The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-06-06
THE Ak FALLS AGAIN
Mayor Phelps Once More Sus-
ponds Masel.
THIS TINE FOR INCOMPETENCE.
The Hose Matter Is TIE Cause- Collins
Is Reappointed-Leesiit OF the
step Denied.


department mud5ie last evening. when
Mayor Phelps sent letter 10 ComEnss-
s.oner George T. Nasel informing him
that IA was suspended for cause. and
/ Ehat as soon as possible copy OF the
! charges would BE- sent 20 him. The cause
or this suspension IS that at the last
meeting OF the commission Mr. Nassl
Elaoe motion 10 accept and orfer the
chief 20 put In use the 1000 feet Of Baker
fabric hose. many lengths OF which were
testef az headquarters and found 10 be
totally unfit tor use. The charges have
not been made out. but VIII be based on
the FIRE hose incident and ailege incorn-
potency. The mayor did not take any
one into the secret OF his intended action
and few were aware Of what had taken
place last night when the commission met
TO attend to the regular monthly business.
About O'Clock in the evening the
mayor called stenographer 20 his Office
and commenced debating. He addressed
the following notice 10 City Clerk Stew
art:
You are respectfully informed that I
have this day suspended George r. Masel
from the Office OF fire commissioner in ac-
cordance with the provisions of sections
and 5. OF article XIX. OF the city charter.
and that | have served due notice OF
such suspension upon him, by delivering
notice
The following was sent 10 Mr. Masei:
You are hereby suspended from the
Office OF fire commissioner of the city OF
Seattle, and are hereby notified that a
joint convention OF the members OF the
city council will forthwith be called, at
which convention I viii present charges
against you and ask for your removal for
cause, copies OF which charges viii be
furnished you, all OF which is IN accord
anee with the provisions OF sections I
and of article XIX. OF the city charter"
He followed this up by appointing Jo-
slab Collins, jr.. to fill Nasel's place.
The order Of suspension was placed In
the hands OF Officer Samuel Corbett. and
AT 40 O'Clock in the evening he found
Mr.. Masel and got service. This probably
accounted for the absence of Mr. Masel
when the meeting of the commissioners
was called TO order in the city clerks
Office at the city hall last night about $50
o'clock Clerk CoryeIl read the list Of
members. and when he came TO that OF
Josiah Collins. jr., who was also absent,
both kahaley and Meek raised their eye
brows.
Mayor Phelps then stated that he had
suspended Masel. Kahaiey asked for the
charges. and the mayor said he had not
filed them, but would do SO as soon as
possible.
called Collins name, and the mayor re-
piled that he had appointed him TO fiji the
position. Meek took issue with the mayor
on the appointment OF Collins. claiming
that it could not be done until the legally
elected officer was removed by the coun-
ell The mayor said he was acting on the
advice OF Corporation Counsel Scott
kahaley said he had had legal advice
10 support his position. and should object
n Of rsrG.
present status OF affairs. when Collins
took part. Mr.. Meek had previously
expressed the same idea
The mayor-said they might be correct in
their position. but instructed the clerk 90
read the minutes of the previous meeting.
Then the communication from the coun-
Gil concerning the rejection OF the ap-
pointment of Gardner Kellogg as chief,
was filed
Attention was called TO the order OF the
previous meeting requiring ex-Assistant
Chief Sullivan to appear and state why
he offered his resignation. Jones said
that the commission had no right 10 or
der Mr.. Sullivan to appear. but II he de-
sired TO do so 1t was all right The mayor
said Sullivan mad been a good fireman
and he was willing 10 hear from him.
Sullivan came forward and stated that
his reason for resigning was that after
Allen was elected chief he had been ig-
nored.
Allen. who was in the audience. arose
and said he would like to know when
Sullivan had been ignored, but the com
mtsioners did not care to have a personal
discussion between the ex-chief and ex-
assistant chief, so tina matter Was
dropped.
The commission thought OF adjournlng.
but Kahaley said that. as there was no
chief or assistant chief OF the department.
. =-.v -r.S4a ste ~F1
some one. He said in substance that there
was no fire department.
Mayor Phelps took exception to this
statement and said he felt proud OF the
department and the way the men held
together IN the face OF adverse circum-
stances.
Jones preferred 10 let the matter go
over until the Masel matter was disposed
of and there was a fun board.
Meek said the people were getting tired
of the fire department trouble, and that
while he preferred a full commission, he
believed something ought TO be done.
Mayor Phelps thought chief should
be selected as soon as possible. but under
the circumstances he did not know hut
It was as we'll to let the matter be de-
ferred H had confidence in Acting Chief
Clark.
Meek said he had confidence I'm Clark.
/ hut Clark was no; clothed with author
i+V TO do ne saw III Win the depart
ment. as the commission could not dele
gate powers.
The commission then adjourned. Other
business transacted was as follows:
Estimate Of expenses 81 the department
for July sTI7S.50: approved.
Report OF fires for May showed nine
teen alarms. with insurance. losses, etc.
unfooted: filed.
Report that Thomas o'Hara. Of hook
and ladder No l. failed 70 respond to an
alarm for a fire at the head Of the bay.
and az the same IRE the horses OF hook
and ladder No became loose by acct
dent while the driver was putting on the
harness and were not secured until next
morning: referred
Fire ComnllsS orer Nasea when seen las.
night sat4. ~ had - work uu.i} Il O'Clock
-,,rrlxht or would have been a. the meet
srE received the mayors n0tice % sus-
r7s-s~.1 aboti. In -he eversng. bat =
vas Tot On shat account that VAS T1c't
-,-eserst. 7 sent eC.na orpe n 70 ask tfst
the meeting be pos poEgszd- Z, was TEly in
-entfon. II 7 had been present.. - ask
hat the commission request the COUNCIL
>, me- -vs-fl = and -afk over the u1af5er
~ r1es-tsrg a chbef who VII he sgreea-ale
:, All -sarttsx I an a. DESTROYS of s-el1g
as mater settled as ss1e next nan As
=, $40 e.lsarrr. y I1cogu1etercy. l have
--,.1,f-ee~ - say Let tas mayor go Il