The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-04-07
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT QUESTION.

Meeting OF tho Board OF Re representatives.
or the Ftremsn An Reference Go the Paid
Fire Department. Bill--Appointment or
. Committee TO Test the Constitation-
slfty OF the Act, &c., 30.
special meeting Of the Representatives Of the various
engine and hose companies held last evening In
Fremsns Hail. the object Of the gathering being
slider what action should bs regard to the pas
sage Of the Fire Department bill by present Legsa-
interest In the proceedings
Mr.. JONI R. PLArr, the President presided.
After the calling Of tho roll and the reading Of the
minutes Of the previous meeting the PRnaDEr stated
that the object Of calling the meeting together was to
hear the report Of the committee appointed at the last
meeting 10 cooperate with other committees TO- use all
honorable for the defeat Of the Paid Fire Depart
ment bill The committee proceeded TO Albany and
found the brought to bear In favor Of aboshg
bill had now become law, = far a. the Legislature was
concerned, but In bis lthe Presidents opinion u would
not stand the test Of law He thought proper that re
Board should be convened to hear the report a. we'll
TO consider other matters in connection with the bill
The Board OF Foremen and Engineers passed resolution
making an assessment OF one dollar each man. and II
that amount collected il woui De sufficient to pay
the counsel fees and al other expenses incurred.
resolution was presented nsrueting the Board OF
Trustees to pay all expenses remaining unpaid for coun
sci fees and other necessary expenses incurred by the
committee defending the Fire Department at Albany.
In the Of the debate Mr. Phillips alluded 10 the
assertion that forty thousand dollars had boon expended
from the Fire Department Fund defeat the bill at Al
baay. He denied the statement but admitted that that
the resolution would not be referred to the trustees until
tho exact amount Of the expenditures was known. He
nmated that tho charter Of the Fire Department would
not expire till 1885, and had not been repealed by any
act Of the Legislature.
Communications received from the Board Of En-
gineers aud FOremen and Common Council suggesting
mees OF those boards TO test the legality Of the Paid
Fire Department act.
The papers were placed ON dls
Mr. MURPHY, of Hose Company No. 10, presented the
following preamble and resolutions
ss sd q S. s as an
sboisns the PRESENT volunteer system and whereas he
Board OF Engineers Foremen meeting held the
@ the TO continue IL the Of
Of The Commute hs
Of testing the Of the aforesaid act therefore
Resolved That the Board Of Representative cordially
Foremen meeting that the Of the
M s u o Of aSd
men -.
s 81 me- T % & hs
These resolutions gave rise to debate, in the course
Of which members said 1t necessary for the
Fire Department to take immediate steps to defend their
rights for the new Commissioners might at any moment
assume their Office.
The resolutions adopted by large majority vote.
resolution was presented and adopted instructng the
Board OF Trustees Of the New York Fire Department to
take such action as in their judgment may seem
to protect the charitable fund and peeuats
the system.
A Communication received from Mr. Doty, chief Of
the Bureau OF Flags Albany stating that the father Of
the late Colonel Ellsworth had deposited with him the
suit worn by the colonel when he killed. Mr.. Doty
petitioned the Fire Department TO have the Marsha
House Tag placed In the bureau The paper referred
| TO a committee.
A resolution was offered which was unanimously
adopted rendering 10 the Common Council all trophies
and ags In possession Of the Department. and that al
personal and private property which belongs to the De
partment be handed over to the Board OF Trustees
II stated In the OF the ng that mem
ber OF the Board Of Representatives, Assembyman In
graham most active In procuring the passage Of the
Paid Fire Department bill. member rose in his scat
and said that Mr. Ingraham was expelled, aud he Nhe
speaker) appeared In his place