The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-03-09
KEY CITY'S DICTATOR
How Mayor Rogers Appointed
His Own Council.
THE CITY ATTORNEYS CLAIM
When Heard In Court 1t VIII show
How the Mayor Has Attempted
10 Run Things

Port Townsend. March s-Speciai-rhe
trouble between the mayor ard city council
of Port Townsend. that has been on since
the time Mr. Rogers was elected mayor
last July. Is az last to be settled by the
courts When Mr.. Rogers took Office and
attempted to nil the Offices Of city clerk.
city treasurer. city attorney and city col
iectar with his own partisans he found that
five OF the seven conneiimen would not
consent 10 the proposed changes. and voted
against confirmation. Of the city officers
referred TO. the city clerk and city attorney
were Republicans. the others Democrats.
and Of the five cOuncilmen referred to. two
hal been elected as Democrats. TWO as Re
pubiicans and one as al independent. They
sent an open letter to the mayor defining
their position and declaring that inasmuch
as the officers then in were satisfactory 10
the taxpayers and were dscharxing their
duties faithfully. the mayor would not be
permitted TO remove them without cause.
The mayor ignored the letter. sending in
names of new men occasionally. but none
OF them could be confirmed.
One OF the fve-counciimen. Peter Noriby,
removed to Seattle, and Mayor Rogers de-
ciared his seat in the council vacant, APP
pointing David Troy to the vacancy. This
gave the mayor three votes.out of seven in
the council. and a few weeks ago f. l..
Jacobs. one OF the four remaining council
men who were standing out against the
mayor removed from the Second ward.
from which ne had been elected. into the
Third ward. and his seat was promptly de-
ciared vacant by the mayor. who appointed
Alex Fulton, young Republican politician
and secretary OF the Republican county
centra. committee. to the alleged vacancy.
Then Mayor Rogers submitted list OF
new appointees for confirmation. and the
chief of police. on the order Of the mayor.
forcibly removed Jacobs from his seat.
which was Immediately occupied by Full
ton. There was Il hot session of the coun-
Gil a result, Jacobs and Fulton voting on
every question and the clerk refusing 10
call FG!tons name. whereupon the mayor
would call the roll himself.
At the following meeting of the council
the mayor had several special policemen
on duty in the council chamber. and they
forcibly prevented Jacobs from taking his
seat. although he sat outside the railing
and insisted on voting on every question.
The storm broke onN the attempt 10 allow
Warren Carroll the full salary for the
month of February as city attorney. the
mayor refusing 10 allow Jacobs 10 vote for
the claim. and declaring 1t rejected by
vote of four TO three. Mr.. Carroll there
upon demanded that Jacobs vote which he
did and Carroll has now brought man
damus proceedings to compel Mayor Rog-
tfs 10 slSN MS warrant me case Will uS
heard on its merits in the superior court to-
morrow. and will decide the right of Mr..
Jacobs or Mr.. Fulton to that seat in the
council.
Mr.. Jacobs bases his claim to the seat on
the fact that although the charter declares
that. at the time OF their election. members
of the courcl shall reside in the wards
from which they are elected. they are
chosen by the votes of the whole city. and
aha &c ell Of
effect of their removal to another ward
while serving In the council