The Dual Life of Bremerton’s Mayor
A federal inquiry into whether an electrician-turned-mayor could serve two masters while policing the local saloon trade.
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.
Citizens of Bremerton and Sidney recently complained to the Navy Department that A. L. Croxton was violating civil service rules by holding a federal position as an electrician at the Navy Yard while also serving as Mayor of Bremerton. The complaint alleged that he used his official authority to coerce political action. Assistant Secretary Darling referred the matter to naval command, asking whether the Mayor had improperly renewed licenses or neglected police regulations. Captain Bleecker, captain of the yard, cleared Croxton of misconduct, finding that his duties as Mayor did not interfere with his work as a government employee and that he had actively supported enforcing saloon regulations in the interest of good government.
“His attitude was in favor of carrying out the police regulations in the interest of good government.”
Conflicts between municipal leadership and federal employment remain a point of civic sensitivity in towns dominated by military installations. While the 1903 concerns focused on 'saloon regulations' and the spoils system, the tension over whether a public servant can effectively hold dual roles persists in local government today.
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