Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-05-14
EXCURSION TICKETS 70 THE
Chicago Convention
5000

The FIRE DEFARTMEST or CLEVELAND.-It 10
hoped by all ciiizens who are lovers Of good order
and rsspectabillty, that the CITY Council viii see
the urgent necessity Of some marked reform In the
management Of the Fire Department Of our city.
In saying this, we must not be understood aH cast
ing the least Oonsure upon eur efficient Chief En-
gineer James Hill. for be alls bis position With
marked ability, bot there are some abuses in the
presehtsystem which are beyond bis control, and
70 remedy which, be asks the assistance Of the
Council
An ordinance is now being prepared to be sub
mitted to the Council, prOvIoing for the establish.
ment Of Board ofFire Commissioner. who shall
be at the head Of the Fire Department and exercise
general and complete control over the admission
OF all new members, the settlement Of ell points
Of dispute, the arbitration Of all cases Of nsuboT
dinatOn, and the workings Of the system. We
have large number Of hremen. and when they
work harmonicusly, they are efficient az those Of
any city in the country, but 60 long as free admis-
sion Is granted to every boy or rowdy who chooses
to join the companies, so long viii there be just
cause for complaint by law and order loving oiti-
Gems. The several companies now elect their own
members. and We are proud to be able to say that
TO some Of them no improper character can gan
admission, but there sre some companies that are
fast becoming composed Of boys and "rOughs, to
the exclusion Of able-bodied and respectable men.
The result Is manifest In the scenes Of roWdySm
which occur at some Of the engine houses So
great nuisance has this become in one case, that
the Chief Engineer yesterday was compelled to
apply for an officer TO preserve the peace OF the
Sabba.h at the Engine House No. 3, upon Oregon
Street EIposiuatOu and reason have alike
proved Intellectual to stop card playing aud carOus
iDg by day and night.
The ordinance referred to provides that the Board
shall consist of Eve Commissioners, to whom all
application for admission into the Department
shall be made, No person under q years Of age
to be admitted; all cases of disturbance, riot, or
lnsubordinAtion to be followed by censure, suspen-
sion or expulsion; at every alarm, every member
to man the drag ropes, and the conduct Of the
members while of duty as well as while on duty,
to be the subject Of inspection and inquiry. These
five Commissioners to be appointed by the COun-
Gil, and to act in concert with the Chief Engineer
Appeal may be made nom the decisions Of this
Board to the City Council
Thepassage of such an ordinance will be ur-
gently pressed by the Engineer, and If the COun-
cimen will consult the good name of the city, the
efficiency Of the Department and the safety of our
citizens they viii pass it. 1t is evident that the
companies that are now orderly and that have
commeudable self>respect, have nothing to fear
from the passage of such an ordinance, and that
only those who have consciousness of evil doing
under the present system, viii have cause to OPP
pose it, Let the ordinance become law.