New-York tribune., 1868-02-19

FIRE DEPARTMENT COMMISSION INVESTIGATION
The second meeting of the Assembly Com
mttee the Affairs OF Cities took place yesterday morn
ing at the Metropolitan Hotel At the beginning OF the
meeting there were present Assemblymen Frear, Chair
man, Johnson and Murphy of this city, Mr. Bamler OF
Erie and Mr. Bristol OF Wyoming, the astnamed gentle
being the only Republican present Gen. shaor and
Messrs Able Wilson, and Galway, Fire Commissioners,
ar reen oe who M "Gs a & reacr ny % be pepSrtment
brought with him small cartload Of books aud papers
The examination conducted by the Democratic Nom
bers principally by the Messrs Johnson and Murphy;
Mr.. Bristol, the Republican member, preserved
strict silence. The Investigation was thorough and
searching. Each OF the Commissioners testified under
oath the affairs Of the Department The impression
prevailed that the examination would refer entirely 20
the practical working OF the Department but the honor
aud fathfulness OF the Commissioners themselves was
brought into question, ard thorough examination
various committees took place Each Commissioner
examined as to his knowledge OF the management OF
tus; the number Of fires that have occurred amount Of
property desoyed the amount Of money on hand where
any percentage allowed; whether the members Of the
dPapeon y members Of the commson whether any q
the Commissioners their friends had received moneys
for making appointments; where and how fuel, feed,
horses hose and other material purchased, and
whether there was any understanding between the Com
whether lremen's naines appeared more than on
the patrols, what disposition was made Of broken
purc6asers. In fact, every question was asked
planned skd was ascertqlne@ that Il was sold under
tho rs %tds5s g called e suggested that as the books
9t the Depqrnent were quite yolhmno1s he would pro
Where % they Would be moro Accessible Mr. Frear re.
ssS % @ se sn5ss Ser TSa UgeceS Ss ~ ss
tmony By Iemarklhg that he was not aware OF any
SS oS Fss @ e. SstTssn Ta Ss SS
ages Of IA and years was never an enrolled member
a A'a AZ g sS'Rf' S &c St @%6gs9 n
there ws y and y tSs Make When sSa
il lacked only few mcmbets; there was plenty Of
10 tsoS bat me%Srs tie Department. I haVc
pioynent as electloneers on election day; think all the
engineers have served in the old Department. tho mem
cal purposes have heard they for the Democratic
party nevef inquired i the steamers could be purchased
h9re sbeapy In the city here than from the Amoskeag
Company the horses are purchased by committee OF
the Board the increase in the appropriation asked for
BY the Legislature do know the expenses OF the
old Department. the vacancies during the Summer
because we were occupied IN maturing plan OF the De
parment for the upper end OF the island the men IN the
paid men lg each company; there 800 or 600 men
g af S0is 50
cancles are mostly IN uptown companies; think pine,
members to my knowledge resident outside the city we
have often discussed plans for reducing the expenses OF
the Department. Dy tntO
q fund for the widows and orphans the men
In the repair shop paid average about
81 day. tho Commissioners do not interfere
with the engineers IN the management of fires;
do think the District Engineers get enough salary
do not speak for the Commissioners saying this; the
attorney gets about 81 900 year. there are no other
emouments; do know Of any suit prosecuted within
the year under tho COmbusble Storage Law; the attor
ney has gwen the Commissioners opinions on points OF
law and has drawn up contracts for them; contracts
have been made by the Committee on Buildings for the
erection OF eDginehouses the repairs during tho past
year were chiefly made by detailed men; furnished
the material; In the contracts for engines think tho
money was paid all at once. Witness continued; The
clerks the Department not sufficiently paid there
moro clerks than specified in The law; the com
mteoE laye ~ ccGbs DO not think the9 onght 70 be