The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-07-09
INVESTIGATION 70 GO On.
OUncil Committee Decides to
Probe the Bribery Charges.
psgL,M,NAay SESSION HELD.
me,sseep IL tnansmous-Csrpsr
resns~i Called In On Legal 0aes-
sa~ss-Ch5~f ef Police Reed Prem
s,es HIS Hearty Ce-oDeFattoa-
savs No Member Of the Commit
- Car be More zealsus Than He.

4na investigating COMMITTEES appointed
srdsr the resolution introduced BY NC
A,6le In the city council held lis preiim-
tnegy meeting yesterday afternoon, ana
Aer.dxd 20 10 ahezd with the Investigation.
This decision WAS not arrived At with
sus considerable elaboration The COM
srasfse had been called TO meet at
or,ock. OF the Ave members OF the COM
-sssse McArdle. Sayin and Taylor were
sspmpfiy on hand X Was nearly o'clock
kufoxe Criehion came Ia. and Dfiies did
- appear AT ali. Assistant Corporation
0nnneei Won Tobei was In consultation
80 the committee. and later during the
seeeton chief OF Police Reed was also in
the room
A. o'clock McArdie called the COM
,aifssr 70 order and read the resolution
nader which the committee had been or
rsnased. The resolution. which was In
srpduced In the council by McArdle. reads
c follows;
swhereas, II IL commonly reported that
snu,e city officials and members OF the
rslice foree have been soliciting and re-
snfytur bribes from Chinese opium Smok-
- IN this city; be u
~Resolved. That . committee OF hve
u<mb<rs o. this council be appointed BY
the president 10 investigate these rumors.
snd to obtain all possible evidence tending
"a c0rraborate or disprove the same. ard
report At Their earliest convenience TO this
council"
mxns unanimous vote ~ the session OF
the council on June Is. only plier and
0tF voting against II. Under its provis-
ions the president OF the council appoint
"A a committee. consisting OF the follow
sns Members Of the council: McArdle.
cflehton, Diller. Taylor and Nayin.
4 glance nj the composition Of the COM
mlttee will show that majority OF the
members OF IL are OF the opposite political
faith to the party In power. McArdle. Dil-
Ter and Navin having been elected on the
n,slon ticket while Crichton. more than
any other Republican In the council, has
acted with the fusion.sfs on various mat
sers pertaining to municipal legislation
The seleciIon 81 the Committee.
Such a selection wah not made ut hap
hazard. when the committee was ordered
lanes suggested that IL would be advis-
able To have a majority OF the committee
designated from the opposite political
parfy His suggestion was generally APP
nroved by the Republican members OF the
council and President R.neharf acted IN
accordance with the suggestion.
After the reading OF the resolution by
the chairman. the first question before
the committe. was that OF admitting or
excluding representatives OF the press.
II was generally recognized that. part'cu-
larry at this first session Of the commit
tee, certain confidential matters might
be brought under discussion. the dis
closure or publication OF which might
defeat the very ends for which the COM
missee had been organized. At the sug-
sestion of the chairman the newspaper
men promised 20 be guided by any re-
striesions OF secrecy which tha commit
tee might impose upon them, ana they
were allowed to remain.
The main question before the commit
tee Was whether the investigation should
b. continued or dropped Aside from all
questions OF political strategy In the NOV
irg or appointing OF the committee. IT
was felt on the one hand that thorough
Investigation was desired by all parties.
and on the other that farctcai or par
tiai investigation would be not only depre-
Gated by both parties In the council but
condemned by the public at large. Crsch-
ton expressed the general sentiment when
be said:
where Crtchten stands.
80 far as am concerned. favor one
OF tao things: We should either drop
this Investigation right here, or we should
probe this matter to the bottom. IL we
9ntsftake ttisS fuNcSt4aAtpH " IHusS tG
thorough one. II we attempt 10 carry
II forward and II should prove other
wise. viii never serve on another coun-
ell investigation committee. I was APP
painted recently on an investigation com
HIttee In regard 10 the Snoquaimie Falls
Power Company. l objected Ia the APP
pcimsnens Of the COMMITTEES. but after
had been ordered consented to serve
on II. Then the Investigation was
dropped. I am not willing that we should
have sny sucf procedure here"
Chairman MeArile made a resume Of
The evidence ne had heen able 10 gather
m a preliminary way. giving the names
Of senie witnesses. which for the present
Are not - BE- divuiged. After the dis
eeksfon of some legal points connected
With the investigation. which called for
In opinion from Assistant Corporation
Soansei Won Tchet. CHIEF Reed was asked
e come before the committee, which he
Old very promptly He gave the results
Of The Investigation which he had under
TAKEN in connection with the rumors Of
bribery. and promised the committee the
htafties' possible cooperation on the part
81 she Ioisce department in the proseeu-
uan az It's work Of Investigation.
NO mesnh.r 81 the committee" said he.
Is half So anxious or half 50 interested
N s-cins this matter nrohed 20 the bot
'esa as | am III there is a man In the
Police department. against whom the
saafgs cf bribery can he proved. I will
promptly tell him TO move on We want
ne siisa 'aea IN the department"
After iong and informal discussion N
vas resolved unanimously Ia proceed
Win the Investigation. In regard 70
cate for the eegianiug or the snves,iga~
t'eAs Chief Reed saia tha. ne had ar
Iahscss 70 take a short vacation. but was
ehs'ns 10 defer II In order 10 cooperate
WIZ The committee in iss work. IL vas
.aAtS decided 20 begin the Investigation
* o'clock next Wednesday afternoon.