The New York herald., 1851-09-30
THE FIRE DnPA1rn9nMr.

SAo 3 A1so OoS SASex 89Sv 8s
Hoard 0f Engineers and F0renaen, on the
ssggestions @ the Chief Engineer, In nis
NoTE.-The following report was submitted to
the Board of Engineers and Foremen convened at
Firemen's Hall, Monday evening, September ~,
lso accepted, ordered TO be printed and each fore
man furnished with copy for his respective COM
Papy. j. q. ABBE,
Secretary of Board of e. and F.
| To THE ENGINEERS AND FoREMEN OF THE New
YORK FIRE DEpAREagNr:-
The Special Committee appointed at q regular
| quarterly meeting, held September 4, instant, ts
whom were referred the uggestions in the late
nual report Of the Chief Engineer, respectfully SUBJ
NIT the following
That after careful and deliberate attention, they
unite with the Chief Engineer that the interests of
the Department would be greatly prom oted by sur
rendering to it the control of the subjects alluded
to: In the plan offered by your committee, the
suits are nearly identical with those proposed by
that officer, though the mode of attaining hem
differs in several respects; but they fatter them.
selves that for be stated the change will
| be acceptable to him, and also meet the approval
| of their associates.
Your committee do not consider IL necessary to
discuss the great object to be attained-a seplra-
ton, far practicable, Of the affairs of the de.
partment from political inHuen ces-as they believe
that its proprety will be admitted upon the siren 9Th
Of arguments that have been repeatedly advanced,
heavier responsibilities will devolve upon u.s. SHOULD
| the plan proposed or a similar one, be adopted
but your committee have the faith to believe that
the department can sustain them, and prove to the
authorities and citizens OF New York, by prompt
of action aud integrity Of decision its ability
| for self government
Your committee respectfully submit the following
| tIRsT-kE ORGANIZATION OF ENGINEERS AND
| FonEMEN.--That, in lieu of the present Board of
Engineers and Foremen, and for reasons that will
| IN .l.ol L
two separate nd distinct zanzations, viz One,
to contist of the engineers and to be styled the
"BoaId of Engineers of the New York Fire De-
partment" the other to consist of the foremen of
| the engine, hose, hook and ladder, and hydrant
companies, and to be styled the - Board of Fore
men of the New York Fire Department - tae
| Chief Engineer to be q member, and the presd-
| ing sficer, Of each board.
SEooND-JUpICIARY COMMITTEE Your commit
tee cordially unite with the recommendation of the
Chief Engineer, that cases of insubo:dination
should be entrusted to a committee Of exempt fire.
men for adjudication; but they respectfully differ
with him upon the propriety Of the mode Of appoint
| ment by the Board of Representa- lives.
Is Oy is Of ro @ p
partment of the City of New York;" the act Of in
corporation provides specific objects connected with
the Charitable Fund accruing to the depart
ment from various sources; it is an impor-
tant trust, and the body to whom it is con.
fded should be freed, as far as practicable, from
becoming entangled, even remotely, with any
subjects arising from sectional difficulties that may
exist. Your committee, therefore, are Of opinion
that the in .erests of the department might be pre-
JUDGED by miDglirg the representatives. in any man
with its controversies; and they recommend that
| there shall be q Judicirry Committee Of five mem
| bers, to be styled the Commissioners of the New
| York Fire Department, and to be chosen from ex
| empt fremen, who shall not have been active or
certificate members of the department during the
year Immediately preceding their appointment, and
who shall not, at the time Of said appointment, nor
while serving as such com nissioners, hold any
other offices in connected with, the department.
Said commissioners to be elected as folio vs-At a
regular quarterly meeting Of the Board of Fore
men, the Chief Engineer shall nominate a commit
tee Of five, whose duty it shall be to nominate ff
teen exempt fremen, eligible as before provided)
candidates for commissioners-theira acquiescenee
to serve such having first been obtained-a and
port said nomination to the Board of Foremen at its
ne xt quarterly meeting; and at which meeting the
board shall 60 into an election for commissioners;
the five Of said candidates receiving the highest
number Of votes, to constitute said " Commissioners
Of the New York Fire Dep ,rtment," for the term
Of three years next ensuing the said commission
sworn or affirmed faithfully to discharge their
trusts, and also, to be qualified to administer oaths
afirmations. In case OF the death, resignation,
election, or appointment to any other efce in, or
connected with, the department, or the reelection
as q certificate member Of a company, OF one Of
said commissioners, the vacancy to be filed in .
similar manner as above mentioned
The duties ofsaid CO mmissioners shall be, to hold
q meeting within ten days after being requested SO
to do by the Chief Engineer; to hear all complaints
az gaipst members Of the department. or companies,
that shall be laid before them by that oicer to in
vestigate such complaints, examine witnesses under
oath affirmation, and render decisions in accord
ance with the testimony given. Said dommission-
to mend the sus pension or expulsion of in
diyiduals and the suspension disbanding Of CON-
panies, as the nature Of offences may require, ac-
cordng to their judg gment but suspension shall not
be for less period than three months, nor greater
than one year. The commissioners shall keep .
full record of their proceedings and all the evidence
produced before them, and from which they shall
prepare written reports Of their decisions, to be
signed by at least three of said commissioners and
submit to the Common Council with as little delay
| as possible, for confirmation. The resignation of a
men Der Of the department, reported by the Chief
Engineer, for breach Of order, is not to be acted
| upon by the Common Council, pending the nvesti.
cation and decision Of the Commissioners and Com
| mon Council.
THrRp.-SUrpLIEs AND REPAIRS AND OReANIzA-
TIoN OF NEW COMPANIES. Your committee be-
leve that motives Of delicacy-that very natu-
rally may be imagined--would be serio1s OBJ
stacle to impartial action by financial commit
tees Of the Board of Foremen, upon this mpor-
tant branch OF the departments affairs: To OBJ
viate this, they propose-lst: That the Chief En-
gineer be empowered to order such supplies and re-
pairs as he may deem necessary, provided, the ex-
pense Of any article articles embraced in one ap
plcation, shall not exceed in amount the sum Of
one hundred and fifty dollars. I'd. Applications for
new apparatus, and for supplies and repairs,
amounting to more than one hundred aud fifty dol
lhs, 70 pe leIorteu Dy tne Ohiet LnsineeI 70 tne
Board OF Engineers who shall report their decision,
II in favor Of granting said application, to the Com
mon Council, for confirmation. Your committee
Of opinion, and recommend that the construction
and repairs Of buildings to contain the apparatus
Of the department, and Of the bell towers, should
be placed upon the same basis, within the control
Of the same parties.
Petitions for the organization Of new companies
are TO be made through the Chief Engineer to the
Board Of Engineers, and il approved by them, re-
ported TO the Common Council for confirmation.
FoURTH. .-ArPorNTMENT OF BELL R1NeERs.-
Your committee need only mention this subject TO
call up in Jour minds, memories Of numerous
poyances TO which the members Of the department
have been subjected, in consequence Of the very in
Efficient manner in which the duties Of this Office
have generally been performed-the result of sys-
TEN ipjudcious as IL Is vexatious, Of selecting
the bell ringers from department whose sympa-
thies are totally at variance with ours.