The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-12-04

the Discharge OIL the E0ure OFce
MIS-. Watsoa . Favored Clerk.
Special Dispatch to the Post-Iniegligencer.
WASHINGTON. Dsc. THE term OF
once OF William p. Watson, surveyor gen
eraI for the state Of Washington. VIII ex-
pire in the ordinary course OF things IN
March next. He may consider himself
extremely lucky. however, II his oinciat
head does not fall under the political gull
iasine within the coming month. kepuo-
leans who want this once. and these num-
Der more than . few. are already bent
upon having . vacancy created; and a
combined and somewhat sustained attack
has already been made upon him.
An inspector Of tho interior department.
has visited Olympia and has made de-
cidedly adverse report as to the conduct
OF the Office under the present surveyor
general. As result OF this. Commits
sioner Hermann has written Mr.. Watson
letter sharply censurtng him and calling
upon him TO demand the resignation OF
his entire Office force. Mr. Watson has re-
piled, politely but firmly refusing TO do
this. Whether Mr.. Watson's resignation
will now be called for, or whether his
letter will be considered a. an act OF In
subordiBsfion warranting hts peremptory
removal. In 20 far only . matter OF con-
lecture. That one or the other Of these
things viii happen within Q short time Is
confidently believed by every one In the
interior department who understands the
stalwart Repubiicanism OF its present sx.
ecutiye chief.
In nutshell, the germ OF the whole
trouble Is that Surveyor General Watson
has appointed his wife. Jessie II. Watson.
TO very lucrative position In his Office
ana has permitted her to take ONCE work
home and do II In connection with her
household duties. This does not appear
openly In the inspectors report nor In the
letter OF the commissioner Of the general
land office. and Is only covertly mentioned
by Mr., Watson In his reply to the COM
missioner Other charges Of 4 general
character are more clearly set forth. but
what Ia considered practically as drawing
two salaries himself. by appointing his
wife TO a cierkship. Ii the cornerstone of
the attempt TO remove the surveyor gen.
erai.
Republicans OF Olympia have been bonn
harding the interior department for some
time with letters urging the removal OF
MI. Watson and the appointment OF Re-
publican in his place. 1t il remembered
that Mr.. Watson in the last campaign for
sock his old party. OF course his enemies
charge that he did this with the hope of
holding Office under the Republican admin
tstrdtion in the event of its success.
Inspector w. s. Greene, of the general
land ONCE, who was sent out to Olympia
some time ago to investigate the condition
OF things there, drew UP a report giving q
pretty bad account Of the Office and the
manner in which it was conducted. First
he reported to the commissioner that the
rent paid By Mr.. Watson for his Office
rooms. $50 month. was excessive. and
that these rooms IL the government should
vaeate them could not be rented for $3o
and perhaps not even for $50. He also
strongly recommended the removal of the
ONCE from its present quarters to the
building of T. ii. Reed, who offered to fur
nish six rooms with larger area Of floor
space than the present quarters. We'll light
ed and protected from danger by fire. and
with south and west exposure, for $50 per
month. This would be in the same build
Ing with the United States land office. and
the inspector urges that this proximity
would be q convenience to both offices.
Regarding the management OF the office.
the inspector says the discipline is lax,
that ONCE hours are not observed, and that
the peraonai habits of some of the clerks
are open to grave censure, He also reports
that clerks are allowed 10 enter the office
at night TO perform work for individuals
for their private gain: that more craftsmen
and less clerks should be employed. and
that one clerk presumably Mrs. Watson)
Is permitted to do her work a. home.
In summing up these charges the COM
missioner OF the general land office wrote
TO Surveyor General Watson as follows
I'm view OF the utter disregard of your
clerical fSres as to the h oieiaa dn w bs
best sibserved by the discontinuance OF All
such force, and 10 that end would ADVISE
that their designations be asked Tor. An
immediate response TO this letter Is de-
sired"
Mr. Watson looks upon these chacges as
very grave amounting almost 10 maifsa-
ssanee In office. and says In his reply TO the
commissioner that. If true. they would
warrant his instant dismissal, He denies
everything In toto and strenuously objects
To his character being blackeued by IN
founded and ex parte charges" He appeals
TO the commissioner personally 'as an hon
orahe man not TO allow his great office 10
DO used to that end" He then demands
that specific charges be made and that he
be allowed 10 answer them one after an
other.
In regard to the matter OF office rent.
Mr.. Watson says that Immediately upon
receipt OF the commissioners letter he cali
ed upon A. A. Phillips. receiver OF the First
National bank and owner OF the building IN
which the surveyor generals office is To-
Gated. Mr.. Phillips declined 70 make a
reduction IN The rent, since the items Of
heat. light and water cost over so
month leaving less than $40 n month for
the rent alone. not much more than Is
asked at the Reed block. while the Ac-
coifsnodations are better and more suita-
bile. This last factor Mr.. Watson urges a
considerable length and adds that the pro-
lection from Gre alone IL considerable ad-
vantage. when Il IL remembered that the
records OF the office were destroyed In 1858
and replaced at an expense OF thousands of
dollars. He adds that the present offices
were constructed FOR the purpose for
Which they are new used. and are conse~
auently worth more TO the government;
! thaa they would he to private individuals
He says the office has little business with
. the local land efE!ce. other than fling
plass from time 10 Zine az surveys are ac-
Cep,sa IN the district. SO that the proximity
would re OF no advantage or convenience
70 either ofice. he also thinks that the
expense OF Keeping up SIX fires since 4
messenger would have 10 be employed.
would be more than 81 a month which IL
almost the difference in price between the
! present quarters and those recommended
/ by the Inspector IN the Reed block. The
matter of rent, he adds has been inquired
Into oy other inspectors and the amount
/ paid therefor approved from year 10 scar
Should 3 change stan be deemed advisable.
Me-. Watson suggests that bids be called
/ Tor. lie says ne has no interest in the mat
Ter personally, as both Mr.. Reed and Mr.
fh}.tips are Eis arm friends
As 10 the chsrgs of the office being III
managed. he says Il - SO general ne can
On4y answer by reference 30 its standing
before tas department, lie attacks IN
specter Greene .or his ''cursory exaynlaa-
tioR declaring that. although he Was In
1ao c'}y some SsX days. be was not In he
Surveyor generals Office more than halt
an hour during the entire time, aud. tnoa-h
. . tr~zE ~