The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1910-03-23
Will CITY COUNCIL
CAN ATTORNEY BLAIR

Back again to the city council
goes the scrap in the corporation
counsers office. II is now up to
the city council to say whether they
were really in earnest when they
approved the sensational report Of
the special committee last night in
the Blair investigation.
Mayor Pratt this morning refused
to name new corporation counsel,
as requested by the special COM
mittee, and approved by the city
council, and will stand by Blair.
The city council asked for a new
man, in order to settle the contro-
versy, but Pratt has refused to
fire" Blair. In fact, he exonerated
Blair before the investigating COM
mittee made its report at all.
Blair was still on the job this
morning, silent but eagerly watch
ing which way the cat will jump.
He had nothing to say beyond the
fact that it made him feel good to
know that Pratt was standing with
him.
1t is believed that the city council
wants to tie a can to Mr.. Blair. but
the question arises, has the council
the moral courage to do the trick.
That remains to be seen. The coun-
Gil will meet again tomorrow night
and at that time will find Mr. Blair
is st'll with them.
The findings of the special inves-
tigating committee appointed by
the city council was read to that
body last night. The findings were
the btterest arraignment ever
made Of city official in like ca
pacity by a committee appointed to
inquire into official misconduct.
The findings of the committee up
held the contention of the former
corporation counsel. e. O. Connor,
that Blair had thrown down" the
city in two big damage suits; that
he had wholly neglected his duties
as an assistant to the corporation
counsel and refused to take orders
from his chief; that he did every
thing in his power to hamper and
interfere with the legal department
of the city in order to force Connor
from the office. and that in this
work he had the aid and conniv-
ance of Mayor Pratt: that Blair
gave the bulk of his time for the
last three months to work of the
charter revision committee. instead
of helping work out the affairs of
the city under the existing charter;
that Blair's law partner. James T.
Burcham. maintains an office in the
corporation counsers office in order
TO aid Blair in looking after private
business while ostensibly transact
ing public business. and that
Burcham had said office at a nom
.inal rental: in fact. every charge
made by f. O. Connor and Bruce
Blake were upheld.
The present force Of assistants to
Blair, Messrs. Wiley. Tustin and
McWilliams, were exempted from
the general condemnation, as new
men in the office about whom
nothing but good can be said
The report of the committee was
drawn by G.. w. Shaefer, an attor
ney. as chairman, and signed by
Leonard Funk. Jacob Schiller
Charles w. Mohr and Peter Nelson
Shaefer has his office next door In
the Hyde block to the one occupied
by Blair.
The committee report was
adopted by the city council without
dissenting vote.
Mr.. Blair arose and read an an
swer of general denial to the
charges, which the council permit
ted to be added to the report of the
committee. After this he conferred
with John Lee, the mayors secre
] tary, and Ernest Sargent. former
assistant city attorney.
In addition to = the censure o
Blair, the council ordered thai
Bpvham be fired out OF the office
Jof the corporation counsel and thai
on and after April less pretentious
quarters he used. at not to exceed
$50 per month. The present rent Ii
s125 per month.