The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-10-19
Report OF the Special Committee OF the
Board OF Aldermen,

ON THE CHARGES IN TIE ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
CHIEF ENeNFER OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
On the seventh OF September last, Alderman
Franklin presented a preamble and resolutions on
the charges made by Mr.. Alfred Carson, in his
annual report TO the Common Council, against the
courts, the judges, grand jury, Mayor, heads of
departments, and the members Of the council, the
specalties of which complaints have been given IN
the Head. Accordingly, the resolutions EN-
powered Aldermen Wood, Bard and Chapman, IN
conjunction with similar committee from the
firemen Of the city, 10 investigate the matter
Zophar Mills, George T. Hope, and John p. La
cour were appointed by The Fire Department.
The Aldermen have made their report. The
history OF the organization and meetings Of the
Joint con nttee is given, substantially as has
already been published in these columns, up 10 the
period when Mr.. Carson withdrew from the com.
mittee in company with Messrs. Mills, Hope, and
Lscour. The report then proceeds, in effect, as
follows--for il is so disgracefully written and
printed that we cannot transfer it, verbatim, into
our columns
And, therefore, the committee on the part of the
Firemen and the Chef Engineer, having refused to
proceed III the matter, and having actually with
was the decision of your committee correct, and In
accordance with the instructions of the body from
whom they received their appointment
In this respect they do not see how any doubt
can arise. What was the object of the investiga-
ton sought by the Board of Aldermen The pre-
ample and resolutions clearly explain il and if
prov, true, in the language OF the preamble the
parties charged deserve the cepsure of their fellow
citizens and If not founded in fact, IL is due to
them that the public should be Informed thereof
Ii was II committee, then, clearly appointed to as
certain the truth of the charges
The system, whether il Is good or bad one
whether 1t requires further legislation TO either
amend or perfect it-wheth Their the deailment of po-
hcemen, Hs bell-ringers, be proper or nOt-is SUBJ
ject which requires the usual and ordinary legisla-
ton of the Common Council. But if the charges
were proved true, against any or either of the men,
bers OF the Common Council, against other
officers enumerated in the report, different and
extraordinary action would be required-expulson,
perhaps, against some, and impeachment against
others.
Had the Chiefs report concluded with the para
graph which he refers TO the system in relation
to nnging the fire alarm bells, or had it been
an ordinary report, an Investigation by special
committee would have been unnecessary. The
matters contained iii il would have taken their
usual course and been acted in the usual legis-
lative way of the Common Council, or other legis-
latve bodies. But, in his illustration Of the
workings al the present system in relation to the
bell ringers, he reflects on the official conduct Of
certain officers OF the city government, conveys
the inpre ssion that the Common Council have
been wilfully negligent in providing a remedy
theIefor and, IN other parts OF his report conveys
sweeping and serious charges against members of
the Common Council and other official persons, it
was no less just towards those charged, than to
the public, their fellow citizens, that an investiga-
ton should be had, TO ascertain whether the
charges against them were true or Motif true that
they might receive the censure and punishment
they deserved; if not tina, they might be relieved
from the stigma thus cast upon them by him.
So far, then, es the Chiefs reply to the three
fremen, in illustrating the existing system Of
beIringng," reflected injuriously upon the oiilcal
conduct uf the gentlemen therein naIneSi or OF any
body OF class Of men, your conT.i,tlee were willing,
and even DESTROYS, 10 lear testimony, as coming
within tho object OF their appointment, and ex-
pressed themselves, both 20 the Chief and TO the
committee on the part of the iiremep as well as in
their written decisions, as viii be seen by reierence
90 them.
IT, therefore the allegations of the Chief, in rela-
ton 10 "sudden changes, removals, protracied
vacancier, or tho detail Of incapable and ineXpe-
nenced Policemen IS belriDgers," embraced any
general " specific charge against any public officer
or body Of men, the committee We're also willing
and cesirous to hear, testimony thereupon. But
they were unwilling ard opposed, however, 20 hear
testimony with no point-aiining ct no particular
individual or body e men-dctailng no particular
offence, end covering period bey ond the time OF
otice Of either tke Cal. Engineer or of the parties
implicated Ia his report.
Had Ice attempted o. offered to prove that A was
an incompetent esltTil ger--that he had been de-
tailed by &, or through ms Influence or reccmmen-
dauCn, end that the party recommending or the
parry Gttsillg, knew him 70 be al the time incom-
peteLt; or tIgt II, h'ii-fiuger, was wilfllly ne
gltciing his dg.y; cr hat auy officer of the city
goytnueHi, or oikeT oticisl PefsUa, had, without
law OF authority, iltcifered 20 remove him thst
the Chef ID reported tie abuses TO the Common
Council. IN or order ibst they might be remeded,
and that u hal neglected aud long delayed To act
on then, the evidence would have been in point,
and wtuid have been received by your committee,
because it would rot have been trying the system
bat escsfiaiIirg whether or not official miscon.
duct or Negligence had taken place, as charged in
his IeIuIt.
II, Gs The committee on the part of the Fire De-
parfmfIt stale in their raAsDus for xithdra wiz
The ohrCt was To examine into the truth Of all the
statements and charges contained in the report of
the Chez Lng'neer, and that u was understood by
them, "ani De hrliely agreed that Mr. Carson
should be az liberty TO produce any proof he might
desire TOT the purpose ol establishing the matters
contained ~ his report" qualification must GER
tsinly lc implied from or have been made TO the
agreement or understanding for your committee
had 10 power conferred upon them to examine any
statement or charges, except such as were re-
terTcd 10 IN The preamble and resolutions under
which hey were appointed, and surely, as every
commute appointed b. n legislative body, they
must have possessed some power. at least, as to
the itltvency ct testimony, and also to its being
cumulative or noi-Ior otherwise, evidence, how
ever irrelevant 10 the matter uRder investigation,
could have been p1oduct Il, 90 long the Chief or
his counsel, chose 10 call them.
There ere statements aud matters in that report,
which even the COMMITTEE Of the FIRE Depart
ment wCGd 70; have taken the time 70 investigate
--statf ut nls and mlttCrs produced by, aud only
hsvirr existence in. the vivid Imagination Of the
Chi,tl ID anctr-cf the chooi.ng down" like dogs
OF tle d. beers q the clubs a Lonion, BY the ire
men a. Bat ciiy III the q" deprt .stion Of real es-
tate. TIE vacation Ci sare houses, workshops aad
dcmtsIc hall'ltuus' IN the ely Of Phiiadcp hia,
end a i.a tH igraii0n OF " thousands AMI tens Of
thCuIEr+s cd her citizens 10 more safe and tram
Gull stc'f"rr. IN Conicg icnce Of her pToIacied
li0ts. svd utter want AZ law, order and safety to
property ADD icrsrn .''-uf Ihs killing OF members
II tst Ii.c ID ,aIia.eut II s city, by the various
clubs o.Utr.iH litd ia his report the "sco1n-
drels. ihai went forth cSultngly TO cut the
h'oats' 81 cur 'iIpmea--uf the " inhJman as.
sstsirs 81 peaceful hrfmrn''-cl the " deeds o
cruelty aud honor Ccmmittcd Nv these " hood
thiuy creatures, encouraged aud liberated by
aldeTrcr. police jus icrf. grand juriss and
the c,ufia. aud cher " narratives of blood"
set forth IA his fcI or'--ci the firemen [" often
dying of beu wounds received from these
brutal vrptrhes of " the fate of uuollend.
ing aud defence ess males and females, when me
~ u.es, htilish clubs, a. their midnight prowls
thfot IA tIe city. 80 t--of robbery r.uiue con.