The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-01-25
RUNNING TO COVER.
ImpeachmentProceedings Scare
the Wreckers.
TRYING TO FIX WITNESSES.
Wolfe and Cochran Covering Their
Traeks-Their Backsrs Turning
to the New Men.

The scared wolves of the Democratic
party are running hither and thither in
search for cover. Their principal task
just now is TO run down all those who are
likely to be witnesses against Wolfe and
Cochran n; their trial for wrongdong as
members Of the board of publ, works and
Iniimidate them so that their testimony
will be weak and yielding before cross-ex-
animation. Mayor Ronald said yesterday
that he intended hearing the charges even
II IL was to be followed by everlasting
revenge on the part of the city hall
wreckers. He declares that he hopes never
TO seek another political office and he is
prepared 10 ..go down with co.ors flying"
The situation is not a particularly
strained one If the people are content to
see hundreds of dollars FILTERED away be-
tween this time aud the election. The
work on the sewers is performed by
iaborers who are in the main accustomed
10 the use of pick and shovel. So
far as their work IS concerned,
when they are put to it. little
fault can be found. The extragance to
which Wolfe and Cochran have lent them
selves. and of which Mayor Ronald COM
plains, IS in putting on important work
ex-bartendeTs and subordinate clerks as
foremen who know no more about super
intending such work than. as one of the
men expressed il, "a cat knows about
Sundays, If competent foremen were
employed, the men even OF no experience
could pe shown what TO do and how to do
it. As it is, a man is simply told 70 get in
and dig, while the foreman patrols the
edge OF the sewer aud looks on or talks
politics with chums from his ward.
Superintendent Ryan is said 10 have re-
sented the statement that he only puts
Democrats TO work. This statement was
repeated 10 one who knows and he replied:
Tim Ryan poke the truth. There have
been Republicans and Populists pat 10
work, but they were tired as soon as the
discovery was made. Tim Ryan is not
much IN the councils of the three states
men. A. q. Lane. Neal Adair and c. g.
HeIfner. he has sort of rugged, native
honesty about him which makes him very
inconvenient 10 handle. 1t is agreed that
he shall keep away from the city hal, and
Neal AGasr will send him the men to
put on. /"
The talk of impeaching the mayor goes
on, but nobody has seen the first scratch
Of the pen towards formulating the
charges. The fact is that outside the i'm
mediate employees of the board Of puolic
works the Democratic politicians do not
care much how the charges go. If the in
vestigation is farce they will say, ~ on see.
We are quite innocent" II the charges are
proved. Wolfe and Cochran will be re-
moved aud their places given to Leander
Miller and r. H. Calligan, who are
thoroughgoing Democrats and would be
as little likely 10 give Republicans posi-
tions as Wolfe and Cochran, but who have
enough political sagacity TO keep them
from rank plumbers. The only difference
is that some Democrats cou go out OF
Office and others could go in.
Ii Cochran and Wolfe are declared not
guilty of the charges made and remain In
office and the people vote as they talk, the
rev administration will not be in olilce
% weeks before those worthless may be
on trial. and if removed their places would
probably be filed by another Democrat aud
a Republican. This many Democrats tor
see and they would rather have in Miller
and Csliigan. who codld not be removed
for cause"