The Seattle Republican. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1???-1915, 1900-12-21
LOCAL LINES
Concerning the Queen City
and Her Citizens
Ex-Chief Reed Investing His Thou
sands in Washington Dirt-The
Mayor Builds Fine Homes
Policemen Following Suit
Things That Read Well.

The Republican that for the past
three years it has waged a relentless
war against Chief Reed as the chief
of police because it believed that he
was not doing the citizens justice,
not conducting the office as it should
have been conducted. 1t will be re-
membered that his salary for the
most of the time that he served the
city, did not exceed 800 per month.
1t was subsequently raised to $125
per month, at which point it has
stood for the past year. 1t was the
contention Of The Republican that
Reed and his heutenants were receiv-
ing monies from outside sources and
from sources he collected on account
Of his official position. Whether or
not such was true, is for those of an
inquisitive mind to decide for them
selves, but little speculation on the
part Of The Republican in verifica-
tion of what it previously alleged
would not be amiss. At the time Mr..
Reed was appointed chief of the po
lice it was well known by all who
knew him that he was not a million
aire by any means; in fact he and
his wife were both working for
wages, and small wages at that.
Since he has been appointed chief of
police he has built him an elaborate
home, and the same has been exquis-
itely furnished, and on no one of
which does he owe one cent; in fact
it was a spot cash deal, SO the report
goes. While he was chief of police
he and his family made repeated
tours to the East, and visited all the
cities of prominence throughout the
United States. This was done in a
special car, the cost of which must
have been almost fabulous. But thre
always comes an end to everything,
and chief Reed was asked to resign
his lucrative position, which he did.
He was no sooner out of office than
he went over to Yakima county and
there purchased an irrigated farm
containing 800 acres, and is now pre-
pairing to 60 into the farming bust
ness on an extensive scale. At pres
ent he is making weekly trips to his
new possessions, and Millionaire
Lippy, who returned from the Klon-
dixie with a million or more dollars
in gold dust, could not appear more
imposing than does the ex-chief of
police Of Seattle. While he was
chief of police of this city the ''wide
open policy" inaugurated by Thomas
Jefferson Humes was in full force
and effect, and gambling houses and
vices Of all kinds fourished like
green bay tree. During all this time
Chief Reed was getting $1OO
month, on which he lived and main
tanned his family, but he retired from
office three years later, and from the
evidence Of prosperity that can be
seen about him, it appears that he
is worth not less than $4,000 if a
cent, yet the chief is an honorable
man, for the mayor has said so.
THE MAYOR GOT HIS ALSO.
1t is also rather amusing to note
that although Mayor Humes went
into office practically pauper, for it
is generally believed that he used up
his salary while superior judge be-
fore it was even earned, can now
boast of property valued into the
thousands of dollars, all gained and
saved since he has been mayor. It
would thus appear that to be con-
nected with the city's affairs is far
more lucrative position than to be
connected with the states affairs. In
other words, while Thomas Jefferson
Humes was judge Of the superior
court he found it hard to make both
ends meet from a financial stand
point, but no sooner does he become
mayor Of Seattle than his adversities
vanish as a fog before the MONDAY
sun, and where mortgages and debts
once hung over him like a midnight
ghost fine dwellings with costly fur
nishings now smile in his presence.
No wonder he made such a fight to
be reelected to a position that would
guarantee him such heavy reward
for the work that he is supposed to
do while serving the city as mayor.
The intimations Of The Republican,
that things have gone wrong at the
city hall, that is, that the city off
cials, so far as the mayor and the
chief of police are concerned, have
been side partners to the games
and the vices that have been going
on in this city during Humes' ad-
ministration to the extent of getting
their rakeoff, must be correct. II
they are not, they seem awfully near
it. For not only have the mayor and
chief Of police suddenly become men
OF wealth and means, but the police.