Easson v. City of Seattle

Citations

• 32 Wash. 405
• 73 P. 496
• 1903 Wash. LEXIS 436

Syllabus

<p>MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS-OFFICERS-REMOVAL.</p> <p>Under Seattle City Charter, art. 16, § 12, providing that any officer “may be removed by the appointing power only upon filing” with the civil service commission written charges, which may be investigated, and, if not sustained by the commission, the officer is to he reinstated, and art. 24, § 8, giving each officer the power to remove any employee appointed by him, unless otherwise provided, the civil service commission has no power to remove the night clerk in the police department, appointed by the chief of police from among applicants who had passed the civil service examination, the chief of police having declined to make the removal.</p> <p>SAME.</p> <p>Acquiescence by the chief of police in such removal by the civil service commission does not deprive the clerk of his office.</p> <p>SAME.</p> <p>The power of removal is inherent in the appointing power unless otherwise clearly provided by statute.</p> <p>SAME.</p> <p>The civil service commission of Seattle is not vested with any actual power of appointment or removal, its functions being to prescribe tests of fitness, and to act as a check upon improper removals.</p>