The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-12-25

The Fire Department.
MEETING or Tbs BOARD OF FORKMBN AND BHSGI-
NHERs-THE LOST BAD0Es-BOARD OF FIRE CON-
AIssIOEERs TAKEN TO TAsK-THE BELL RINGERS
WHO SHALL TAKE CHARGE OF FIRES?
special meeting Of the Board Of Foremen and Engi-
neers Of the Fire Department held Monday evening
at Fremen's Hall q. q. Howard Chief Engineer, the
chair, and Mr. Wenman, secretary.
LOST BADGES OF nRRMHs.
One Of the principal objects for which the Board
called together TO take action the badge
question. 1t seems that the brass badges which were
given to the members Of the Fire Department TO d=n;
guish them at nros have in many instances been lost
is computed that nine hundred Of these badges the
hands Of persons who not frcmen and every thief in
the city can easily get inside the Police lines at IRE.
SosS ss 81 o. ss
amend the rule or the Department respecting them.
After the meeting organized, Mr. Jous B. LzvEkcn, of
Hose Company No. 4 offered the following
Resolved, That committee be appointed TO revise the
law relative 70 hrcmcns badges 10 the end that persons
Joining the department be furnished with badges
soon as approved by the Board OF Fire Commissioners
JACOB l. SMITH, OF Hose Company No. -, wished TO
know why was that no moo badges were given ont at
the Chief Engineers office.
The CHARAAs said it done by order OF the Fire
Commissioners, who had all To do with that matter
Mr. shTHpo you recognise the right OF the Board in
this matterr
CnilY EsGrsKKR-I do They have all TO do with it.
Mr. ShrH-Then do not that there is any in
asking the Common Council to do what the Commissioners
DO without their action
In answer to question: the CnEy ENGISEKR stated that
the Fire Commissioners had extraordinary powers. Ac
cordng TO the law he believed they could disband the
whole department.
Mr. LKysRict stated that the badge law humbug,
and good to but thieves, who got chance
by means OF them to commit depredations at fires with
immunity.
The Foreman OF Hose No 3S favor of the badge
law. Ii there 900 badges lost, the fault or
the officers Of the companies who ought 70 know ali about
them and where they were
WILLIAM MnlAS Of Engine Company No. 40, said il was
notorious that thieves got possession OF the badges and
in Tho
of fire, the lost badges.
Mr. oussoN, of No. AZ Engine defended the Fire Com
missiUners from certain charges made against them.
They only had the powers the old Fire and Water
Committee OF the Common Council.
After fur her discussion the resolution passed
with an amendment appointing a committee TO inquire
into the power of the Fire commissioners to furnish
badges.
resolution also passed asking the Legislature 10
grant TO tho remen the appointment Of bell ringers
stead Of leaving in the power OF the Mayor al
sent The Foremen designate the pro-
per parties 10 have this power
COMMISSIONERS
". H. WcKHAN, Of Hook and Ladder Co No Is, offered
the following
whereas much dissatisfaction exists among the active
members the Fire Department relative 70 tue recent
action Of the Board Of Fire Commissioners, examining
company roll books entertaining verbal charges against
hreen AMI the severity Of their discipline generally and
Whereas, this Board, though not legally constituted
body, power in the department, and represents
than any other body the active working portion of the
lremen who almost entirely the subjects of the Fire
Commissioners jurisdiction; therefore, be IL
Resolved That this Board remonstrate against
the Commissioners taking upon the power 10 ex
anime books which private property OF companies
and which assert that no body Of meu in
tence, outside of company meeting have any power or
control
Resolved That this Board take the ground that no fire
man legally be compelled answer any o.her than
written charges made and formally Presented anst
him. and should such charge emana.c from Of the
Commissioners We also claim II a. sound principle oil law
and justice that the shall thereby be disqualified
10 Judge.
Resolved That in every where Complaint lie
m5de az >nst any company individual in the Fire De-
partmen claim that any party implicated snail have
the right 10 face his accuser, TO hear the testimony
against bin, to crossexamine hs accuser and the PRIV
ege Of introducing rebuttng testimony to prove his nno
&c
Resolved That this Board believe that by moro conci-
lnory and temperate Of action the rendering of
decisions by the the peace ami harmony Of
tho department will be better promoted and less Of t1o
time OF the Commissioners Board be consumed IN tho
transaction Of business.
Resolved That committee Of five be appointed by the
chairman 10 present the resolutions 10 the Fire Commis
soners and state to them the views VI this body ON the
subject matter above reierredto.
The resolutions, after debate, carried by vote
Of 80 10 a. The following IL the committee appointed
Wiekham, Of Hook and ladder No. Is, Taylor, Hose
Company No. IS, Lyon, Of Engine Company No 3; Walsh
Of Ho-e Company No. 90; siowey, OF Engine Company
No. l9.
Mr. IxvrmcB moved that the Board have regular meet
ings every three months and that the upper chamber o
Firemen Hall be nled up for their u~e This nnay
declared oul u order, IL would alteration VI
the by laws, which required previous notice.
CHARGE
Mr. WksnAs moved that a committee be appointed TO
petition the Legislature alter the re laws that the
nrs person who arrived AT IRE should take charge until
the arrival Of engineer lie stated that there beng
confusion and trouble which such law he proposed
would obviate. The motion after come discussion
carried
The meeting then adjourned.