The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-12-03
MASEL CASE ENDED.
Council DismiSSes the Charges
Against the Absentee.
Delegates Adopt the Aldermen's SOL
emn Pledge on the Water Ques-
tion-Railroad Franchises.

An end was reached in the long contin-
ued so-called trial OF Fire Commissioner
Masel last night by the city council dis
missing the charges against him. The fin
ale was marked with a grand display OF
verbal pyrotechnics. The case was brought
up in joint convention by Crichton moving
that the council take up the charges. Cor
poration Counsel Scott said that on behalf
of the mayor he would dismiss the
charges. AS Masel had removed from the
city, he had vacated his office, and as the
council could not punish a man for any
thing, il would be useless 20 try the
charges. He reviewed the history OF the
case, and said that in his opinion man
could not hold public Office and remove
from the city. 1t was incompatible with
the duties of a public office that an officer
should remove from the city for the pur-
pose OF securing employment, to return
whenever he should think best to suit his
own convenience. The only object of fill
ing charges against an officer is to re-
move him from office: this council cannot
punish man. II can only render judg-
ment that a man ought to be removed
from office. Now, If he has removed him
self, Judgment of removal would be SIM
ply nonsense. For that reason the cor
poratiou counsel refused TO further ap
pear in the prosecution of the charges.
The mayor had told them that he has re-
moved from the city. and the mayor can
not now ask the council TO render any
judgment one way or the other.
Jordon--We are not packed jury.
Scott never packed a jury do not
practice law that way.
Jordan-The difference between US and a
packed jury is that we have a Judgment
OF our own, and that a packed jury has
been previously bought We are told that
n hAranSA ia went
to find work The question is whether the
man had right TO go as free citizen
to get employment. and come back as soon
as he was needed. He has been malgned
and the public has been led 10 believe THAI
he was a thief-a robber. 1t was his mis-
fortune to be elected an officer Of the city,
but it was not a crime. The question is.
has Mr. Masel left the city or not The
mayor says he has, Mr.. Masel says he
has not. I think this body is ready TO get
through with this case, and l therefore
move you that the charges against Masel
be "sanctifed' according TO
the words OF the charter.
Lovejoy-I move you, as an amendment
10 DR.. Jordans motion, that we cease 20
further consider the charges filed against
Mr.. Masel.
A discussion then enused as to the rights
of the council, and what the proper method
OF procedure was, and the longer the men,
bers talked the deeper they seemed to get.
Motions, amendments and substitutes came
thick and fast. Voigt finally got the floor
and made speech that brought on a con-
flict between him and Wiley. He wanted 10
put himself on record as claiming that the
council had the right to dismiss the charges
whenever it saw lit, Notwithstanding the
opinions of the hired attorney" He agreed
with DR.. Jordan that it was certainly I'M
fortunate that certain persons were elect
ed 10 office, and he frequently had that
feeling when the council was in joint ses-
sion.
WIley-The gentleman who has just
spoken has played every part in this case
from witness to Judge, and to advocate"
Voigt Carbohydrates that? I deny
that. have played no part, l have done
my duty.
President Daulton was pounding his
desk with his gavel, trying TO stop the
hubbub, but Wiley got in that he was
sorry Darwin had not prosecuted his
search IN the Sixth ward. He was quick
~ interrupted by Voigt, who, trembling
with anger. advanced towards Mr.. Wiley.
and told him that II he thought he could
make such statements as that, he was mis-
taken, even II he was six inches taller than
himself. Daulton finally got order. and
Hurd wanted to know If they were going
to be compelled to sit there night after
night and listen 10 that kind of talk.
The previous question was moved on the
Loveioy amendment to cease consider
ing the charges, which was lost. The
question then came up on Jordan's motion,
and the roll call was asked After a dis
cuss!on as TO the vote required, CTlchton
said motion TO sanctify was only IN or
der after the charges had been heard. but
for vote Of guilty or not guilty it would
require a twO-th!rds vote, and for a mo-
ton TO dismiss only a majority
Compton moved and elise seconded
motion 70 reconsider the Lovei0y motion.
Mr.. Wiley-The proper way 20 straight
en- out matters Is TO declare the motion Of
DR. Jordan premature and out Of order
DR. Jordan-Hear HINT We are doing
the best we can and you 20 to work 10
upset everybody and everything.
Mr.. Wiley flushed up and went over TO
Or. Jordan, saying he was doing nothing
Of the sort. He tried 70 explain but the
doctor wouldn't hear him. They seemed
10 be QuarTelng. and when Mr.. Wiley saw
a chance. as he thought, to get in a word
or two he began, Now. / think but Dr.
Jordan retorted, Yes, you think, and II
you are going TO do my thinking you eau
do my voting" and he wh.sked himself
into the adjoining chamber.
Finally Goodhue moved that the charges
be dismissed. which was Immediately sec
onGed BY Gleason and put 70 the vote
Fifteen voted for II and one against, the
vote being as follows:
Anderson. elise. Compton, Lovcjoy,
Sweeney. Chapman, Gleason. Goodhue
Hurd. James. Kistler. Little. Volgt, erich
ton, Daulton. Jordan and Brewer were
excused and Miller voted no.
The assessment roll for the improve
ment Of Willard and Harvard streets was
approved and the assessment roll for the
Improvement OF Anna street was post
s.lnrF FOR fv-1 srF-q