Mayor Struve Rebuts Fire Department Corruption Charge

In the proceedings of Engine Company No. 1, published in your paper of this date, I find Mr. Councilman Wusthoff is credited with having made the following statement in connection with the recent general ordinance reorganizing the Fire Department of Seattle: 'This ordinance was bulldozed through the Council by a certain man, for a certain purpose. After it was passed it was remodeled on Sunday afternoon in the Mayor's office, and published as remodeled, and not as passed.' The statement, if made, is untrue, and the gravity of the charge which it implies compels me to notice it. There was no remodeling of the ordinance in any respect whatever, but the same was published as it passed the Council. At the time of its passage, the eleventh section provided for its publication on Monday, the 14th day of April, 1884. As the succeeding Monday was the 14th, instead of the 13th, this clerical inaccuracy was called to my attention by the City Clerk, and in accordance with my usual practice, this obvious error was corrected. After the passage of the ordinance, I invited each company to have its representatives meet with me to determine if it should be approved. The general features were discussed, and some changes were agreed upon with the understanding that I should recommend their adoption by the Council. This was done, and an amendatory ordinance was adopted at the last meeting of the Council. The protection of millions worth of property ought to be considered too important a trust to be jeopardized by discontent and personal animosities.