6

5

by myself have brought the
department to a condition that
has inspired the confidence
of the citizens who support it
and the insurance companies
who pay the losses and today
the rates of insurance in Seattle
is fifteen per cent cheaper than
any city on the coast outside
of San Francisco. And I have
stated in a former report the
insurance companies have payed
back in rebate premiums to the
citizens of this City over one hundred
and eighty thousand dollars or
enough to pay the expenses of the
department for two years.

This has been the result of the confidence
had in the department and was
the happy condition of things up
to within a few weeks of the present
time when it became evident that
there was a change going on within
the department. The authority of
company officers over the men
was not being observed. Duties were
neglected and disipline sadly
ignored but in such a way that
responsibility was divided and difficult