City Hall Under Siege
Mayor Ronald is coerced by a stormy aldermanic caucus into appointing J. M. Wolfe to the Board of Public Works.
As the result of a caucus between Mayor Ronald and the members of both houses (with the exception of Mr. Coryell) in the comptroller's office before the meeting of the council last night, Alderman J. M. Wolfe's name was submitted to the board of aldermen as a member of the board of public works to succeed Major V. Rinehart. The caucus was a stormy one, and the mayor's voice could frequently be heard clear out on Yesler Avenue. Before the caucus was over, Dr. Kloeber came out disgusted and declared that the board of aldermen were making fools of themselves, and if he were mayor he would 'nominate any man he'd pleased.' The mayor's communication distinctly stated that the nomination was made at the request of the aldermen. The board confirmed the appointment. Mr. Wolfe then tendered his resignation as alderman, which was accepted.
“The board of aldermen were making fools of themselves, and if he were mayor he would 'nominate any man he'd pleased.'”
Local governance in 1892 was as much a spectacle of backroom arm-twisting as it is today. The friction between a mayor and an obstructionist council regarding municipal appointments highlights a recurring struggle over who actually holds the power in Seattle's city charter.
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