The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1914-02-13
WOLDENBERG FAILS TO
AGREE WITH COUNCIL
Socialist Mayor Has Several Tits With
Attorney FOX and COunCil-Whaps
to Be the Outcome?

new mayor anu couDClI toOk OlhCe5 th0
city hall was we'll packed Tuesday eve
ming, the occasion being the regular
meeting Of the city dads. 1t is not
unusual to hear the remark, lets go to
council meeting, its better than vau-
deville performance" and on this eve
ming the assemblage was well enter
tanned.
The trouble started when Mayor
Woldenburg brought up his recommen-
dation of Cheel Mckenzie for chief Of
police. The matter was given
thoughtful consideration for several
minutes, at the end Of which time
Councilman Wheeler, glancing about
him and finding his colleagues in deep
study, arose and moved that the ap-
pointment he not confirmed. He gave
as his reasons that he had talked with
MCheQZle, WIN udu tOiu Aitn tAlai AC
did not want the job at the present
time as he had business of his own to
look after, and in fact that he had not
known OF his appointment until after
the meeting of the council last week.
Mr.. Woldenburg replied that there was
a misunderstanding then somewhere
as he, too, had talked with Mckenzie,
who had told him he would take the
job if his appointment was confirmed.
Considerable wrangling followed, but
in the end the Mayors appointment,
like several others in the past, was
voted down, and Bohnsack still holds
the Job, with every indication that he
will hold the job as long as he likes.
The Mayor brought up the salary or
dinances again which lowers the salary
of the chief and his assistant, but when
Attorney Fox asked him why he
wanted action taken on them when he
had said he was opposed to reduc-
ton in wages he said it suited him to
let them lie on the table, where it is
possible they will lay for some time to
come.
The next matter to arouse the ire OF
the chief executive was when he
wanted the Office of Councilman Close
declared vacant because the latter had
absented himself for three consecutive
meetings. While the law is plain on
the subject declaring that the Office OF
a councilman shall be declared vacant
when he is absent three consecutive
meetings, it was Attorney Fox's advice
to the council that they lay the matter
over for another week before taking
action, as this was only the third meet
ing and "Mr. Close might yet show
up." This did not suit the Mayor,
however, who wanted Mr.. Close fired
forthwith, and contended that when
he had not responded to the third roll
call he had been absent three meet
ings. Mr.. Miller, the only council
man present who held the same
belief then remarked, Huh, I
suppose we must wait until twelve
o'clock for him. AS it began to look
at this time as though Mr.. Close would
be retained in Office in spite Of his
protests the Mayor demanded that the
attorney produce his law books and ne
would show them (the council) where,
according to law, Mr.. Close must be
ousted. Mr.. Fox then announced
that his books were in the office and
as there was no need of such urgent
action he did not feel like walking
after his books. When Mr.. Wolden-
berg insisted, he said he was no mans
lackey, but II the mayor really wanted
the books he would give him his key
TO the Office and some one could be
sent after the books. The result was
that Marshal Bohnsack agreed to get
the books. When the great leather
bound volumes were brought in and
opened it was found that Mr.. Wolden-
burg's contention was right, but still
the majority of the council favored lay
ing the imbroglio over another week.
Mr. woldenburg then made it known
that il the municipal body was going to
act contrary to law he would take the
(Concluded on Page six