The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-01-19
RoTTEN BRICK IN The SEWERS
Democrats Determined to Remove All
Obstacles TO Jobbery.
Confidence - Unhiushtng ciee over
the Success of the Fios-Msyer Rom
AIDS Burning Indignation.


er.ly be sver,ed by prompt and decisive
measures on the part of the betrayed and
wronged citizens. The Democratic ma
chine has secured full control Of the work
on the public sewers with all the advant-
ages that will afford by what Mayor Ron
aid in righteous indignation denounces
as - sacrifice of the public welfare to
reckless and unscrupulous partisanship.'
With lying, treachery and deceit two
members of the board OF public works yes
terday removed Reginald II. Thompson
from the Office of city engineer and ap-
pointed Edwin Hall Warner. thereby
removing the only obstacle to as unblush-
ing and reckless iobbery, political and PEI
cuniary. as ever disgraced the city.
The usual meeting OF the board takes
place on Thursday at 5 O'Clock. but yes
terday at that hour the three commission
ers. j. w. Van Brocklin. Jesse Cochran
and ]. y. Wolfe, were absent from the
room. holding conferences with various
Democratic ward politicians in differ
ent corners of the city hall. L.
q. Heifner was also busily engaged
with other members of the kid" COM
mittee. A reporter of the Posr-isrELhf-
aEScER, about 4 O'Clock and again at i:So
O'Clock. csked IL meeting would be held.
NO" said Heifner. Wolfe was asked the
same question and he not only denied
that there would be meeting that day
but volunteered the information that no
meeting would be held till next Monday.
Five minutes after. at five minutes OF D
O'Clock, and after the reporters had lett
the room. the members entered by differ
ent doors and Cochran called the meeting
to order. The reporters re-entered the
room.
II move" said Commissioners Wolfe,
shat the Office of city engineer DO de-
clared vacant"
.Is there a second to the motion7'
asked Cochran.
.No. sir,- replied Van Brocklin. II
don't believe in swapping horses when We
are crossing a stream"
"well,' responded Wolfe. II don't be-
lieve that ii IL proper for subordinate 70
dictate to mis- superiors.
There vas pause. during which Coch-
ran looked around for help which did not
come.
WELL" he remarked, at length. Il
guess xe'li declare the Office vacant"
aNow." said Wolfe, II move that Edwin
Hall Warner be appointed city engineer. :"
ANY second ?" asked Cochran.
Again Van Brocklin replied. "Not from
me-
"well. then" said Cochran. WAR
ner will be city engineer. This thing has
heen bothering me ever since ] have been
in Office
Van Brockiin mutiered something to
which Wolfe replied: IL suppose you will
work with Warnerf"
"He is friend of mine and will try to
work in harmony with him" said Van
Brocklin.
The board thereupon adjourned. Wolfe
remarking that he saw no need while the
sewer work was going on OF meeting more
than once a week.
The mem bers seized their hats but were
stopped long enough to be interviewed.
Van Brockiin merely disclalmed any re-
sponsihility and refused TO talk.
/ Wolfe said his reason was that Tbom-
son had been guilty of characterization.
"In what respect ?" he was asked.
After considerable hesitation Wolfe re-
| nlied: "He would not hand in his resig-
nation when We wanted him 20.
what does ali this mean" Heifner
was asked.
at means simply that we've got a
Democrat in at last" replied he with
| flushed face and embarrassed manner.
What have you to say. Mr.. Cochran p
"Gnty that 1 never had such an ex-
perience in my life. could not resist the
| pressure
What pressuref"
| "oh. I've had about twenty men talking
to me for four hours. just couidn's
stand H."
The members then quickly left the city
] hall and the news was conveyed to Mayor
! Ronald in his Office He was amayed and
| inclined TO doubt II.
Barely half an hour ago." he said,
Cochran pledged me his word that he
! would not be a party TO the scheme.
| Wolfe also promised me that he would no,
| interfere with Thomson during my term. y
| "What do you think OF the whole
| AFFAIR." he was asked.
| II consider il a shameful sacrifice of the
| public welfare TO ru,nous and reckless
/ partisanship." he replied. Il deplore II
as mos; unwise from political
standpoint, and as shame
/ ful betrayal of my confidence
| | shall sift the matter to the bottom, and
| if IL becomes necessary 10 protect I'll.
e,ty's interests, will ask the council q
/ suspend work on the sewers until / car
| get st the true inwardness. I rely on th,
| public spirit Of the city council TO stanc
by roe"
Mayor Ronald begged TO beexcused. ant
| calling his stenogrspher locked himself II
/ his room. An honr or so later Cochran
and Wolfe each received letter from th'
! mayor, reminding them of their pledge
| and calling for their designations.
There vas meeting Of the board of nj
dermen in the evening. but all refused I.
| speak on the subject. DR.. j. 3. Kioeber
! president Of the house of delegates, and
| Democrat, was ouispoken and emphatic.
II have always stood By Thomson. 81
| though he 10 a Republican. because he I
competent, experienced and faithful. Hi
! removal n this time and under such cir
c1rEistanee. Is the crowning act of imbe
cility Of board OF public works tna, IA
beer incompetent from its inception.
The trouble has been bresing for lon
time. ba. the immediate occasion va
/ Tnorasoaa "'inronvenlent scrupiss
agasns; eonniving at the Iobber
/ In reference TO the puYchas
OF brick, aud his refusal I
make room for number Of men who's