Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-10-01
WANTS TO BE VINDIoATED
Kinghorn Asks For a Committee of In.
Yestigation-Sriffin va. Edwarda


vestigation-Griffin VS.. Edwards
The city council met in adjourned
regular session yesterday afternoon at 2
O'Clock with Mayor Mckenzie in the
chair, but only four members present
Councilmen Hedge, Griffin, Aubrey
and Kingdom. The meeting having
been agreed upon for the special pur-
pose of considering the Seventeenth
street sewer matter and three members
of the council being absent Mr. Griffin
thought it would be better to defer
further consideration of the question
until all members could be present. He
desired, however, before adjournment
to say that he had heard that certain
employe of the city had been indulg-
ing in good deal Of talk about bood-
ling, alleging corruption on the part of
Mr.. Kingdom, Mr. Aubrey and him
self, and perhaps others. He objected
to paying out city money to men to
make insinuations or general allega-
tions against city officials, and accord
ingly moved that ID. b. Edwards, in
spector on the Hopkins sewer contract,
be notified by the clerk to at once pre-
fer his charges in the proper manner, if
he has any to make, or his services will
be dispensed with. So ordered.
The executive committee reported fa-
vorably on the following bills, which
were allowed:
Patterson, janitor fire hall. IS 40 90
J A Blakely, city marshal....... 100 90
l. w Sloan, police. 20 90
Alfred Marshall, police. 20 90
The city engineer addressed the coun-
"A l. 4.
what he regarded as reflections upon
him contained in the executive COM
mttee's report upon sewer contract No.
s. Mr.. Hedge, chairman of the eXecu-
tive committee, replied, disclaiming
any intention to censure.
Mr.. Kingdom desired to be heard
few moments before adjournment. He
said that so long as criticism of his
course as a councilman was confined to
the papers he had cared very little
about it, but he had seen a statement
in Thursdays HERALD relating to him
and purporting to come from the
mayor, which he had expected to see
cOntradicted the following morning.
But no such contradiction appearing,
he desired to have the mayor explain
himself further, which he did very
promptly and clearly, saying:
There was a wrong. a very grievous
wrong about TO be perpetrated against
the city TO the tune OF at least 5000 /
was never in all my life brought in such
close proximity to such "A job, and from my
standpoint | have no recourse but TO at
tach the blame TO the chairman of the
sewer committee. The matter can only
be viewed from two standpoints, and in
either case some explanation Is due. If
the chairman Of the sewer committee vis-
tied the scene Of the proposed sewer
change from Sixteenth to Seventeenth
street, he must have known that the
change advised would entail great addi-
tional expense without any corresponding
benefit, and that he would therefore be
instrumental in the preparation Of a
fraud upon the city. II he did not visit
the place he is still culpable, though In a
less degree, for recommending something
of which he had no knowledge, but con-
cerning which ii was his duty TO be ad
vised"
Let me ask YOU" said Mr.. King
horn, what is your definition of the
word swindle?n
{" have already stated it," replied
the mayor. 81 mean "A great and grew
Gus wrong about to be perpetrated
against the city"
Mr.. Kinghorn said that he had sat
quietly III the council and listened
without reply to the allegations made
against him because he did not wish to
be " misquoted or misinterpreted.u He
now asked that i'm justice to himself a
committee be appointed to inquire into
and report upon all the circumstances
of his connection with the alleged
sewer swindle, and asked further that
a majority of the committee consist of
Mr.. Donovan and Mr.. Hedge.
The mayor thought the request
proper one and Mr.. Aubrey moved that
1t be granted, Mr.. Hedge seconding. 1t
was so ordered and the mayor ap-
pointed Hedge, Donovan and Griffin.
MIR. Griffin asked to be excused, stating
as a reason that at the time Of election
and to some extent since he was
thought to be mixed up with King
horn" The mayor then appointed Mr..
Aubrey. Mr.. Hedge also desired to be
excused, but his wishes were not re-
spected.
The old petition for the improvement
of Tenth street from the north side of
Mill avenue TO the center of Douglas
avenue was again brought before the
council and referred to the committee
on streets and public property.
The council then adjourned to D. m.
Monday and the clerk was directed to
notify absent members and particularly
request their attendance.
Baum, the grocer, is closing out.