The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-05-05
BARBER DOHERTY's TROUBLES.
Confusion In tho Tacoma Department.
or Public Works.


Tacoma. May A-speciai.-confusion has
been in control of the department of pub
lie works. over which Mayor F3wcett APP
pointed Thomas Doherty TO preside. all
day today. A new force Of clerks was put
TO work at the desks and behind the coun-
ter In the water and light department.
but Commissioner Doherty's appointees
have not been able to do anything toward
Strengthening out the tangle, owing to the
fact that the big vault containing the
books and records Of the department has
remained closed and locked since COM
missioner Of Public Works r. b. Mullen
was thrown out by the police The new
men spent the day sitting around writing
their names on slips OF paper and trying
| to look pleased.
Mr. Doherty announced last night that
one OF Mr.. Mullen's clerks. who was In
possession Of the combination to the vault
had agreed to show up this morning and
open the vault. 1t Is understood that the
man was promised that IL he would fur
nish the commissioner with the books he
would be retained in the Office. But when
the hour arrived for the opening of the
once the employe OF the old board did
not put In an appearance. and the Office
was conducted without the much-desired
books
Late this afternoon Commissioner Do
herty effected an arrangement with Irv-
~.
whereby the latter Is to open the vault the
first thing tomorrow morning Webb has
been offered a permanent position In the
department IN payment for the service,
and has accepted. Webb is a Republican
and no one believes that the Populist COM
mittec viii allow Doherty to retain him
after the affairs OF the office have set
tied down.
That the city would be without nsht
was q forerone conclusion when II became
known yesterday that the old employees
of the boerd were dismissed and new men
appointed 10 their places. Electrician
Bachelet was not successful in starting
tho light station and the result was that
not more than a third of the arc circuits
were run last night. An attempt was
made 20 throw the blamc on the OLD men
and the new employees started n story
that the wires had been cut and the ma
chinery tempered With. This story Is
wholly false. although an effort was made
this morning 20 give u sernhiance Of
truth. Commissioner Doherfy himself
stated this afternoon that as far as he
knew no wires were found cut and he had
not authorized any one 90 charge the cd
employees with such conduct Electrician
Burt johnson Indignantly denied The
statssnent sent out by the Associated
Press last night that the wires had been
cut and that the men under his orders
had Quit work. II was stated that the dv-
namo operator. Frank Preston. refused "a
80 TO work this morning. and that his ac-
ton wa. partly the cause Of the trouble
According 20 the best evidence obtairahla
Preston went 20 work al the usual time
as bad been agreed. and was put out Of
the station by the police The statement
that the eight trirnmers also deserted their
posts, which was started for the purpo~s
Of throwing S,screiit and blame ur,orl the
administration Of Mr.. Mullen. Is also pro-
nouncet untrue by the men themselves
and others who were in a position 10 know
the facts.
The greatest Indignation prevails a-nonr
the patrons 81 tho light dcpartrnen. ana
people generally. at the confused state ~
affairs that has resulted frcra the install
| la'icn hy Commissioner Doherty Of new
and inexperienced men AZ the iTht ststso,
| The public that had 20 20 heme last night
| In Egyptian darkness and those who mr.
chase iEet % the city. Justly condemn
| the action OF the new administration as an
outrage.
An interesting fact has been brought "a
| light by tire enlargement IN the Office %
tire commissioner % public works 7,
seems thsf Commissioner nohcrfv sntsn-
del 20 keep his promise NTH Fiectrseta,
| Johnson not 70 disturb tire er-y,,ovss 4,
| TIRE light department without his knovst
else or consent. however. Mayor Fsxref,
| appointed Emil Bscheaet as cBtv ea~e,rf
Ism s1fH tA3 as<teF ~ once TOOK BOSSES
1 sian ans discharged men rsxht ard lef,
| ~fthe1; consulting his chief Mr. rorp~-v
| TIE appointment, % electrician IS ore
that SelonEr % the commissioner Of rs,,-
| lie works ana Mayor Eawc~;t's ecfsa, fn
ignoring Dohertv. his arpotntse. is carS-
! Tag mscs amusement
a r. Gshisst- y Democrat. hss A.sen an
| pesHSesf foreman az machinery az the pow
! - station. ant :. \ volf, che Permits,
! deputy under city Clerk S-svth. viii SCI .
olerksnip IN the water aerxrtrsenr = ~
/ i2eh1ssd- p NJ Summons and a. Moses
are arnesg The nsE employees in she water
! department
street agats SuTrei IA some rsorttsn,
! - th> cssy tontEht. ssd IRE rsazt v.s
F@a n fairly e<soa shape. Tao or fh-ea
street cs-ge.ts wsrW shat dawz az es~ers-,
tunes during the asght
--N~ -xs.vxs.,r 49,. -. =.