The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-09-23
Tho city Fire Enginos. SO.
TO TIE EDITOR OF TIE NEWS,

TO TIE EDITOR OF THE NEWS.
In your issue Of the 22d instant, among tho
proceedings of the City Council, you state
that Alderman L. j. Mackey said that tho
Board OF Firemasters had, in their mode Of
complying with the recent ordinance, seen at
to treat tho Council with perfect contempt.
This most excellent specimen OF aldermanic
greatness sees Gt for purposes of his own to
oonstrue matters as he pleases. 1t may be
thasho was chagrined because tue committee
OF tho Board Of Fironasters insisted on q pri-
vate interview with the Mayor, and said Alder.
man was requested to leave the Council room.
Now, what is tho true state of the oasep
Council passed this Mackey ordinance, by
which the city has 10 pay $10,S00 additional
for tho support Of six colored engine compa.
nies that cannot earn the sixteenth part of this
amount, and, in doing this, ono company was
disbanded that has beon in the department as
! an auxiliary for twenty years. This, however,
was done L suppose, to strengthen this Alder
man-gencral in his future political career
Maybe it will. The Council had the power to
pass the ordinance, and no disrespect was ever
intended or offered. Immediately after tho
passage of tho ordinance, several culored per-
sons, unknown to the Chiof called ut his rcsi.
dcnce and demanded the two cngines-one
bo'ohSiuH " NO. duu tno Otucr u6eu QB
serve. These engines, with all the city proper
ty belonging to tho Fire Department., have
always been held by tho board, and not by tho
Chief. Tho demand WIS refused oil the ground
that no official communication had been given
the board by the proper officer Of tho City
Council. On the following day, the Chief
received q communication from the Mayor, in
forming him of the pa ssage Of the ordinance,
and sending by one OF the parties the ratified or
dinance. Tho demand was again refused by
the Chief, and the Mayor informed he would
be waited on the next day, which no was by the
Chief and tho chairman and vice of the board.
very friendly interview was held; the Mayor
agreeing that what had been done was correct,
be laid before tho board at its first meeting as
official. This was done, and the board passed
resolution requiring the Chief and clerk to
deliver over to the Mayor and Council all the
engines. hose reels, hose and other articles
ne heid by them relating to the city engines.
This was accordingly done by tho Chief aud
clerk, and no fault was fouud by the Moyor.
Appended to tho Same resolution was ono from
the board giving (as their opinion) the value
OF hose at $4,000 Tho engines and res Is we're
valued ut s409 each. the same price paid by tho
Stonewall and Young America Companies aud
the two thousand feet OF hose at 81 per foot.
Now: we ask, were thoso proc -5ings in any
way offensive to either his M the Mayor
or the City Councils Certainly Etho Mayor did
not think So. The board we're not bound to
receive the Mayors communication ,s official.
put did so Iom courtesy. 1t has always been
Customary Tor all Official communications to be
sent to tho board from the clerk OF the City
Council. In this case mono has been so sent
even up to the present time.
SO much for sAld .rmau-general Thomas
Jeherson." The resolutions OF the board which
were communicated to tho Mayor will doubt
less be laid before Council, as the same was
directed ITO the Honorable Mayor and Alder.
men," ONE OF TIE BoAnn