The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-06-09


the day TIE case vas called for trial Lass
February Hunt took Sight 70 Canada
IT'S action OF course left the Department
without 4 chief. ard before any one knew
anything IS % the fUEstfve's whereabouts
Or motives for going. Mayor Phelps rush
Cd into print prnclaiu1fng HUNTS persor@i
worth ard his ability as fireman. Never
tbeless & vas necessary that his success
scr be chosen The commissioners unan-
iHo1lsIy voted that tire Office y as vacant
BIZ reason Of the fight OF the Incumbent.
but 2fr. Phelps registered q negative vote
Commissioners Kahaiey and Meek assert
that these things make y clear that AF-
Phelps up % this time, was an opstFde-
ZIONIST and that al OF the trouble IN the
deparfrnent. as borne cut IL his subsequent
actions proceeded from the mayor, who
lost no opportunity TO display personal
hostility TO the individuals and officiais
opposing him IN the fight
But in the matter OF Hunts successor
the choice % the Republican commission
ers. a. repeatedly made known, v a. tfaTd-
rser Kellogg They were not only support
ed in that choice BY the people electing
them bat BY petitions signed by nearly
/ 90 business men and taxpayers repre-
senffug property valued al many millions
OF dollars Numerous ones OF the very
wealthy men and persons OF large prop
eTty interests personally waited upon the
mayor in MIR Keiloggs behalf The com
nfssfoners contended meanwhile that their
choice was not a personal one. but that it
was reached on the grounds or compe-
tency and efficiency.
Mayor Phelps was not idle these days.
He requested the members Of the mousse OF
delegates 10 signify their choice for chlet
and he represented that he would ne
guided by the selection made. ~ vote
OF seven to two the preference Of the del
=
But that was not the way the mayor
wanted IT, He refused 10 be guided by
the men he had ~ his own choice selected
TO pilot him. StiIi the time for an ap-
pointment to be made was near at hand
and he had to act
I'm the meantime Commissioner Masel.
who had heretofore uniformly voted with
the mayor, having made certain investiga-
tons determined 10 act in the matter OF
an appointment with the Republican COM
mssioners. and named Kellogg as HUM $
successor The other Democratic com
missioner not wishing TO be ia minor
itv. stated that he would vote 10 make
the election OF Kellogg unanimous. Win
that intention they went TO the meetihs
where. to their utter establishment, they
were met with 81 request that eZ-Assistant
Fire chief NARROW be appointed. That re-
ouest came from the delegates. who, nnd-
ina. that the mayor could not be reconclied
10 MIR Keilogg's appointment, had seiect-
ed NARROW as their second cholce Ac-
cordingly NARROW was named Dy the com
mission. only Masel voting against ms
nomination However, he was not con-
firned his name having been Withdrawn
az the request of some of the members of
the council who petitioned Tor the ap-
pointment
kellogg was then nominated. Mayor
Phelps and one commissioner voting
against him The eA-chief failed or con
frmation. whereupon the commission
named Alexander Allen. u. The councli
also rejected Aliens name. Kellogg was
nominated a second time, and the coun-
ell BY a tic vote again failed TO confirm
the appointment The commission took
M Allen again. and when his name was
presented a second time to the council Ne
was confirmed and duly installed as chief
OF the Seattle fire department.
THE selection OF Mr.. Allen, who was
young for the position and more or less
inexperienced. the Republican members
of the fire board now after a thorough
trial say was unwise. Soon after his APP
pointnent some very ugly rumors as to
tho internal workings of the department
and conduct of tine tremen fioated our
from main headquarters. y meeting Was
called for the purpose of an investigation
Mr. Phelps. whom the Republican com
pacity to assassinate private character
in tho matter OF his charges against Po-
lice Commissioner Cheasty. put in an ap-
poarance and before anything could be
done suspended Commissioners Masel his
action was not sustained, the charges
after an Investigation by the council be-
ing dismissed.
Mr. Aliens administration as chief be-
coming more and more unsatisfactory TO
. sfssa NHlTfE IL
ing Of the board was held for the pur-
pose of removing him. Owing TO the alb
sence from the city Of Mayor Phelps
action was twice deferred. At the third
meeting called especially for the purpose
Mr. Phelps was present and the board
suspended Alien. nominated Kellogg Tor
permanent chief naming Clark as a
temporary head Of the department.
The members who voted for this change
We're: Kahaley, Meek and Masel. May or
Phclns and his cousin, Commissioner 7.
T. Jones. dissenting. But the council by a
vote of 10 10 still refuses 10 confirm
Mr. Kellogg as chief and today the de-
paEtment is without head
The commissioners who have sup
ported the cause of Kellogg in this mat
ter ask where tho trouble lies The Re
publican members very naturally say that
no person who voted for them can blame
them for making an honest effort TO
carry out the viii OF the people as eN-
pressed at the polls on March, 1891. AS
commissioners they assert that not one
word has been SAID by them to obstruct
the Noice Of the board: that whenever
defeated by the votes OF their Democratic
associates. aided by the mayor, they have
been co0tented and manfully have abided
ny the result with no desire or intention
whatever 10 obstCuct the proceedings
They ask how has IL been on the other
hand claiming that no action Of the
commission not voted for 10y Mayor
Phelps has hcen received by him in any
other spirit but opposition. They charge
that his personal feeling towards an in
dlvidual has characterized every act OF
his in the commission. The further con-
trutior IS made by the Republican com
mlSsioacys that at no time when Mr.
kcllosE's name VAS before the council
would it have failed Of confirmation but
for tie personal opposition Of Mayor
Phelps and Comptroller Parry. and this
I'm the face Of promises made 10 the con
trsry.
''The charge IS made that Mayor PHELPS
IS cou'eutei only when he can dictate TO
the boari and that he considers any
action mo-. coururred GA hy him as in
frirrlnE ou his rights ss mayor.
Time and again th@ commissioners So v
they have requested Mr Phelps 10 give
ore good reason why he could not sup
port the choice ~ tho board but that his
honor has as often failed 10 10 so They
have repeatedly osfcr,si 10 abandon KEEL
'oEg should any or, show aHch1 against
him rs "a man or "a brennan The alleCa-
jinn IS very freely made 10y the commits
Slpners that SIR Phelps is taking his
orders iu This matter from some one else.
''KgferrinE 90 Ronalds action In rcnov-
INK Chi"f kellogg Mr. Phelps in n CON
NerS3}loD with Commissioner kahalcy
a@out oue year ago. SaiE. III was very