The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-06-21
STAND BY KELLOGG.
Fire Commissioners Answer the
City Council.
THE MAYOR CALLS A SESSION.
Gardner Ksllogg's Name to BE Sent in
Agatn-Jones and Ronald Differ ON
Legal Proposition.

yesterday morning the nre commission"
ers received from Mayor Ronald the fol-
lowing communication:
You are hereby requested to meet a. board Of
nrs commissioners at the ONCE OF the clerk at
the city ball of the city of Seattle, at O'Clock
Monday evening, June 20, 1892, for the purpose
OF nominating and sending to the city council
q suitable person as successor of Gardner
Kellogg, ESQ.,. as chief of the fire department,
and for the transaction of such other business
~ may be awaiting or laid before your honor.
able body.
The expectation of lively developments
attracted a large number of spectators.
When the mayor called tho meeting to or
der in the clerks Office Commissioners
kahaly, Foster, Jones and Masel an
swered to their names, and Chief Kellogg
was in attendance.
The call being read the mayor imme-
diately preached the subject of the call.
Il want to inform you officially" he
said, that the council has rejected your
nomination for chief, and l suppose it is
your duty to send in an acceptable name.
l am sure there will be disorganization in
the department while the present condi-
ton exists. have called you together in
order to throw off my shoulders the re-
sponsibility and to do what consider the
interests of the department require"
well" answered Commissioner Jones,
my honest opinion is that the Office of
chief IS not vacant until some time this
fall. The charter amendments do not
abolish the Office. The corporation coun-
sci says the present chief is holdover,
and there could be no holdover if the
office was abolished"
1.-The office was not abolished, said the
mayor, .'but the incumbency was termi-
mated. am guided by the opinion of the
corporation counsel, the official adviser OF
this body"
There is no amendment to the charter
changing the term" replied Mr.. Jones.
1.-The charter says the officer shall hold for
two years unless he is removed for cause.
With my views / could not, until the
office is declared vacant, recommend any
other man for chief than Gardner Kellogg,
and know no good reason for declaring
the Office vacant"
Il do not intend arguing the point"
responded the mayor, although I do
not agree with you as to the legal PROPOSE
ton. You can either send in the
same name or some other, or no
name at all. If the council
confirms Kellogg, I promise you will
not say another word"
There was silence for minute, and
the mayor continued:
''Well, gentlemen, if there is no motion,
we will proceed to the next business"
On motion, the reading of the minutes
was disposed of, and the clerk read appli-
cations from C. F. Nagles, as pilot of the
fireboat, and from II. NJ. Hughes, for cap
tain. They were both referred to the
chief.
The mayor said he would like the mat
ter of the suspensions of Miller and Hunt
brought up. He intended leaving the city
in a few days to be gone until the 18th of
July, and as member of the board, did
not want to leave matters in their present
mixed condition.
Chief Kellogg asked leave to read the
rules in order to show that it was made
the duty of the chief to suspend when he
thought it advisable; and there is nothing
in the charter or the rules requiring that
charges should be laid before the board.
One-half the commissioners time was
taken up listening to charges, but it was
merely courtesy, and as precedent it
was wrong. He would like to know the
views of the board on the subject.
The mayor replied that it takes the
same power to remove as to create. The
board appoints the firemen, and he con-
sidered it right every man had to know
why he was removed. For his part, he
thought every man who was removed
ought to have trial. The chief had told
him these men suspended were among
the best in the service, and he thought it
the chiefs duty when he suspends men to
file report of charges with this board.
"What is this board for?" asked the
mayor. as it merely to do what the chief
says? I say most emphatically that the
board ought to send in either Kellogg's
name or some other to the council. re-
quest You, as mayor, to do So"
"Well, said Commissioner Jones, 'sjust
to show that am not stubborn about it,
respectfully nominate Gardner Kellogg to
be chief of the fire department"
81 take great pleasure in seconding the
nomination" said Commissioner Kah aley,
land hope the council will agree with
us that it is to the best interests of the de-
partment that he be retained
''Ail right" said the chair; gentlemen,
you have all heard the motion; all in
favor say aye, all against no; unanimous;
the motion is carried; Mr.. Clerk, you will
notify the council"
"Move we adjourn" said Kahaley; mo-
ton put; lights out; adjourned.
And so a very lively and rapid session
terminated. The next meeting will be on
July 5. but the commissioners promised
the mayor they would postpone ali but
routine business until his return.
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