The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1905-08-19
jim HAM
IN CHICAGO

CHICAGO. Aug. 1S.-The latest ex-
plot of Corporal on Counsel James
Hamilton Lewis, in narrating the
story of How Was Offered $780,
coo by the Saloon Men," has been
| taken as a joke by Mayor Dunno, and
city halldom is now waiting for the
next bit of drilldom
RumorS were curren of a session
ION the carpet" at which the mayor
quoted the scriptural advice about
bridling the tongue. Colonel Lewis
neatly countered with two stories and
jest, and the conference broke up
in merriment, a glimpse through the
door as the corporation counsel de-
parted showing the executive red in
the face from laughter.
Meanwhile in his office on the third
floor Colonel Lewis was giving vent
to another Of the characteristic inter
views. Am l to be blamed, sir, if
an ass comes into my office and sug-
gests that a fund of 100000 might
be raised for the use Of my influ-
ence?' he exclaimed. mo, sir. / am
ilot l'SNSilIlIS 10 any tdlh VI lllal klHu
l haven't the names of the men who
suggested a fund, and I want further
TO say, sir, that what l say in con-
fidence and which is printed later, l
will take the privilege of denying.
When l spoke about this matter,
simply wanted to show what troubles
| had to put up with"
CT
have to put up with the troubles"
is a matter of much dispute among
the calculatOrs of political probable
tiles. Oracles of mathematical bent
said some so days, and some 80, bas-
ing their figures on the knowledge
that Mayor Dunno originally intend
ed to appoint Daniel l.. Cruice as his
corporation counsel. But it was urged
that Cruice would be too radical, and
Colonel Lewis was appointed. The
appointment was to be temporary.
In the four weeks he has been in
office, however, Colonel James Hamil-
ton Levi, by making himself indis-
pensible to the administration, has
crowded Cruice to the wall. He is
q
or's cabinet. and has become such
favorite with the new element at the
city hall that the mayor said last
night he had not even considered the
appointment of Mr.. Cruice.
To bring this about Colonel Lewis
has accomplished the apparently i'm
possible. For the first time in dec
l1- l.
sci that is able to hand out an opin-
ion as soon as it is asked for
Nearly all the men who have been
at the head of the legal department
have risen to positions of importance
in their profession, but, compared
with Colonel J. Hamilton Lewis, they
were as slow as an automobile with
broken sparker
| Some of His Opinions.
\ few days after he went into Of
| flee Colonel Lewis announced that he
would cause railway terminals to be
taxed as real estate-not as trackage.
Shortly afterward ii was discovered
that the supreme court had denied
a mandamus to compel such an as
sessment.
Then Colonel Lewis put forth a
scheme to secure the recall" of al
dermen by city ordinance. The term
of the aldermen. however, is fixed at
two years by the legislature.
Colonel James Hamilton Lewis then
wrote to the local assessors asking
them to assess the tunnel property,
franchise as well, as personal, but I'M
der the revenue law the assessment
of intangible property, such as fran
chises, is in the hands of the state
board of equalization.
Then Colonel Lewis announced that
the three-mile limit applied on the