The Mayor Clears the Room: Phelps Fires a Fire Commissioner and Stares Down a Coup

A sensation developed last evening at the meeting of the board of fire commissioners. Mayor Phelps suspended Commissioner George T. Masel and appointed Josiah Collins to fill his place. No charges were filed, but the meeting began with a petition from reputable citizens asserting that Mr. Masel is not a freeholder. It was also said that he is a meddler and assumes power he has no right to. Immediately after Mr. Masel was notified of his suspension he requested the mayor to give his chair to Mr. Collins. It looked as if there might be some fun, but Mr. Masel retired to the back room of the city clerk's office while the meeting was held with Commissioners Meek and Kahaley. A moment later they all walked out, saying as they did so, 'Good evening, gentlemen.' The mayor then called the meeting to order, and business was transacted.

The circumstances that led up to these extraordinary events have a long history. Ever since Mayor Phelps took office he has declared that he will stand by the chief of the fire department as long as that chief does his work in a satisfactory manner and attends to his own business. Since Alexander Allen was elected to succeed ex-Chief Hunt his position has not been a pleasant one; his recommendations for subordinate officers were repeatedly turned down by the votes of Masel and Kahaley.

A petition was brought into the mayor's office, signed by Alonzo Hull, C. P. Stone, E. A. Treen, J. N. Wallingford, E. T. Knipe, Alonzo L. Briggs, A. A. Hood, B. G. Benedict, James Eddy and many others, asking for the removal of Commissioner Masel on the ground that he was not a freeholder. It read in part: 'We, the undersigned freeholders and electors of the city of Seattle, respectfully represent that the charter of the city requires that the members of the fire commission shall be freeholders within the city of Seattle. George T. Masel, now acting as a member of the fire commission, does not possess the qualifications made necessary by the charter, in this, that George T. Masel is not, nor has he ever been, a freeholder within the city of Seattle, nor within the county of King, as disclosed by the records of the county. Wherefore we respectfully ask that such steps be taken as will remove George T. Masel from the fire commission, and that his place be filled in the manner provided by charter by a duly qualified citizen.'

It is not probable that Masel knew such a petition was in existence, for he joined with Meek and Kahaley in calling for a special meeting. But word of the document soon reached the friends of Chief Allen, and there was plainly a plot on hand to head off the suspension.

Fire Commissioner Kahaley was quoted in the Evening News as saying that a young girl named Grace Blatt had been lured to department headquarters and ruined. It was evident the case was meant to reflect on the morals of the fire department and to show that discipline was lax. As a matter of fact, the case was investigated by the chief of police on April 13 at headquarters, with several firemen supposed to be present. The girl's story did not hold together well under the chief's searching cross-examination, and in the end the chief became satisfied that there was no truth in the charge.

At the meeting the mayor spoke: 'Gentlemen, before proceeding with the meeting I desire to state that, in the best interests and welfare of the city, and without any personal interest, I suspend Mr. Masel as commissioner, and will serve him with a notice of suspension.' The mayor handed the notice to Mr. Masel, who sat to the west to hear the suspension read. 'Gentlemen, Mr. Masel has asked that Mr. Josiah Collins be appointed to fill the vacancy,' the mayor said, and Mr. Collins was duly appointed.

After the meeting the mayor, asked why he had suspended Masel, replied that there was no other course, that he was determined to have a freeholder. The mayor added: 'It is my intention to hold Mr. Allen as long as he does his duty.' He said he had no official knowledge about the story of a girl being taken into fire department headquarters and ruined, but was perfectly willing to have an investigation.

Josiah Collins, the new fire commissioner, is a young man but an old-timer in Seattle. He was twice elected chief of the volunteer fire department and will be remembered as foreman of the Seattle hose company. He was elected chief of the fire department in 1888 against Gardiner Kellogg. At the time of the big fire he was in San Francisco; on his return he aided in the organization of the paid department, after which he resigned and has since practiced law. Mr. Collins is a Democrat and a resident of the Fourth ward.