The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-04-17
MOST PALTRY WORK.
Contemplate Exhibition Be-
fore Mayor Ronald.
THE BLAME TURNED TO PRAISE.
Alexsnder's Worst Fault Is He Didn't
"Dock" . Man Who Was on
Burying His Baby.

BY request Of the board of public works,
Mayor Ronald attended special meeting
OF the board, held to investigate the
charges against Street Commissioner
alexander. Commissioners Rinehart,
Hebron and Cochrane were present.
The charges seem to have been instigated
by man named Andrew Lee, who has
been employed as a teamster, by the street
department, who "quit" a week or so ago
In order to save himself from being dis
charged for getting drunk. He went to
Mayor Ronald and told him there was
corruption" in the department, that
man named Misner had been absent two
days, burying his baby, and he had not
been "docked" by the city; and that
barn boss named Donohue had got drunk
and through his carelessness he set the
barn on fire.
The proceedings, so far as the charges
were concerned. were the most contempt
ible OF all the attempts to drag honorable
men down by means of discharged en-
pioyes. The mayors expressive face sew
eral times displayed his opinion of the ex-
hibition, and at its close about forty men
gathered around the door in threatening
manner and, although no names were
mentioned, the words "the cur" with
others which came more handy, were
accompanied by promises to give him
"a - good humping"
Andrew Lee was the first and only wit
ness who gave any adverse testimony,
except that on Christmas day, mans
clothes caught fire and the barn might
have-but didn't-catch fire. This mis-
hap, the intention of the inquiry was to
show could not have happened if there had
been two Democrats on the board of pub
lie works.
w. H. Bowley testified that Misner had
been absent some time in August; witness
admitted that he was discharged because
he was full, admitted that the charge was
true; his reason for not telling about the
mans absence was because he didn't want
to lose his job; he knew the mans child
was dead and his wife was sick; he did
not know whether the city paid Misner's
substitute.
Andrew Lee testified that he thought
Misner had drawn sixty-two days pay
and lost seven days; witness had been
but was not now in city employ.
Commissioner Alexander testified that
Misner was away for two days in August,
when his child died; and then another
man volunteered to look after his horse. so
that no substitute was needed. That was
the only time that he was ever absent that
his pay was not deducted.
Misner said that in August his baby was
taken i'll on Friday; it was much worse on
Saturday, and he remained home; that
night it died. He reported to the barn
boss, and went off and buried the baby.
At later time his horse was taken sick,
and during that time he worked partly on
the street and partly in the barn. In JAN
uary he was absent for five days; he was
not paid for that time
James Mason, the timekeeper, remem-
bered the time Misner's child died; he was
not locked his pay that time.
Mr.. Hebron asked Mason If he were a
private employer if he would think it very
wrong to pay man for day off when his
child was dying?
Mason said no; none of them thought
of such thing; the barn boss helped
Misner out, and the man didn't stay away
without reporting the cause.
1t was also found by reference to the
payroll that Misner had not been paid for
five days in January, the time during
which it was claimed and admitted he
was absent.
The charge as to Donohue getting drunk
and setting fire to the barn was then
taken up.
Lee was asked to state what he knew
about it. He said he and Donohue ON
Christmas day had drank enough to make
him drunk; witness had "a pretty fair jag
on" Donohue hung his rubber coat up
near stove and it caught fire; the fire
was out before witness knew of it.
Donohue and several witnesses contra
dicted this story.
w. Locke, the foreman, testified that it
was strict rule to discharge men who
were found under the influence of liquor;
he had seen Lee intoxicated; judged by
appearances; he had orders to discharge
Lee for that reason but Lee said: "You
are too late; I've let myself out"
Nobody had any more questions to ask
and the investigation" terminated.