The Mayor Fires His Police Commissioner in a Fight Over a Den
A vice dispute between Seattle's police chief and one of his commissioners ends with Mayor Phelps wielding the axe.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
The removal of Police Commissioner Niggle by Mayor Phelps last evening was amply justified by the facts in the case. Mr. Niggle favors the removal of Chief Rogers because he will not permit the roosting of hoboes. He has, according to Mayor Phelps' findings, sought by various means to induce the chief to permit the reopening of this place, and, having failed, undertakes to bring about the removal of Chief Rogers because of his failure. This being the case, nothing is left for the mayor but to remove Mr. Niggle from the position which he has sought to use for an evil, unworthy purpose.
“Nothing is left for the mayor but to remove Mr. Niggle from the position which he has sought to use for an evil, unworthy purpose.”
In 1894 Seattle the mayor held direct power over the police board, and a single dismissal could decide whether a 'den' reopened its doors. The fight over who polices vice — and who answers to whom — is still waged in city hall, now through police accountability boards and oversight commissions rather than a mayor's evening order.
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