New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-02-25
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.


The following communication relative to charges made
by portion OF the press against the Fire Department and
aso containing important suggestions received b. the
Beard OF Aldermen from the representatives OF the Fire
Department
To he Honorable tie Common Council.
The petition Of tie New York Fire Department respect
fully shewe'h
That during the past three four years serious AMI
ercss al uses have crept into the Fire Department ny
Which not only its morals have heen impaired bat IL
efficiency and discipline have been almost DESTROYED The
great majority Of the fremen composed OF Of
every vocston the merchant nee kanc artisan from the
Irrfessons and labong classes and this majority In
ont Of character and respectability viii challenge con
Iarison with other institution in country. Their
aim is dscf nrce their sef.mposed duty with ilelity
and to elevate the chaa OF their body Bu.
rish this they should by all means be sustained BY the
authorities Of City. This your petitioners regret TO
say los not been the ease for the past few yeas for
owirg TO personal difficulty between the bead Of the
DEPARTMENT and tie Municipal Government the latter
have by means in their power set at defiance the
authorities Of the former, dsrecafted his recomm9nia
ous md hUs given every encouragement 10 the rpters
tId d.ndtrly 10 carry ont their Infamous and wcSed
designs without restraint The result has been that our
Depsr ebt which should be the pride and soas Of oar
CITY hss become by word and reproach Charges Of q
henous nature are freely made against some OF its mem
beTs through the public prints which want Of power on
the Ta Of tie Fire Department prevents them from inyes
fgoting.
Tie trcvity of petition ,eces,ariy prevent your pc
ioTer, from gong into details the susect bat trust.
il that they may be heard before comaittse Of your
with asking that YOU inquire whether certain charges
made Nv the Editor of The Sunday Mercury in bis Issue
Of - and also by the Editor Of Tie Daily Tunes, ara
true and If that tho offenders be expelled from the
Department forthwith.
Your petitioners would aisorray that hereafter no Fire
Companies hal 10 organised unless through tho written
approval Of the Chief Engineer and that All cases Of in
fubordI&icn or dis0rceHy conduct the part OF tire
T. he promptly and efcctually inquired into, and the
ohIdors punished also that person once expelled rom
DE Fire Department ,Lsil be again restored 10 member
ship unless II shs he fully proved amer thorough inves
rlon ty tie proper committee that such expulsion by
tie committee was unjust aud improper.
Your petitioners would also pray that whenever any fire
Company she be suspended from dlty by the Chief El
sineC Tor d orderly conduct such Company shall rot BE-
restored to service until the charges against them shall
have been Investigated by your body Gnd they wouid
also ask that the authority OF the Chief Engineer in tho
discharge OF lie duties shall at oil times be enforced 50
lar Is the action Of honorable body j. concerned
Neur petitioners believe that unless prompt and decisive
mfusure tai to preserve he character OF tue De
p.rueLt ~ usefulness viii so0n be forever destroyed an
our City le to the mercy OF the ncendiary and the roOoer
Your petitioners herewith annex copy Of ihe re'ola
,ors recently adopted by the Fire Depart this sub
jCCt ana hey pray your INN diao attention to this their
petition and your pettione" as IN any 9'23i w ever
Iry nnAssLIiiiiI, ~ SoOSAN'
Committee of,h R.'rs,utaii's' of'h' Fire Department
At special meeting Of the Representative Of tho Now
York Fire Department held at Firemsns Hall On Non
dsv evening Feb l., 1854 the following preamble AMI
resolutions were ussniususly adopted;
Ths public min has or late been excited IA regard 70
6ovesTu IN 20 the Fire De- sass ssnans
The iesS citiztas 10 ins1tauOo
tte0f hargs lave bfsn bou Fht ssls pJoH o. 10 nl
vkch tue AKA passed nac4 40 N fendsr 10 aJ
the Of honsst man Therefore,
Rd That The rePIestuttvos y ths NeN- trs Ds
believe 20 Be sny day bit sAt Or nose Waa
Erad he hseOr or our Ia
uttoH - lies IN waaeFs evils
fl Tisi nsns more than ouusy.. sepce that thss should
@ 10y :'1 y SaS s 81 4, si ne
ruhr press nod he Nlos Department r.
sy.rsibe - the attsss y hieh have ept Into H.
1hstH,ng the Fhisa have naEy bEo1sh5 AooaL
grfut ssrs the D-ptrsasat ma. sesn mas. pom
fsgrsht Infamous eondlt o Buns 'a govern
which ilGsst Of endsaEsss 20
ecpne character Of the Department hays don
N bs rsrer 10 dsroy tAsm By Of
psubershtP 0Ipslsd
sDsu. and license EEen 20 tss 'segs
6sseTy b. tier nfgeet 70 paUs Lsn wheE sfoug1 %
s hon bv the sh0leso sssss et ths astasrtT 20
,i,r teno.l tEGs and practical ptrposss We challenge ss-
Of This tbe record Of then acts prove h and tAas record ca.
set 10 elA,rafsf c-- g., IL.
ro..S justice tts Department thai Cenmss Of Esrss
ts body 80 DO syesksa u con
,esp with JsdFe Rssora-E the abuses eEnas IN
~ the sEd that sGares ay 20 tAkss % Isnsy
Rsed That eenuies Be cred TO apply 70 sac Lssss
he ukdsueauo per
alarm OF IRE, 70 We.r hE1eaP OF
I,s Of frsusu hcA prescribed BY the sQAsres % az
himself BE- ARENA Tor tas Ps2sss
mo- an sssrtsE pssiss commission Of sI-nP a7
.n ~ Be elected either by h bsdy By ID. afsAsa are
wIieh ,ts referred all spplsanss Tor tse
sf tfsmeR osfore beng "a t20a
b, a, Csuse .sd for ths adoption o. sash User
f.,u,y b. e,sslstsd 10 promo" The rsnssa AesS
800. b.t N, sam. committee bs suhsssd 70 rsqs-ss tue
eoVs1tss CONNER CsUsel and OF car isls"e.EA'a
carry cut tas above reasgr,s sS -. n...ytnsni
Hss Ysrk, Feb &C, ls1