The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-06-18
THE MASEL CHARGES
Trial Begun Last Night Before
the City Council.
TESTIMONY ON THE HOSE JEST.
Front Street to Be Paved and Have
Conduits-Te>t Case on Charter
Election Voted.

pied the attention Of the city council last
night for little over two hours Only
about half the witnesses for the prosecu-
ton we're on the stand. but their evidence
Vas enough TO establish the fact that the
hose was unfit for use and that Masel
was not present al either test. From the
questions asked by the defense IL was
plain that Masel will attempt 10 show
that he believed the hose came from a
nrst-cIass house and II unsatisfactory,
would be replaced The chamber where
the trial was held was crowded with city
officials. including the fire commission
ers. Chief OF Police Rogers, and also ex-
Chief OF the Fire Department Gardner
Kellogg. All the members of the two
houses were present when the trial Was
begun. except Jordan. and he came in
later. Clerk Coryell read the minutes Of
the last meeting and, at the request OF
crichton, read the charges against Masel
In fun.
Corporation Counsel Scott said he was
ready to go on with the trial, and 1t was
ordered but Wiley. who appeared for
Masei. objected on the ground OF lack of
Jurisdiction OF either the council or the
FIRE commission He read from the city
ordinances relative 10 purchases by the
city TO show that the board of public
1'orks was the purchasing agent and
sole Judge. He said he could not find
anything in the charter that gave the
fire commissioners anything to do with
the purchase Of hose. The ordinance
gave the purchasing power to the board
OF public works The commissioners
might discuss action. bur go no further.
Before a public official could be charged
with being derolct. II must be on the
matter in which he had authority. A
reference to free silver caused some mer-
riment.
Corporation Counsel Scott replied that
Mr.. Wiley was correct to a certain ex-
tent. The board OF public works was
the purchasing agent Of the city. but If
an officer or head Of department took
any step that would defraud the city he
was culpabie. He said il was time TO find
out If a commission had nothing TO say
about goods purchased by the board Of
public works. In the present case the
board of public works had done its duty
ana the hose was in the charge of the
ire department at headquarters. The
ire commissioners have power TO do a
thing for the good of the department and
who had the authority, II not the COM
missioners, to order the chief of the de-
partment 10 put the Baker fabric hose
IN use. The commissioners certainly had
the power to order the chief not to go 10
a fire with rotten hose.
Wiley replied that the hose was pur-
chased by special ordinance. not under
the general ordinance, and then quoted
poetry. tending to show that the mayor
was lord of all he surveyed" The
poetry was all right. but it did not pro-
woke as much amusement as anticipated
Wiley declared: Il say that Masel is
no more responsible to this tribunal for
his utterances at that meeting than if lie
mad been on the street"
Niley's objections were oyerr1Iled and
then Sweeney called for the reading of
the minutes of the meeting AT which Ma
| sci made his celebrated motion"
elise told Sweeney the case would he
| settled quicker If the corporation coun
sci was allowed 10 conduct the case as he
| saw fit.
George f. Meacham. secretary of the
| board OF public works, was the first Wit
ness. and through him the contract for
| LOO feet Of Baker fabric 2ib-inch 3r,l.
| nose, IN good condition. entered into be-
| tween the board of public works and
| Mitchell. Lewis & Staver. was brought
| our. The contract called for a replacing
! OF the hose If 1t was not all right and
u4d not DO good service for forty-eigh:
| months At the request OF Wiley the or
! finance Which was drawn In accoria nee
| win the contract was read. Scott imme-
| diately offered the ordinance in evidence.
| whey objected. but was overruled
| }. '" Van Rrockiin. of the board OF
| public works. testified that there were
| two tests of the Baker fabric hose The
II,
next day two lengths burst at about go
| and no pounds pressure. One length was
| put mp 20 $40, and the coupling flew off
| one length stretched seven feet nine
| inches at $40 pounds pressure The
lengths tested were fifty feet long Tho
| test was made with a small plunger with
| six or seven inch stroke Such a stroke
| with a 5i2-inch steam piston would he
| harder on the hose, because Of the larger
| volume OF water and swirter current Van
| Bro-klin thought the hose was not fit to
| be placed IN the department.
James asked If the counsel for the de-
| Tense was going 10 follow his previous
method OF obtcCtinG II a member WAS all
| sent even from the room
Wiley replied THAI ne would raise his
| objections as they appeared 70 him.
| In answer % questions from Ioveiov.
| Van Brocklin said Masel was not present
| al the test. and that 900 pounds was not
too much of a test.
! Ralph Cook. acting captain Of company
! No. l. testified that h. handled the
/ gauge at the tests. on MAY 81 tNo
! lengths we're tested A. Ito and 94a mounds
/ and he couplings flew of TIE next
| leoCIb was teStei after tho rings haf heer1
/ expanded. AMI Il stood So. His account
| % rhe second days test was no. different
! from that given n tho PoS.-Intc lligerrer
az tho time of The test. Cook thought .
| hose should stand Ao pounds a least.
| a. re Mechanics mill fire there was
| 2.eo| fee ~ hose OUT. AMI ar Tho nozzle
| the press lre was fort y-Hv,, rounds Tho
/ frs, few lengths from -he engine vo.,Id
/ have 70 stand i5' pounds a. least New
| hose -ha' could no- stand 81 pounds was
! Wcrt HESS Tor q fire dep9rt meOt. He efso
/ slil fhat re pressure from a FIRE engine
/ N3S H8r3-.- on a hose than that from
/ rho gauge rSf7i On rrosS-exarl7i-qtfo
/ Wiley eNer-ri all his powers 10 confuse
| Cook hut -" witness was 50 We'll .n-