The Mayor as Judge, Jury, and Prosecutor
Mayor Ronald faces criticism for holding hearings where he acts as the sole arbiter in a case involving the removal of city health officials.
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.
Mayor Ronald began the hearing of the charges against the board of health yesterday afternoon, and evidently intends, as in the case of the board of public works, to be judge, jury, complaining witness and prosecuting attorney. Judge Orange Jacobs, appearing for the board of health, addressed the Mayor: 'Now, your honor, in order to relieve you of such an embarrassing position, we will waive all rights we may have before this tribunal and will make four alternative propositions.' Jacobs suggested submitting the case to a panel of three physicians, three lawyers, three disinterested persons, or a superior court judge. Corporation Counsel Donworth replied that the charter devolved the duty of hearing the case on the mayor. The mayor rejected the offer, stating, 'the mayor will not surrender a single legal right in the premises.' Judge Jacobs asked for a continuation of the case, noting the citation to appear was only issued two days prior, leaving no time to prepare a defense for a case involving the professional honor of his clients. The hearing was adjourned until Monday.
“This case was one which might properly be entitled 'The Mayor of Seattle vs. the Board of Health, J. T. Ronald being complaining witness, prosecutor and judge.'”
The concentration of power in executive offices remains a major point of contention in municipal government. This struggle over administrative due process reflects the messy, experimental era of Seattle's early municipal charter.
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