The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-03-25
ASKED TO RESIGN.
The Mayor Wants Three Vacan-
cies in Police Board.
MANNING ESCAPES THE Ak.
Ronald Declares That the People Are
with Him and That Guy. Ledger
wood snd Stone Are Not.

eA0 0soAO nv GSOS
Mayor Ronald renewed his work of de-
capitation yesterday and requested the
resignation Of three of the police commits
sloners. G. o. Guy, c. P. Stone and W. e.
Ledgerwood each received q communi-
cation, very decidedly asking that he re-
sign as early as possible and permit the
mayor to appoint other members of the
board.
The letter to Mr.. Stone is the longest. 1t
is as follows:
Dear Sir; After mature reflection I regret to
say that feel that cannot expect that cordial
support from you as . member Of the police
commission to which am entitled as the mayor
OF this city. At the late election the people of
this city spoke In q most emphatic manner.
They said by their voices and their votes that
they were dissatisfied with the manner in which
the public affairs Of this city have been GEN.
Quoted. They said that they were dissatisfied
with the lawlessness that has run riot In this
city. They said that whitechspel, which has
been permitted to stand open insult to
the good citizens OF Seattle by Bolton Rogers, as
the chief OF police. should be abolished. take
1t that the of1icial conduct Of Mr.. Bolton Rogers
was on trial before the people Of Seattle. and he
was condemned overwhelmingly by the popular
vote. was elected by q large majority, ire
spccfive Of political factions, and the people, by
their votes, unquestlonably meant that Ishould
cause complete change in the manner in
which the police affairs of the city have.
been conducted. 1 had expected that you
and the other police commissioners would
voice the sentiment OF the people and would aid
me to the utmost of your ability to reorganiss
the police affairs of the city OF Seattle, and to
place in power mon in whom the people had the
utmost confidence. II Is no personal ambition
on my part that prompts me to do as am doing
by this letter am for Seattle first. last and all
the time. While am mayor of this city pro-
pose to represent the interests of the city and to
see that they are faithfully and honestly admin
isterea. am perfectly satisfied that the great
majority Of the people Of this city repudiated at
the polls the administration of Bolton Rogers.
Feeling, therefore, that you are unwilling to
voice the sentiments OF the people of this city,
as expressed at the polls, from your conduct at
. meeting of the board OF commissioners yes
terday, have to assure yeu that l will be very
happy to accept your resignation a. one of the
police commissioners of this city.
Mr.. Stone was asked by PosT-INrELLr-
eEScER reporter what course he intended
taking. He replied that he could not say
until he had taken counsel with his col
leagues. He had no particular desire to
remain in the office, but he had very de-
cided opinion upon the mayors method Of
action.
Following is copy of the letter to Mr..
Ledgerwood,
It would be much mere pleasant to this ad-
ministration If you would kindly send in your
resignation a. police commissioner. believe
that have nothing to expect from some mem
bers of the present police commission, including
yourself, excepting attempts TO annoy and en-
barraks me in my efforts to govern the city. !
regret that entertain this conclusion, but I'M
der the circumstances 1 would be pleased to ac-
cept your resignation.
Mr.. Ledgsrwood asked to be excused
from saying anything for publication at
present.
The letter to Mr.. Guy is quite short and
is as follows:
have delayed writing this until now for the
purpose of considering more advisedly. 1 most
respectfully request that you will resign your
Office of police commissioner Of this city and
give me an opportunity to appoint . successor
to fill your unsxpired tsrm. Your early answef
is most respectfully requested. Yours respect
fully, etc.
Mr.. Guy said that the mayor was mis-
taken in supposing that there was any
desire on his part to embarrass the ad-
ministration. At the meeting Of the
board when the mayor had percmptorily
demanded the removal of Bolton Rogers,
he had moved that the matter be taken
under consideration. He did not think
it right to take such summary
action as the mayor demanded,
but that the proceedings should
be deliberate and that the commission
should feel it was acting legally. he
deprecated that style of administration,
but he did not know that he should bear
the brunt of any contest: he would deter
mine that alter due consideration.
Mayor Ronald said he had nothing to
say beyond what he had written; his
views as to the police department were
well known. He made them the principal
controversy in the campaign, ard he in
ferred from the peoples vote that they
sustainee him in his course.
No letter was sent to A. II. Manning,
the fourth member of the board.
The board must consist of Two Demo-
Gratis and two Republicans, and no two
commissioners must reside in the same
ward when appointed.
The charter is very specific in its pro-
visions as to what shall be done in the
event of removal of an elective officer by
the mayor, but very little is said as to the
appointive officers. Section of article V.
saws: "Whenever the mayor shall remove
an appointive officer. the vacancy for the
unexpired term shall be filed by appoint
ment in the same manner as if at the be-
ginning of the term" Section of article
XIX. provides that any elective officer may
be suspended by the mayor and removed
for cause by the city council, and ''any ap-
pointed officer may be removed by the
mayor for cause. In either case the
mayor shall temporarily fill the vacancy
except as hereinafter provided"
The term of Office of a police commits
sioner i. four years, but as only one is to
60 out each year, Mayor White, in making
his first appointments, appointed one each
for one, two, three and four years.
No police commissioner is eligible to any
other municipal Office for a year after his
incumbency of Office. The present incum-
bents, if they I'll out their full terms, go
out OF office as follows: Guy in January of
1893; Manning, 1894; Ledgerwood, 1895;
Stone. 1895. The mayor is chairman ofthe