The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-04-09
CHARGES PETER OUT.
Park Commissioners Meet Their
AccuserS.
INQUIRY CONTINUED TO-DAY.
Aaoorers Testify as to Roberts' Action
only One Tree Cut Down-Ths
Charges Traced to Bridges.

BOARD OF park commissioners, made by number
OF iaoorers, was begun yesterday in the city
naiL The charges dwindled down to the
uiscnerge OF two men by the foremen for refus-
ingt join Republican club and to the carry.
ing on OF refuse wood from the park. In the
nrss case 1t was admitted by the men complain
ing tnat the superintendent, when he learned
Oh the foreman's action, dismissed him and
onered the men the job, and it also adj
United that the foreman who was said to have
nao the wood offered to share it with the
iaporers. There was no attempt made to prove
maiieasance OF the commissioners The pre-
paratlon OF the charges was traced to Robert
bridges. Tho inquiry will be resumed this
morning.
Yesterday Alderman Leander Miller occupied
the chair, and he was supported by Aldermen
earle and Daulton. Messrs. Lyon and Drew, of
the house of delegates, were present. Commits
sioners W. E. Bailey, Abram Barker, C. n. Evans
ana W. E. Burgess responded to the request Of
the committee to attend the hearing Corpora
ton Counsel Donworth was present, but took
no part in the proceedings.
In stating the object of the meeting Lesnder
Miller said charges had been made at the last
meeting OF the council against members of the
board of park commissioners. He thought they
ought to investigate the charges, but he desired
TO put all the witnesses under oath, that they
might feel responsibility.
The examination of those who had signed the
Charges was then entered upon without form
atty.
James Long testified that he was a teamster;
he was asked to join the Second ward Republic
can Club by Roberts, the foreman, and told he
had better do so If he wanted to hold his job.
Commissioner Burgess asked if he did not
know that Roberts was discharged for the res-
son that he had done related.
Witness said he understood that was the rea-
son.
In reply to Mr.. Bailey, he said the reason he
was discharged was that he stayed away q week
about election time
"Then You were not at your work."
mo, was helping to turn the rascals out"
Mr.. Burgess asked il it was not true that Long
had stayed away and that Taylor told him those
men who stayed at work steadily would keep
their jobs He replied that was 50; he was not
discharged till the day after election, when he
wanted to go back to work
Thomas O'Toole testified that he had moved
into the Second ward; he had since been dis
charged: he had loaded refuse wood from the
park: he supposed 1t was to be taken to Rob-
erts house.
In reply to Mr. Bailey he said the reason he
had signed the petition at the request OF some
OF the men was in order to get Evans and Taylor
fired" he was told he would be kept on If he
signed 1t. He said when he was fired Taylor
told them to draw straws; he only wanted to
discharge one man and he left 1t to them. The
wood had been hauled out last November. He
did not think there was anything wrong until
Johnson and McCurdy asked him to sign the
paper. One tree was cut down.
In reply to Mr.. Barker, he said he had not seen
the park commissioners more than three times;
they might have been there. Mr.. Barker asked
ii he had any objection TO refuse wood being re-
moved from the park. He said it was hauled
away in working hours. Mr.. Barker asked him
if it was not usual to do work there during
working hours. In reply to Mr.. Bailey he said
he did not know Mr.. Bailey or Mr.. Barker. The
petition was drawn up at Jones house and writ
ten by man named Bridges.
Robert Johnson said Roberts had asked him
to help out in politics; he had been told by
Roberts he ought to join the Second Ward Re-
publican Club; he had refused; was not dis
charged; quit week before election.
Burgess asked Johnson if no (Burgess) had
not told Johnson that If he attended to his
work he could stay.
johnson said Taylor pretended to be Demo-
crat and johnson had asked him for a weeks
leave during election; Taylor let him go; he
had never gone back to ask to be put on.
Bridges was the man who got up the paper; he
is Democrat; there was no wood taken out
after he was employed, which was in January
The petition was first talked OF by Jones, Nc
Curdy and himself at the Second Ward Demo-
cratic Club.
Mr.. Barker asked him If he knew that
Bridges desired to be park superintendent
Johnson said he understood Bridges wanted to
be street commissioner,
Mr.. Burgess asked il it was not true that
when two men had been discharged Taylor
called the men together and told them Roberts
would be discharged for it. and that no more
men should be discharged for political reasons
He replied that he knew that Taylor was OPP
| posed to politics
"Yet you wanted to leave your work in order
| to take an active part in politics and still go
back whenever you wanted top
Johnson made no reply to this and he was fol-
| lowed by another OF the petitioners.
Jones was one of the two who were asked to
| move into the Second ward Roberts told him
| 1t was Charley Evans who was doing it; Roberts
| told him mot to let Burgess know anything
about it," he did not move into the Second
| ward: he did not lose his job; he had been kept
straight along except that for eight days he
| worked for the Democratic ticket; he
| had no leave OF absence; he
was Republican. In reply to
| Mr. Bailey, he said he bad not been paid a cent
| for his political work; he did not think any
! thing about his family during that time; the
| tree which was cut down standing by
itself. He remembered Burgess telling him that
| if be wanted TO keep his job all he had to do
| was to attend TO his work. johnson and Nc
| Curdy were there.
Beebe testified that wood had been cut, and he
| knew from a conversation with Roberts that it
| nal pten TAKEN 10 ms mouse, WOOu was also
| taken TO Taylor's house; Roberts said he had
| permission from the park commissioners. He
said he had beed told by Roberts that none but a
| Republican could be employed there Roberts
| asked Beebe il he could depend on him not to
repeat what he told him. Beebe gave him the
assurance, and Roberts then told him two men
were discharged for talking too much he was
Democrat; had never lost days work except
| what he had taken off himself Roberts offered
| him share in the wood, but he had refused it.
X. W. Lennon testified that Evans had taken
| two men off one afternoon on the day of the
| school election; he moved from one part of the
Second ward TO another; be was told 1t was
\ because there were too many men on the park
work from one part: Roberts was discharged for
| getting up subscription" against Taylor;
Taylor told Lennon next day he could go back
10 work, but he did not go: he did not put in SO
| much work he could have done; ne said it
was the same with other men.
He was asked by Mr. Bailey il he knew any
thing about who started the petition. He per-