The Nome nugget., 1903-11-07
HOW C0UNCILMEN
 TRAFFIC IN OFFICES
The True Inwardness of the Deal by Which James w. Bell Was Dismissed From the Office of City Attorney and John L. McGinn
 Was Appointed in His Place.

tioned them to say nothing in regard to it, because 1 believed that any dis cussion on the part of my friends or interest shown by them would cause the worthy councilmen to take action at the following meeting. The result follows.
 'I want to state right here and now that this action had it's incipiency away back in the summer, when this health certificate proposition was put through. l at that time opposed the scheme both as to it's moral and legal principles. was beseeched by Hill, Calvin and others on divers occasions to issue complaints against the women of the demi monde, and refused, for the req son that l wanted the council to enact new ordinance under the amended city charter, believing that the old or dinance would not hold water in the district court, but the councilmen didn't seem to care anything about that and wanted complaints, anyhow
 'Finally, in great disgust. l issued about l50 complaints, and Hill signed them ali 1 afterwards learned that all the complaints were not served and that only few of the women were brought up and fined. l then threat ened to issue new complaints, directed especially to those who had not been arrested, and to see personally to the service of the complaints. Dr. Hill came to me at my office and said he un- derstood l was going to take that mat ter into my own hands. 1 said if he did not want me to do so l would wash my hands of the entire matter: that it was only mysduty to issue complaints when GemaAded by any citizen; that would do, and nothing more. Hill said: That's right; didn't think you cared to meddle in this affair.
 "That was the end of the matter, so far as l was concerned. Everything passed smoothly after that, and 1 was led to believe that I need have no further fear for my position, and it never occurred to me afterwards that any such action was contemplated until the evening that l first heard of the plot, and l believe the whole matter would have been passed over and for gotten had not Dr. Ed. E. Hill prom ised the position to John l.. McGinn as compensation for his services in de- lending him (HilD in his prosecutions on the charge of blackmail.
 ''I was told also that McGinn wanted the office of city attorney and prac- tically demanded it. In fact l know this is correct, and if he had been less determined in securing the office the whole movement would have probably passed over and nothing would have been known of it. Of course, in his de- mand he was backed by his particular faction.
 "T wish to add here for the benefit oi the public in general that my record as city attorney will bear comparison with that of any other public official during the same period or at any other time. During my incumbency of office I collected about $500 of old street as sessments and unpaid taxes for 1901. also procured the passage of an ordi nance requiring transportation com panies to take out licenses, which hat never before been tone, and realized therefrom about $500 for the city, be sides attending to all the legal matters of the city, without loss to the city During that period received from tho city the munifcent sum of $66O, al told for my services.
 "Now the public may judge for them selves"