner Cochran visited the tunnel
frequently. If he did not, he was as guilty
Of negligence as Mayor Ronald declares
Mr.. Hebron 10 have been. If he did, he
Is guilty of incompetence.
If Mayor Ronald's statement of the con-
dition of affairs at the tunnel is correct,
Mr.. Cochran is guilty either of incom-
petence or negligence. If that statement
is not correct even the most radical of the
mayors partisans would not attempt to
justify the removal of Mr.. Hebron as a
legal or equitable act. If the mayor is
right Cochran is wrong. and no amount
of sophistry can get around that stubborn
fact. Yet Mayor Ronald could find moth
ing whatever to allege against Mr.. Coch-
ran.
1t must he confessed that Mayor Ronald
il developing many of the characteristics
OF q humbug.