The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-03-23
NO POLITICS IN IT.
Republican Policy Continued in
the Fire Department.
KAHALEY ANSWERS THE MAYOR
Neither Chief Kellogg Nor ANY Other
Fireman to Be Removed Except
for Cause-Eou:ine Work.

Inc BOARD OF ire commissioners net ior the
first siUle last night under the aew sdministra-
sioa, sDd the meeting was presided over BY
Mayor Ronald To the cd members. John L
Kahaley and James Foster. are no. added 7. {.
Jones and George Masel. The late commission
ers. 4. G. Fsegre and W. J. Clark, were present,
together with az audience that filed the lobby.
Toward the close OF the meeting g lively e1-
ehsnge OF views TOOK place between Mayor Ron
aid and Commissioners EaAeiey, during which
the former declared thGt there should Be no
politics in the department during his admins
t-sticn. ard the latter, IN al equally good
speech, defended the late administration from
any suspicion o. partisan partiality.
The mayor promptly called the meeting TO
order az $50 .. n, and Commissioner kahaley
remarked that as there were Few mem beEs OF
the board they might want 70 ask some qUes-
tons. Ar. Jones rep led that thsy we're content
10 let the regular order of business proceed. The
mayor called upon City Clerk stonenan 70 Rad
the minutes. 4 long communication from
Chief kellogg, which he's already been pub
Nshed, was read and placed on file. The same
course was taken with reference 20 the follow
ing letter. signed -. F. Mcdonald:
Ihs-eby make application for the position OF
chief OF FIRE department. OF Seattle. IN sub
hitting ny mama. saouid your honorable body
see IL 70 appoint ne 70 the position Will pledge
nv every effort 70 maze our ire department. ua-
eaCaled BY any II the County and Will make Is
good qualities rebound 70 the credit Of our city
n every pertiouLz-.
letter asking II the city had village truck
TO dispose OF brought cut the remark from the
chief that the only one they could dispense
with had been il tie service for twelve years,
and he thought It too heavy for The purpose OF
the inquirer. He suggested it would De
economy 10 sell It and get new one. The mat
ter was allowed 70 go over
The resignation OF Charles Hanson, second
pipeEal OF No. I. YVES accepted.
A bill presented for rent due BY fireman
called out the explanation by Mr.. KahaIey that
It was one OF the rules OF the department that
members must pay all Just bills; irenea get
Positions, and the board desired TO sustain the
good reputation of the department
Al application for appointment as fireman
was. upon the Suggestion OF Mr.. Jones. referred
TO the chief the chair declaring that the charter
amendments are now law. and one of them gives
TO the chief full power OF employment and dis
charge. subject 70 the approval o. the board.
Mr.: kaha!ey suggested that the mayor and
the members pay visit 70 sli the engine houses
and begin WORK By understandings the coalition
Of the department All. its growing necessities.
The chair thought this good plan, and It will
be so arranged
The mayor said that II viev OF the coumuni-
cation OF Chief Kellogg as to the murinous
spirit in the department. the board ought 20 de-
clare his policy 81 once.
NJ Jones agreed with this. He fels tia. they
had the best department on the Coast. and he
was disposed TO insist uoon discipline from top
to bottom. He deprecated any interference By
the beard in the petty details OF the department
unless called for, and he pledged himself to
stand by The chief in enforcing strict attention
TO duty.
THAT il ny policy" said the mayor: 81 be-
long 20 neither one party or another on this
board; I belong TO seattle I an net going to
put suy politics into The department; I an not
il favor OF removing Chief kellogg TIL az, sat-
isiet il Is necessary TO gss 8 better mar in bis
place I want discipline maintained, and II
Chief kellogg can not keep il. want him out
II there is man who IS rot disposed 20 obey the
CHIEF, want the chief 20 fire him We have =
grave res possibility. Sad II We make any mis-
take in this matter the people viii bold Is 70
strict accountability. an as good 9 friend to
NJ Mcdonald as an 20 NJ. Kellogg; no more.
have discussed this matter with many citizens,
ant I have not found a member even Of nv
own political party vao advises ne 20 make
say change a. present
Commissions KaaaIey replied that eighteen
months ago Republican board with Eepao-
lean mayor entered upon thsir duties. They
kept the old CHIEF and most OF The men because
they were believed 70 BE efficient Yet II vss
desirable % further increase the efficiency. and
10 that end more stringent regulations were in
posed. No man was asked whether he wSs
Democrat or a Republican: il vas only asked
whether hs was Efficient after sixty days P-obs-
ton soma very good reputable Esn ge-.
found 10 De unable 20 stand heat or smoke Or
fatigue. and they we're replaced By Others better
qualified physically fc- the dangers they had 20
encounter.
- never knew" continued NJ Kahsley.
.'aos many Democrats Or how mary R=p2ali-
cans there were il ths department until after
the election, and then I was tod the-e were
forty-seven Democrats and thirty-two Eepubli-
cans. I think now we have come ID Al under
standing about this matter. and the sooner the
board drops This sslk about politics the better
Tie Republicans were determined % keep Doli-
ties our, and : do 10. sPPreheld that TIE Demo
Gratis Will undertake 20 change thg- policy. As
10 the raut.uous spirit. I think the board should
take no stock il il. The irenea are nos KEEP
very busy; rney are apt 10 SET into DISCUSSIONS.
especially during ire excitement % s calpaIs1-
Most Of tie freuea s-s active, lively
fellows, as they need 70 De, with
more than average Intelligence, and where both
parties are represented so fully there Is at 10
he good deal Of tax I rske no stock II IL
the ren are. taken a. whole. manly set OF
fellows, and when the disturbing runors are
Quoted oy TIE declaration OF TINS board that 10
man who does us duty wall has anything .
tsG- every one O. than VIII fsll into line 81 TIE
tap OF The alarm gong" IChesrsl
'.Taa. suits ne, sail the mayor; y promise
Chief kellogg mat viii stand By hin 50 long
IS ne Is chief, sai If have 70 vote against biz
a. say tine u vii be because Iairlk i IS IN lie
interes. Of TIE department. and the city
The board tasa declared = recess, On motion
OF NJ. MaSsl, ua-il next Wednesday svs1l1s.