The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-04-23
THE CONFUSION In TACOMA.
Mayor Fawcett Removing Every RI
publican He Can.

publican He Can.
Tacoma. April 22.-Special-Ths Official
heads of nine members OF the police drop
ped into the basket under the remorseless
ak Of Chief Hoge today. Among the men
removed are Sergt Harris. who had
charge of the Old Town station. and Sergt.
Donovan. in command OF the South Taco
ma station house. Seven patrolmen were
relieved from duty and new men assigned
to their places.
Mayor Fawcett was asked today 20 ex-
plain the seeming Inconsistency OF his own
and subordinates' acts with relation to the
civil service amendments to the charter.
Mr.. Fawcett quoted a section Of the
amendments, which reads:
ITO prevent the stoppage Of public bus
tnessss or to meet extraordinary emer-
gencies. the head Of any department or Of
ice may. with the approval OF the commits
sion. make temporary appointment. to re-
main In force not exceeding sixty days.
and only until regular appointment under
the provisions OF this article may DO
made"
The futility OF the argument Is apparent.
There was no impending "stoppage Of pub
lie business" and the Extraordinary
emergency" lay In the fact that before no
was nominated by the fusiouists Mayor
Fawcett had promised to clean out every
Republican in the city's service and ap-
in his interest In the campaign at the die
tation Of the two committees and with
out reference to their fitness or want
thereof for the places to which they were
assigned.
1t can be said In defense OF Mayor Faw-
cett that he has rewarded the mea who
worked early and late to get votes enough
to elect him by majority OF Two. Nearly
all OF those who were close to the fusion
leaders get q share in the spo.ls. Harbor
Master Gift II chairman of the Popuast
city committee and was instrumental in
getting the Populist workers in line for
Fawcett. Secretary Chidester, of the
Democratic committee. will succeed Chief
Clerk Read. OF the water department, in
case the amendments are upheld. G. L.
Hackett. Popultst committeeman from tho
Third ward. was today appointed pound
keeper. and Committeeman Peterson, Of
the Fourth, took the position Of market
master.
T. A. Ward. who was made sergeant In
charge OF the Old Town station, served
four years under a Republican mayor.
and has always been considered a Repub-
lcan. He was one OF those who knitted the
Republican nominee during the late cam
paign- w. A. Lemaster, q Republican.
who served two years as patrolman under
Orr's administration. also worked against
the ticket. Lemaster was today assigned
to duty on c street. Fred Sahm. who
worked against the Republican ticket, al
though he was in the convention that made
the nominations is a member OF the civil
service commission
City Librarian w. c. Taylor, who has
built up the library from 800 to over 5000
volumes, refused today to surrender the
office 10 Poet Bashford. appointed to the
place by Mayor Fawcett. Mr.. Taylor con-
tends that as the question OF the legality
of the charter amendments has been cues
toned he has a right to his office and he
politely but firmly refused to accede to
the demands OF the new librarian. To-
night the ONCE was locked up and Mr..
Taylor refused to surrender the keys. Mr..
Bashford later announced that he would
be provided with a key In the morning.
and that when Mr.. Taylor shows up at
the library he will find his successor in
possession
Municipal Court Clerk Shane continues
TO occupy his office. and will do so until
his term expires January /. 1897
Treasurer w. A. Sternberg assumed pos-
session OF the city treasury this morning.
Ex-Ireasurer Olds accounts balanced TO
penny and he turned over to his suc-
cessor little over $4,000 In cash.
President Warner. OF the council has
appointed the following finance commit
tee; Councilnen Norton, Holgate. Hjce
Bigger, Parker. Sampson and Scully. The
ne" committee numbers seven. whereas
the number has heretofore been e.
chairman Norton is busily preparing A
statement OF the city's financial condition
with the assistance of Controller BEN
ham. The council Will be called on aarIv
IN It's existence to provide wavs ana
means to pay the city's current expenses
ana interest Councilman Norton IL an
advocate or the funding proposition and
II Is believed that the council will ask
the people 10 authorize the issuance M
bonds to take up the sl.l50.0so general
fund outstanding warrants. In the oninlor
OF many this is the only recourse The civ
has. although some OF the warrants have
been heid 70 be Illegal on account OF hay-
ing been purchased by Treasurer Boers