The Plot to Fire the Engineer Behind Seattle’s Sewer Tunnels

The "reform" administration will make another demonstration this afternoon, although tremendous attempts have been made by the better element of the Democratic party to prevent it. One of the most efficient officials in the city government is Reginald H. Thomson, the city engineer. He was appointed solely for the reason that he was believed to be the best available man. He has not merely the surveying of the new streets to attend to, but has been the constructing engineer on the two sewer tunnels, the amount of expenditure involved in which will be altogether about $250,000. When Mr. Thomson was appointed he made it a stipulation, as so much was involved both as to expenditure of money now and of permanent stability of the tunnels, that he should be free to select his subordinates solely with a view to their fitness for the exceptionally skilled labor they were to perform.

This was agreed to and all efforts to compel him to make room for political seekers after office were unavailing. Not only has he accomplished one of the most remarkable engineering feats of the time, but his reports and his suggestions have been sought for by municipal engineers in many other states.

Nevertheless, he must "go," except in one contingency. Since Alderman Wolfe, who, although not particularly well known here, has been placed on record in the eastern part of the state, was appointed on the board of public works to succeed Major Rinehart, politicians have become emboldened. They now demand that Thomson shall be "fired" to make room for Camp. Who is Camp? Well, it is said he will fill the offices with men who want them, and that is sufficient record.

The mayor, to his credit be it said, has cajoled and threatened in order to stop the scheme.

He can hope for no help from Wolfe. And this is why. The mayor had been on bad terms with the board of aldermen, and he promised them by way of pacification that he would appoint their choice to the coming vacancy in the board of public works. Carle, Miller, Wolfe and Ingram were talked of, but when the announcement was made that Wolfe was the choice, Ronald went wild. He declared in a voice which could be heard half a block away that he never in his life experienced such a prompting to deliberately break his word. Wolfe knows this, of course, and he doesn't "train" with the mayor.

Wolfe is safe in office for three years, and he feels that he can defy those who have the city's interest at heart better than he can defy those who have the Democratic party's interest at heart.

Jesse Cochran has only two years to serve, but he is crazy to be sheriff. He swears he will not die until he has downed Bill Cochrane. Now, in order to attain that exalted ambition, it is said, he is willing to sacrifice the city's interest, Thomson, or anything or anybody on earth. This the Democratic workers know; and although it is as sure as death that he will never get the nomination, he is being fooled into the belief that he can if he will only "get into line and make himself solid with the boys."

It was concocted that today Wolfe and Cochran should vote to remove Thomson and appoint Camp. But on Saturday afternoon there was a storm aroused. Mayor Ronald sent for Cochran and told him he had submitted to a great deal of abuse for having weakly yielded to the importunities of the gang, but he would never, if he could help it, permit this monstrous outrage on the city. He finally told Cochran that if he voted to "fire" Thomson he would remove Cochran and prefer charges against him.

Thus the matter stands; it is a pretty spectacle for those who worshipped the golden calf.

Meantime, Mayor Ronald is in an awkward fix. He has promised his family to go East on a trip planned last fall, and all the arrangements are made. Yet he has the police trouble on his hands. On Tuesday night the inquiry into charges against Chief Hunt, of the fire department, will be begun; and now he has the worst of all evils to face. It is not certain that he will be able to go. The worst charge made against Mayor Ronald by his friends is that he knows what is right, but has not backbone enough to do it.