The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-07-16

Special Dispatch 70 tie Pcst-In;eiligeneer
TACOMA. JuIy 15.--The runorS that
have BEEN flying about the city hall for
several days that charges were soon 10 be
preferred against Civil Service Commits
sioner Tears and Secretary Tonlnson
have been made realities. che looke2-tor
documents beng laid before the city cogu-
Gil tonight The data submitted % Ire
council Is. technically Spes King. NOT
charges. but a.tidavits from several 81 the
c!{y 5 employees have been nled stating that
Teats and Tomiiason extoTted money from
them by reason Of the power held by them
as members OF the commission. Assistant
City Attorney Wolfe prepared the aiti-
davjts and turned them over 70 Mayor
Faweett. who IN turn submitted them 70
the council
II the charges are true. TeaIs and Tom
NnSon are guilty OF corruption such
would put 20 shame members OF the old
Buckley gang who operated In San Fran
cisco several years ago. According 10 the
different affidavits. Teats and Tomlinson
made no efforts 10 beat about the bush IN
order 20 secure Doodle. but came OUT open
ly and stated that they needed the money,
intimating that IL IL was not forthcoming
official decapitation would follow. Accord
ing 10 one aftsant. T. ". Dabro. Tomllnson
secured money from him on the pretense
that Mr.. Sahms president OF the commits
raised, he would resign. leaving no one 10
fight for them. He was 10 pay so much
every month until Mayor Fawcet, got his
seat.
Detective Jack Ellison swore that he
was approached by Commissioner Teats
with demand for money. but that he
told Mr.. Teats that his bluff did not GO
Chief Deputy Controller jackson swore
that Teats was guilty of gross irregu-
larties IN the examination. his affidavit
setting forth these irregularities in u
pointed and nicid manner. Denny Dwyer a
police officer, swore that Teats had de-
manded money OF him ana insisted that he
lay the matter before the other police
men. lie said. ''D----n il, Denny. us nv
bread and butter" This statement and
several others caused u satisfied grin TO
light the faces Of several of the council
men.
AT the conclusion OF the reading, Mr.
Sampson promptly moved that the COM
munication be referred 10 the committee
on law and conduct of public officials
The news that Mayor Fawcett had car
RED out his promises to bring TO light any
ercokedness spread rapidly about the city
tonight. little knots OF politicians gather
ing on the street corners and in resorts to
talk over the charges Many Il told you
sos were heard TO emanate from Repub-
Hcans who have predicted some such CON
d!tion OF affairs. and the opinion was ex-
pressed several times that the expose
would do much toward weakening the
fusion cause al the next city election
In this connection IL may be said that
the council refused 10 confirm the ap-
pointment of S. f. Sahms as clerk of the
municipal court. TO which office he was
appointed by Mayor Fawcett a couple of
weeks ago.
Mayor fawcetfs Comm untcation.
Mayor Fawcett submitted the communi-
cation Of NJ. .. Wolfe and the affidavtts
TO the council by the following communi-
cation:
ITO the Honorable city Council. Taco
ma. Observation-Disclosures: | herewith hand
yoar honorable BODY for investigation and
SWon n,ed communication % NJ. d.
w ole, with some sworn statements at
tached. Yours truly.
a. Y. FAwcETr. Mayor"
Peter Dabroe a civil service graduate,
made the following affidavit:
Il am a resident Of the city OF Tacoma
have resided in the city for thirteen years
last past Am now in the city employ
have been SO employed since March 5,
ls9.. Some time in April last | met Mr.
vice commission, On ] and Twenty third
street In conversation with him he then
said that Mr. Sahms was hard up ana
needed money. That he had put in mis-
time a commissioner without paw and
was now threatening TO resign. and the
only way 10 Keep him in was to raise
money for him, for Il Sahms and he CTom-
hnSonD resigned. the boys would have no
one TO fight for them and that we must
keep him in until Fawcett gets back in
power. He said that We must raise sI0O
IL we could raise that amount this month
that TWO OK the clerks thIt were TO 80 into
office would pay $50 each next month. He
then wanted me to see the boys 10 take
up collection. ! told him that | was not
the proper person. that heads Of depart
ments were the proper persons 20 use their
influence IN thar direction. and as he was
afraid OF Mr.. Wright he got Mr. Crapp,
my helper IN the service wagon, TO take up
a collection from tie city employees
~, I h1 laid 49, OF one cay IN order to sea
John Runkle s.. HammSrson S.. the CITY
blacksmith, Mr.. Forbes. $50 and several
others paid smaller sums. Mr. Crepp told
ahouts; that he was told 10 pay the money
over 70 one Of the men who was 70 paw
$50 over next month, and that he was 10
nave 4 clerkship. and that he did so
Some time IN April following Mr Tom
hnsoD said 70 Dabroe, We have got to
have more money. and il the boys do not
put up when Il Is needed they would have
% b. weeded out and men got on that thew
could depend on | then asked him how
ne intended to give the money 20 Sahuls
without Offending him. He said he had
studied up a scheme BY which he could get
II 20 aim, and that the same would be ac-
cePiaole air. Crapp told Tomlinson IN
uly presence that he would pay S. or 30 Der
month Cnt0 next spring provided ne ken.
his JOB. Tom.lnson told him that things
would be so arranged that he would pull
through all right
Mr.. Hanson aud some 81 the Others 70
fused 70 put up and Mr. Crapp said that
thrv were slated 70 go. Mr. Hanson was
laid of" ''
Ellison Would Not Paw.
Detective John Ellison'a affidavit is as
follows.
y am u the age OF q years am now
ana Tor EffeeH years last pat have bean n
residen. Of The county Of Pierce gaia -
" ashington- am now engaged on fha
police force. have neen 50 EMPLOYED more
or res. Tor TX years last past. am ac-
Glainted with Cs,4snor Teas ana ar T@r,
ir$ou, rot0 are uemeErs of ths civil serv-
toe com mission ~ she city % Tacoma
tnuk the EIN.i serE.na K rai- a.lnr -.