The Washington times., 1904-12-28
STUTLER To FIGHT
ACTION OF BOARD.
MAY NOT RESIGN
lntlmates He May Make
Some Startling Dis
closures.
VICTIM OF CONSPIRACY
Believed That Harrison Std
man VIII Succeed
Him.
VICTIM OF CONSPIRACY

The District Commissioners have re-
quested the resignation of Warner Slut
Ter, Superintendent of Street Cleaning
but it is said on good authority that he
will not resign
At o'clock yesterday afternoon the
Commissioners finally reached an agree
ment, and announced that they had
found Stutler not guilty of the charges
OF maladministration and blackmaiI
brought against him by Royal Robinson
At the same time they requested his
resignation within forty-eisht hours for
the best interests of the District
No resignation was forthcoming from
Mr. Stutler today, and if 1t is not filed
by o'clock tomorrow afternoon he
will be removed by order of the Com
missioners
Will Seek Vindication.
Mr.. StutIer will not resign, because
he intends to continue his fight for COM
piete vindieation, which he does not be-
i1eye was accorded by yesterdays YER
dict. He refuses as yet to make any
statement for publication, but promises
to do so in a short time. He predicts
sensational denouement and saws the
leaders in the conspiracy, which he
claims has been working against him,
will suffer
This morning he called on Commits
sioner West, whom he charges with
being the chief actor in the prosecution.
Later Mr.. Stutler had conference
with Senators Scott and Ellsins of West
Virginia He went 70 them for advice
and as to the best course of action in
the future, and before meeting them
he intimated that they would discuss
the retaliation which he contemplates
toward Commissioner West and others
instrumental in his downfall
He believes that were he to resign.
this action would appear like an ad-
mission of guilt and would handicap his
future movements.
Make Short Statement.
Beyond a short statement of the find
ings of the board nothing was given out
by the Commissioners at the concIu-
sion of their long conference yesterday.
Nevertheless. it is supposed that Com
missioner mcfarland saved Stutler
from abrupt dismissal
Commissioner West at first urged a
moval Engineer Commissioner Biddle
stood with West as to Suffers guilt,
but was willing to give the Superinten-
dent a chance to resign
Commissioner Macfarland held out for
more moderate verdict, and succeeded
in persuading his colleagues to find
Stutier not guilty as charged, but TO
request his resignation on the ground
that he is an unfit person to hold public
Office. Colonel Biddie is believed to
have voted with Commissioner Macfar-
land on this proposition.
Points Against Him
The two points in the testimony which
the Commissioners believed were strong
enough to warrant his withdrawal from
office were both brought out in Slut
lear's own testimony and had nothing to
do with the original charges.
The first was Suffers own admission
that he had dealt heavily in stocks and
had borrowed money to protect his mar
gins The Superintendent while on the
stand admitted that such transactions
were not prudent in his position and
said he had discontinued the practice
several years ago.
The second matter which weighed
against him in the minds of the Com
missioners was his testimony that Rova1
Robinson had offered him bribes on three
different occasions which he had re-
fused but failed to report to the Com
missioners until the trial. when he
brought forward these charges in answer
to charges of biackmail preferred by
Robinson The latter denied the counter,
charges of attempted bribery.
Explains His Conduct.
The Superintendent explained his fall
ure to report the alleged offers by say
ing they had been made by the con-
tractor in private, and he had no proof
TO substantiate his charges.
superintendent StutIer was at his of
fee early this morning and visited
number of officials throughout the
building 20 discuss the verdict He
everywhere limited at counrer-charges
which would injure District officials in
high places and other persons In Wash
ingron whose financial interests he had
antagonized In his capacity as Super
intendent.
During the last five years. by nv
recommendations, | have saved the Dis
trict of Columbia Sl04.e0O by hand clean
ing ut a lower rate than we were able
was Mr.. StutlerS 5 statement today
His Probable Successor.
The question of who will succeed War
ner Stutler as Superintendent of Street
Cleaning has been practically decided,
but the name of the successful appli-
.ant was not announced today.
1t is believed at the District Building,
however, that Harrison Stidman will be
appointed Mr.. Stidman comes from
New York but is closely identified with
Washington interests. He graduated
from Cornell University in 1891 in the
course of civil engineering.
George g. Boteler, of Georgetown, was
at one time mentioned for the place
some persons thought that Assistant
Superiniendent Toowey might succeed
Mr.. Stutler. but he Will only remain
in charge of the office until successor
,ba C,tperi0tPniPnt is aDDOiuted