The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1902-12-29
MAYOR IN
DILEMMA
LABOR UNIONS SAID TO eE
FiGaftNo DISAPPOINTMENT
OF CITY ENelNHER THOMSON

Up to a late hour this afternoon
Mayor Munes had not decided upop
the appointment Of . city engineer,
The term Of Il H. Thomson, the
present incumbent, expires Jan, l.
aud II has heeu EvnefattN expected
that the mayors selection Mouid be
announced this afternoon " has
also been generally understood that
Mr, Thomson would he reappointcu,
IL ia practically certain that the ap-
putntmont will be given in the coun-
eit tonight
II has leaked cut. hewpver. that u
quiet, but determined hNht is being
Waged against Mr ThomsOn's re-
appointment Ne attempt a being
made to attack either his admluia-
trntion ot the affairs OF his office or
his personal integrity The night
Is purely roiiiieai. It dates back
neatly niue yeats and, u Il alleged,
h. being WaEed by nteuhtfs Of the
trades unions q the city.
The STORY SUES that soun after the
appointment ~ AIT Thomson as
city engineer IN iSas. ST the begin
ninE ~ the Phelps administration
he Eained the fnmity Of the Brick
LAYERS union and thfouEh that body
the ilisWitl ef other iahaf prkanida-
tiohs ef the eitN b. the manner In
which he carried On the work -
constructing three cf 1.-THE largest
hrisk sewers that have ever been
laid In the city.
for months the unions waEed war
agaiust Mr.. fhouse son, then the agit-
alton died Down. Until lt was re-
tuNenatsd laat spFtns, Just before
the city election
The old uTht then tcck the form
Of a demand upuu the andidAter
of hoth parties that they should
AiRu an agreement plsdginN them-
selves, among other things. nut e.
support Mr. Thomson fOF another
term as city engineer.
This request was made by a come
mittee claiming - represent the
huildiug trades untuna % the city.
and was tntd hsfaFe candidates foi
the city council AMI also before
MAYER Hamez. What success the
committee had Is not known Sew
efai u the present members of the
city eeuneil eiaim 20 have refused
70 stgn the agreement
A few weeks sse the fikht was be-
gun anew, but whether with better
success. remains TO be seen. MI,
Thofn sons friends IN the council
claim that that taty II strongly IN
favor af their candidate. and viii
hfNIH Ett fEIH@4 TT FWHEflH ANF AZ
roiutment q any ether man as city
engineer. MI ThomSun's political
ensWies On the either hand. claim
there il good reason to believe Mr.,
rfssssesaf nauie viii not be again
presented
Mayo- Huinez will not discus. the
matter In any way. lie was busy
to-day holding consultations with his
Iaalifigal advisers ~rNrFal coun-
eiifrtn we're arsoHg his callers. and
Il was practically admitted that they
told the mayor that the council
would confirm No either appointment
than that Of Mr.. Thomson
The mayor r. also expected 70
hand into the council tonight the
nane Of a member 81 the board ~
health 10 succeed nr. s a. Limerick
Former city Health ufiieer Nckech-
ntr IA pr. Lsueftek's most fcrnid-
able opponent and = hot nxtt In
the council vii no doubt arise over
the confirmation % the eppointec.
no matter who he naaN he.
To the Vacancy IN the civil ser
vire commission. Mayer Humss VIII
undoubtedly reaupaiuf p v. Ran
dalph. whuee term expires Jan. I.