The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-02-19
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

Progress Of the Legislative InvestiERttOn--
Testimony Of Com missi0nevs Shnler, Gal
way, Wilson and Abbe-The Difference Be-
tween "Privntes" and "H0semen" and
"Truck men"-The November Election and
December App0intments-LobbyS Services at
ALBANY.
The Assembly Committee charged with the investiga.
ton Of operations Of the paid Fire Department met
again at the Metropolitan Hotel yesterday morning, Mr..
Frsar in the chair busy days work done, a.
will be by the testimony taken during the sitting
follows
TESTIMONY OF GENERAL SMALLER
Comm iss!oner Alexander Shaer, the first witness
called testified as folows:-l was connected with the
old Fire Department; that Is was runner between
the ages Of fourteen and eighteen years was never
enrolled member; only had the experience OF run
ner in New York; served i've years in the Hoboken
Department; there thirty-four steam engines and
twelve trucks when | recognized the department in
Nav, 1866 the department was not quite but nearly
fui 1t lacked only few MEMBERS there was plenty OF
money in the treasury TO all liabilities; the system
is not as perfect now as might be through lack OF
funds, do not know hat members OF the department
have been sent 70 primary electons DO not know Of
their employment as electloneerers on election day.
Mr.. Murphy ask that the engineers aud foremen
be subpenaed
General Smaller (resumng)-I think all the engineers
have served in the old department; the members have
10 my KNOWLEDGE assessed FOR political pur-
poses have heard they tor the democratic party
inquired If the could be purchased more
cheaply in the city here than from the Amoskeag CON-
pany; the horses purchased by committee OF the
board; The increase IN the appropriation asked for this
year owing TO the O.. salaries authorized by
the LEGISLATURE do not know to the expenses OF the
old department; the vacancies during the summer
months were about thirty or thiry-nve they not
1Ied, chiefly because We we're occupied in maturing =
plan of the department, for the upper end OF the
island; the men the upper end paid $500
year; there three four iul paid men In
pany there five OF six hundred men receiving full
pay; the law does not make obligatory to
full salaries so understand 1t; the vacancies
mostly in uptown companies think nine.tenths of the
my knowledge resident outside the city; have often
discussed plans for reducing the expenses of the depart
ment; the fines from members go, by law, into fund
tor widows and orphans; the in the repair shop
paid on an average about 81 day the Conmis-
aaement OF nres; 40 not think the district
engineers get enongh salary; ! do not speak
for the Commissioners in saying this the
other emouments do no, know OF any suit prosecuted
within the year under The Combus,ble Storage law; the
attorney has given the Commissioners opinions points
OF law ard has drawn contracts for Them contracts
have been made by the Committee on Buildings for the
erection OF engine houses; the repairs dunng the
year we're chiefly m ldo By detailed men, we furnished
the material; in the contracts for engines think the
money paid all at once.
Commissioner Galway here begged leave to inform the
committee behalf OF General shaler that the present
board had m,de contracts for engines; they had
contracted for by the previous board
Witness continued The clerks In the department
not suffer entity paid; there clerks than arc
do think there ought 70 be more to com
pany south OF Fourteenth street, the system in the
upper part OF the island might he applied TO the lower
part, the force not too small TO perform the duos in
detail NJ res the system OF teesraphnc alarms is
good, but from perfect, IL s better other
cues 1t would require outlay Of hundred thou
sand dollars 10 make the alterations: the supply OF
water should always be full It is in all parts OF
the city now there three bell ringers In each
except at Mount Morris their salary thousand dollars
year fThe witness wished to impress upon the com.
nittee the importance OF reform In the construction
OF the Croon water pipes In order that the supply
might never DO Insufficient, no matter how extensive
the conisgrsion. He exhibited plans of the Of
tins recent John street fire in illustration OF
oil tue present system, both regards the freezing
the hydranis ana tue narrowness OF tho mains pri-
N hA fnQnt in xhn lie Id xitra
pointed ~ such and whose whole time Is engaged In s
service.
TESTIMONY or COMMISSIONER GALWAY
James Galway, being sworn, deposed--T served my
time in the Volunteer Fire Department; I resgnSd m
chairman Of the Committees Hose and on Buildings
the old hose given to the Commissioners OF Charities
and Couecron for the islands and Bellevue Hospital
sold about three lengths TO Street Commissi oner
whiting have seen hremen attend political meetings
never Knew them 10 be taken IN department wagon
the polls TO vote; there Is . resolution on our
books forbiddipg 6remen TO attend political
conventions IS delegates; they are not forbid
den to attend meetings; ! nevs, asked them
In uniform attending at eieciions; purchased 5000
feet of hose administrations we paid 81 so
foot last year short OF funds and purchased
on condition that they should wait for their pay until
this year; there Is no percentage on; when purchase
aaa rsen oaF sa
horses and sabes there have been only two contracts
for stables We gave out one contac for tower ounda
hon: the balance OF tho work Is mostly done by the
labor OF the department; when charges were preferred
sganst member they were submitted TO the engineer
xho marked them Approved = 'dIsspprovGoy a,
meat ~as iss verdict generally made public The
frst ar The month; do not know that charges were
held back for several months there are assn: 500
the hose and ladder men am on the Committee on
Apparatus; We generally purchase In the opeu market
est; here IL no psrcsntsge struck or: no dismissed
member been rensatsd NO dismissal has been sus
pended at the request OF politicians; drunkenness and
n nv Ica In
removal II the evidence clear went Into the Board
preudsed rs to the capabilities Of some OF ho dstr ct
pointed about them In the workshop some practical en-
Giness get 81 80 day; detailed msn get no extra pay
the horses put other use than those OF The de-
parent do pos know OF their 10 trucks for poll
teal procssons there I'VE or six clerks at head
quarters Two OF these nremep. who are good pen.
men, and 20 back TO work at nght with their steamers
they are satisfied TO do the work without extra pay
they would not be discharged II they refused ! have
not seen any lack OF numbers al nrss attribute the
extern, OF the John street Ore TO frozen hydran II tsok
eleven minutes TO thaw out hydrant; never knew
OF any one TO receive money on account Of appoint
men,s 10 the Fire Department never know the Chief
| Engineer 70 be ntsrfered with: In my opinion be 10
perfectly competent; would be better to use the sec.
ond class engines Tor down ono or two only
OF the rst class engines will be necessary the Commit
tee Oh Apparatus have this change under consideration
We nave not sold any OF the steam engines; We 80 10
some old band engnes tho scrap iron from the work.
shop ~ SOLD TO unkmen the money goes INTO the trea-
sury the hose used Is what 10 known as combination
hose leather hoss in The frat two lengths will not sssnd
| the pressure OF the engine
TESTIMONY OF COMMISSIONERS wfLsos.
| COMMISSIONS Monmouth u. Wilson, being sworn, tes
tihed-i served Ia Engine Company No 80 for two OF
three years before was tweny-one years or age was
sixteen or se'snisen years ago., thea went 90 the
police, where learned good DEAF Of experience as "a
nre matters; am chairman OF The Committee on Appa
ratus; we purchased some sixteen eighteen horses
We had them ten days FOR trial before purchased
do not know that the superintendent, OF Horses Ia moi
Veterinary surgeons tho average price OF horses 10
little less than So25; We build own tenders; the
duties Of the attorney are TO give opinions on matters
Of Law and 10 give advice with reference TO the law
TO the storage OF combustlbe materials; do not know
no goes 10 the Stale Legislature each yenr In