The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-03-18
THE ISSUE RAISED.
Chief Hunt Must Prove Legality
of His Citizenship.
CHANGES IN THE FEDERAL COURT
I've Ototemsnto Hard 70 Reconeile-A
Mystery ~ to Two Warrants
Needs Explaininx.

The fight against A. B. Hunt, chief of
the fire department. has gone one step
farther, and to all appearances will be
transferred from the fire commissioners
to the United States commissioners
courtA Fire Commissioner Kahaley has
hied An information with Assistant United
States District Attorney Kiefer, in which
he alleges that Chief Hunt obtained his
naturalization papers by fraud.
The question of the place of Hunts
birth seems to be somewh hat mixed, and on
this point the fight will be made based on
varying statements made under different
circumstances. In the minor papers which
the present chief took out October "a,
1892, he swore that be was . native of
Canada. and when he entered the fire de-
partment in 1889. he stated to Chief Kel-
logg that he was born in Grand Rapids.
Mich. The matter now rests in the hands
OF Mr.. Kieter, but it is probable that
warrant will be issued today or Monday.
The United States law on obtaining natur-
slization papers by fraud is as follows:
Sec 5.42a Every person who uses, or attempts
TO use, or aida, assists, or participates in the
use OF any certificate, knowing the same to be
forged, or to have been procured by fraud or
otherwise unlawfully obtained: o: who without
lawful excuse, il knowingly possessed of any
false or counterfeit certificate of citizenship,
purporting to have been issued under the pro-
visions OF any law of the United States relating
to naturalization, knowing such certificate to
DO false. forged or counterfeit, with intent
unlawfully to use the same, or obtains, accepts
or receives any certificate of citizenship known
70 such person 70 have been procured by fraud
or By the use of any false name, or BY means OF
any false statements made with intent to pro-
n nrnc n iaau n
certificate. or known tosuch person to be fraud
I uientiy altered or antedated; and every person
who has been or may Be admitted to be citizen
who, on oath or by affidavit, knowingly denies
that he has been so admitted, with intent to
evade or avoid any duty or liability imposed or
required by law. shall be imprisoned at hard la
Dor not less than one year nor more than i've, or
be fined not less than $500 nor more than $1,000,
or both ouch punishments may be imposed.
Simultaneously with this charge comes
question relating to the issuing of two
warrants without the sanction of the fire
commissioners for the payment of the sal
aries of the present chief and r. A. Miller
while they were under suspension by Chief
Kellogg last summer. How the bills were
engineered through promises to be inter-
esting.
Chief kellogg suspended A. B. Hunt and
r. A. Miller in the first part OF June, 1892,
on the charge of characterization. July 20
following the fire commissioners reinstated
them on the ground that the charges were
not brought within the statutory limita-
ton. Commissioner Foster moved to al
low them pay during the time Of suspen-
sion. but this was opposed by Com
missioners Masel, Jones and Kaha-
ley. Since that time, by some
means. and without the knowledge
Of Commissioners Kahaley and Jones,
bills have been presented for the time
during which Hunt and Miller were sus-
pended, and on October 10 last were al
lowed. in addition to their regular salaries.
The records show the following under
that date: Warrant $3.50, r. A. Miller,
$50; warrant S,549. A. B. Hunt. $50. and
the additional, warrant s, 436, Miller, $3.50;
warrant 8, 437, Hunt, $l05.5O.
Commissioner Kahaley said yesterday
that he should like to know for his own
personal information how those bills were
paid when the commissioners refused to
allow them. He also wonders how they
went through without being approved by
Chief Kellogg. Mr.. Kahaley does not be-
lieve that the bills were put through in
the regular order and would like to have
the matter Investigated.