City of Seattle Records

Seattle, Washington, March 31,1894 To the Mayor and Board of Fire Comissioners of the City of Seattle, Washington Sirs:- We, the undersigned agents and representatives of the Fire Insurance companies doing business in Seattle, respectfully request that removals of firemen, if any, be for cause only, and that appointments when made be solely for efficient working of the department. The large property interests of the city under the protection of the fire department require that kind of service that comes from men whose hearts are in their work, which condition can only exist when the men can feel assured that good service brings permanent employment and possible promotion. We believe that some action should be taken to remove the department entirely from partisan politics by amendment of the Charter, and trust that in the near future your Honorable Board will give this matter ernest attention that we feel it deserves. Very Respectfully, Skinner, Zwick, & VanWyck Waterhouse & Beach Thomas Bothwell Geo A Burch Hartz & Christopher Young and Jacobsen H A Schneider Caehouse & Co. Broons & Stimson Washington Territory Investment Co. by W E Hagen The Guzzan Insurance Agency per A K Fisken Stoddard & Brown Lee & Bowden H E Praysend