The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-07-17

works committed the great crime Of Carrying
smsli portion of the eitys insurance IN home
companies II was he who introduced resolu.
ton that no sewers should be laid, though our
citizens petitioned for them, and though Ia
himself admitted that the sewers were badly
needed, until 8 new board OF public works was
installed Ii was he who made so much noiss
about our public library. al institution in which
our citizens justly taks pride. Natural.
ly he became the mayors con fdanL and
about April Is he informed Chief Kellogg that
the city electrician, Mr.. snow, would have n
GO Attn same time Mr. Lyon gave the chisf
notice that he (LyouJ was an applicant for the
position, and If the chief would promise him
the appointment hs would resign from thu
council kellogg bluntly said: "Ar. Lyon, I
would like 20 do anything can for you, but A
70 appointing you city electrician, that Is en-.
tirely on. of the question. To NIL that position
one must be young and active, ready TO climbs
pole and FIX break a. a moments notice, and
certainly you are too old for that"
Any fair-minded man would see the justice Of
the chiefs reasoning, but not SO Mr.. Lyon. IA
left kellogg with a drm determination 10 have
revenge. and from all appearances he Is in fair
way o! getting it.
Yet the simple truth is that kellogg is doing
more for the credit and safety OF the city than
the mayor and council combined. With view
opposition 70 Kellogg sought and obtained an
interview with the gent emen that are now ad.
iusting the loses in the Schwaoacher IRE.
found A j. Wetzlsr, adJuster of fire losses OF
San Francisco; Y. G. Drifheld. sdiuster aud spe.
cial agent London and Lancashire Fire lnsur.
anee Company, OF San Francisco, and Z. T
Niebling. special agent Commercial Union As.
suranee Company, limited tof London), of Port.
land. Or, at the Great Northern. | explained 70
them the object o: my visit. They understood
that they were "a king % the world through ths
columns OF the observation-disclosures, and this 10
what Mr. Wetzlar, acting as spokesman, had to
say;
at is recognized in insurance circles that Sc
attic has one of the best managed FIRE depart
meuts in the United STATES We would De very
tina kful could say the same OF some cities
west OF the Rockies that have q much larger
population than Seattle. Il is our business "a
adiusters to take special notice of the efficiency
OF the fire departments in the various cities,
especially 80 with respect 10 the damage done
to property by water, and am frank TO admit
that greater intelligence is exercised by the Se-
attic department. in the use OF water than in
any other city in the United States. A fire de.
partment cannot be held responsible for the
frequent occurrence of fires or for the damage
done, but the efficiency of fire department IL
best demonstrated by its uss of water-by the
amount Of damage done by water, and in tina.
respect seattle exeels every other city in tia
United States.
"Il have not expressed the sentiment of the
insurance companies doing business on this
Coast ny colleagues will correct me / have,
however, one suggestion TO make, and that is
that a conveyance should be provided for the
assistant chief, so that he may get TO fire With
out delay and be ready to station the apparatus
when il gets there"
This is the department that our reform coun-
n IL n In
chief who made il what it is, pride and credit
to the city.
Would you ask, Why? what motives prompt
the council in its refusal TO confirm the present
ehiefs | can best answer such a question by
using DR.. Sweeuey's own words at would be
a hard matter" said the president of the board
OF aldermen, "for a Democratic council to con-
firm Republican chief" These were the words
used by Dr.. Sweeney in reply to Mr.. B. W.
Baker, who requested the doctor TO use his In
huepce to retain the present chief Let me give
you the story in Mr.. Bakers own words. He Ia
very interesting talker. aud / hope you viii
enjoy his talk as much as I have. 81 have" said
he, mo political AK to grind. In local politics
am a Mugwump. l am not for Kellogg. / am
for Seattle. / wish TO see feeling
OF security prevail in the fire depart
ment. l want every man who does his
duty TO know that his position is secure, that he
IL not nave 20 make room Tor some wire
puller, and / want our business men TO have
that same feeling OF security, that when a tire
occurs the boys will do the best they can, know
ing that they have nothing else TO fear but the
sense of duty. And for that reason am op-
posed to the removal Of Kellogg. He certainly
did his duty, and did il we'll. Then I cay, les
him stay and let every man on the de partmens
know that a. long as he does his duty he can
stay. spoke to DR.. sweeney and 10 many 9TH
ers telling them the same thing have told you
Not one had any thing against Mr.. Kellogg
None OF those that spoke to could give any
reason why Kellogg should not be resppointed"
What can we think of a state of affairs where
plant that stands the city today nearly $780,
600 IL shamefuliy mismanaged, the superin-
tendent harrassed by petty party strife. fore
man that worked with him in harmony taken
from him, and one in whom he has no conf
dence given 70 him; the fire department, de-
moraliZed by an attempt TO introduce partisan
politics into itf There is but one conclusion to
be reached, and that is that Ronald is not Se-
attic mayor, as he promised he would be-nos
even Democratic mayor, giving satisfaction to
his own party-but merely the mayor of an ire
sponsible clique, whose headquarters is the "re-
form organ, and whose sole object il to estab-
lish full-sized Tanmany in the mids. OF our
lar city. RosH LooKEsH
q NSFn5N MI -