The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-10-16
MEN LIGHT ON THE PROBLEM
Can Mayor Wood be Removed
Without Notice and Trialg
knoTTY QUESTION: OF LAW.
Called Together I'm se-
rret Session 20 Consider sssorsfs
problem In n new 9afse--1orpoTa
sfan Counsel brown Asked for an
Opinion ss to Consiirffng Charter
proxt.ions-Gossip of Politicians.

The members Of the city council net In
j secret session at the city haR last night
3 The daors were locked about sl5 o'clock
and Acting Mayor CrieHton called the
meeting TO order. II was 81 first sup
no1ed tha. the object Of the meeting vas
TO ostair an expression from the in-
diyldaal rasahers Of the city council re
gard.ng a choice for mayor. i develop
& Cd however. that a very important qasf-
ton OF law as to the proper mode of deal
Ing with the naayoralty problem was TO
be laid before the council.
an save three members q the city
legislative body were present. as was 81
az e1sfssosation Counsel J. K. Brown and
& fonptroi,er parry. Councilman Chap
man ssaa hossu Chairman Of The meeting.
~lsc ahscnteez we're Nayin. Taylor and
James.
Before adjournment straw ballot vas
s tsaen 10 test the sense az the council ou
the question OF allowing Mayor Wood
ieavo 81 ebsenee. The ballet was fe-
eret enc. and All vere pledged 70 say moth
INC ~ IL The ballot gesulted 10 three
f.vortng gislng Slayer wood q leave. ana
els being against H.
This question was then laid before tie
corncn ty Acting Mayor criehton. "can
asssos Woods successor be lawfully
elected upon the expira ton Of sixty
cas- stsenss from ihe city without
pave
Ts5 aeeslons Of ihs eiiy cnarter were
quoted = i,sasiue upsn The Queaie3. The
f.gss sas seciions II and i2 Of article s.
Ya.s aulsis Il devoted entirely 10 ~
setibgue he dates and preroga,ives Of
tie naayoe and tae manner IN which he
shall be- removed for wiilfuI violation Of
his auty. misdsmeanor. etc. u 10 pro
,.siea shat he may DC removed for viola
tor 81 his duty or for the commission
81 Any crime o. misdemesnar Involving
mora turpliaae. bus only upon notice
thereof together With a copy Of the
eharses agalnst him given him az least
DC days before the hearing II Is FUR
thel provided that he must he tried ~
he city council. and cas- only BE- re-
moved from office upon a ,wo-thirds' vote
CT The council.
THE othar section quoted was section :
OF article KIN which has been quoted
b. those who believe thag Mayor Wood
viii &c out OF a job when tho slxtieih
day Or his absence without leave expires.
Thc sseion reads:
AN ofller becomes vacant upon
- a.
from or absence from the city fos sixty
days without leave II tho city council"
The question vas presented: Does not
the charter by describing the duties ard
powers os 'he mayor IN an article by H.
self SIS sell As The methods that must be
ias.e'. fcr rs removal take the ofaee away
ard aloaf fsom he provisions contained tn
seetiea II erlele XXX"
Il Is safe 10 say that none or the mem
hsFs % ttr city council had thought ~ the
matter n this light The question puzzled
ali those % whom e was presented ana
4 was decided to ask Corporation Counsel
brown for an oRlnion a. to which or The
twa sections Of the charter governs IN Tie
ease ~ Mayog Wood
IN presenting The question - the mfor-
nal meeting of she council last .eA;. AIT.
tlns Mayor crlchton took the s,rp. s,s.
leviRs that the matter ousht .e DO s5..v
nnderalael b. ne ecurcflnen aaa ds,,r.
mined ~ sae etfy's iagal advlaor before
any hnal action was taser in gbe pr.f,.
slss
One og Mayar Weeds sspp8-.er. =
yesterday
There Is every reessa Way tae eoao..a
siaei'd sfaiii ST. Nocd a leave OF ai.e..,
= = fr2n fi.as he has beer awas f,r t..-
Sea Nisheut leave SEAT tn eftv eha-.-
Astt I'M thar privilege 81 i ,rHs
RkH taas thus f7r the council ha. -,t
n ant fasne - Accommodate roc r-..
sSHH & g CHS courtesy 5aas he aSa,.lf -
tfaat9sl lsRtt 81 thc csuutH s.ls ...
hi'n aH ind initc leaye IA Cr.ehfas ~ III
sentihar Hs rhSaF and tbt a7unet g,sr "a
seal.iy taFe iae reaaiHg 81 tae elty MAJ
sfincsy d The coaneI Gees not carr -
sfani &r Wood an in3eanlse i4st p
N39lo e. hif courtesy to ave hI,7 ..r
fNeniy or ttarlx aays There Is mss,
ftan raas h.itty shat ae ras he te.
thyh Nefee Wood has slven .he ty "a
geoa ADMINISTRATIVE spd haa fsl.aHe Is
ire aunr3 was saaWii et th.s time -.e
fnai 'sse iaver askei far IS efsnte6
II trtaH tha+ fn4eF ave ..-ss-rsf