The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-03-20

GEORGE F. COTTERILL, chief assist.
~ ant to City Engineer Thomson, will
sever his connection with the offic,
about April l, or soon thereafter. Mr.. Cot
terill decided to pursue this course sew.
eral lays ago, and has made all his ar.
rangements TO return to the private prac
tice OF his profession. but tho fact was
not publicly announced until yesterday.
Mr.. Cotterill's resignation, which will
be placed in the hands of his superior
as soon as the latter returns from Cali.
fornia, grows out Of the recent municipal
campaign In which he was the defeated
candidate for mayor on the fusion ticket.
People who have been familiar with Mr..
Cotterilrs political views and the man
ner of their reception by Mayor Humes
and members of the city council, have ex-
pected for some time that MIR. Cotterill
would ultimately leave the city's service.
IL has long been no secret that between
Mr.. Cotterill and many other member of
the city government there has been a
feeling of constraint, due to the fact that
the views of Mr.. Thomson's assistant are
and have long been Numerically OPP
posed to those OF a majority of the ad-
m~inistration.
Mr.. Cotterill is a loyal Populist. He Is
a believer In municipal ownership OF pub
lie utilities In general and street railway
lines in particular. He is a supporter of
his party. state and nation, and a be-
lever in direct legislation. or the initia-
tive and referendum. These opinions he
has not hesitated to express In public and
in private. He was to a large extent in
strumental in the organization OF the
-nonpartisan league. which was formed
on the strength Of its opposition to the
consolidated street railway franchise.
Mr.. Cotterill was first nominated for may
or by the nonpartisans.
In opposing the consolidated franchise
Mr.. Cotterill naturally raised an issue be-
tween himself and n majority Of the city
council. He attacked the franchise and
criticised the action OF the council In the
newspapers and in other ways. Natural
~. this widened the breach which rae
been formed months before between Mr..
Cotterill and the council. as we'll as other
departments of the city government.
II has been no secret at the city hall
that strained relations existed between
the city engineers office and other depart
ments OF the city government. due TO Mr..
Cotterills course. The mayor aud many
members of the city council have not
concealed the fact that they did not APP
prove Of the course taken by MIR. Cot
terill, Mr.. Coiterin himself has realized
this fact and frequently discussed IL in
private. Nevertheless. ne considered him
self entitled to think. speak as he pleased
concerning municipal questions n fol-
owe hts course consistently.
IL is understood at the city hall that
matters reached a climax a few DAYS
after the election. At that time Il was
shown to Mir. Cotterill that because Of
his course his department had suffered
in the matter Of appropriations and In
other ways. No attempt was made 70 re-
move him, however. he being given ample
opportunity In which TO make new bust
ness connections.
At no time have any formal CHARGES
been filed against Mr.. Cotterilt. Mona Of
his superiurs have ever criticised his
work or complained Of Il. nor In the
municipal campaign DID ne neglect. Il "a
said, any Of his official duties. BEFORE he
left for the south. City Engineer Thorn
son Informed a friend that during tho
campaign Mfr. Cottcriu vas punctual sv-
cry day and performed his duties thor
ouGhly.
Mr.. Cotteril will. Il lie understood. en-
ter into partnership with a well-known
civil engineer He has long been "A resi-
dent % Seattle and Is thoroughly familiar
with the plats Of the city aud county.
He believes The change wtl he beneficial
20 him financially. lie entered the service
of thu oily e.Eht years ago. AZ tho time
r. II. Thomson was appointed city
engineer. ana has remained continuaIeiy
IN the position which he q about 10 va
cafe