Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-12-22


isns-Tae Resolutien for Their Rsmovas Laid
Orer.
Last evening meeting Of the Board of Fire
Commissioners was held at the City Hall, all
the Commissioners present, with Mayor Bowen
in the chair, and DR.. Z. L. Corbin Secretary.
Chief Engineer Cronin was also present. The
action of the latter as stated in his report was
approved and the Board ordered the purchase
of a new wagon to be used by the Chief in place
of the one which has been in use since the or
ganization Of the Department, and also ordered
new suction sleeves for Union Mon NO engine. A.
fact that at fires, wagons and other vehicles are
allowed to run over the hose, which greatly in
jures it, and the Mayor stated that at the next
meeting of the Board of Police he would call up
the subject that an order may issue to the
police force to see that the hose is protected in
future.
large amount OF Government property in the
city, and the Government having no fire appa-
ratus, the United States should bear portion of
the expense of the department, and he moved
that an application be made to Congress for an
appropriation. conversation ensued, in which
il was stated that the amount of Government
bers the value OF those in Armory Square being
six millions dollars, and the medical stores in
Judiciary Square nine million dollars, making
a total OF fifteen million of dollars in those two
places alone, stored in wooden buildings, which
were n fire to take place, would burn rapidly.
1t was suggested that if the proper officers of
the War Department were called on they would
recommend an appropriation, and the motion of
Mr.. Booker having been adopted, Mayor Bowen
and Mr.. French were appointed to make the APP
phcation; the first named to lay the subject be-
fore the proper committees Of Congress, and the
latter to obtain the recommendations of the Of
ficers of the Government.
The resolution offered by Mr.. Booker several
months since tor the removal OF the officers and
members Of No. 3 (COlumbia) company was
called up.
Commissioner French said that he had made
itoi Hill toward this company, and found that
the most of them, including Republicans, were
in favor of retaining the men, and gave them
nigh Characters as efiieient nremen. The main
he did not think it was sound policy to remove
company entirely unobjectionable except pO-
htically, and takes the chances of substituting
new and inexperienced set Of men. He was
strong partizan, but did not think that poll
tics should enter this question, and to remove
them would endanger the property of the citi.
designations would furnish opportnties to I rel
ward friends, and he would appoint men be-
cause they will make good firemen. When he
heard their political friends i'm other companies
charged with stealing spoons and cutting and
stabbiEg, he did not think be would risk the dis
charge Of a good set OF men.
Commissioner Booker said that he would o.
pose the removal Of experienced nen If other
good men could not be found to fill their places;
but he thought that there were enough expert
enced men among their political friends to form
company.
Commissioner GoOdall said that there were
men in that company who are firm supporters Of
the present administration.
The Mayor said that he, too, had made in
quiTies among the people on Capitol Hill, the
owners Of property, and had found come who
desired their removal, but the number was
small, and they were governed altogether by
partisan feeling. 1t is not charged that they
they are not Republicans; and as for the latter
charge, he believed that half of them would
vote with the Republicans hereafter.
Commissioner King" Yes, if they are salts
Commissioner Goodall-" Bigger fish than
they do 500
The Mayor continued, saying that there may
be Objectionable men in the company, who can
be removed; but to remove the company whole
sale would injure the party materially, in that
section of the city particularly, and they could
not say but that such course would engender
the same feeling as was the case last spring a
year, when fires were plentiful, and they should
do all they could to avoid such a state of things
Commissioner King Suppose a cOlored man
is appointed to that company, they would all
resign, or so treat the cOlOred man that he would
be obliged to leave"
The Mayor replied, that i'm either case the re-
spOnsibility would be on them, and not on the
commissioners.
Commissioner King said he was opposed to
retaining body Of men who were opposed to
the administration politically, while there was
as good material as they unemployed. These
men were last year to a man against the party,
and had they been successful, cOlOred men
would not have remained in office one hour.
Commissioner GOodall stated that Councilman
S"ss-- ss sA.- sa......a W.-a. h>d .s.eLs 70 him
in reference to this company, saying that he
knew the men, and was opposed to their reno
val on political grounds. Mr.. g. endorsed the
views Of the Mayor and Mr.. French.
The Chief Engineer stated that he believed
that two or three Of the men had served in the
rebel army, and the Mayor said that il such was
the fact the Board would remove them.
Mr.. GOOdall said that he believed these reports
were occasioned by some members OF the old
company who were south during the war. hang
ing about the house, and as they had an interest
in the library they could not be kept away.
Chief Cronin said he had called the men
together and told them that there was strong
objection to them politically. He knew that they
had spoken bitterly Of ex-Chief Elwood, and he
did not see how these men who were so much
opposed to the Republican party and the colored
man, could work harmonOusly. III the matter
was laid over he would promise to furnish a full
statement as to those who have been south, SC.
After some further debate the consideration Of
the subject was postponed until February.
The applications Of men for positions in the
located in the Seventh Ward, were referred to
Messrs. GOOdall, Booker, and King. Adjourned.
THE THEATERs.-President Grant and his
wife, and little son occupied box at the
National Theafer last night, and the party
seemed to greatly enjoy the pantOmime OF
.'Jack and the Beanstalk." Messrs. Spalding
a. Rapley certainly deserve credit for the excel
mise en- scene Of this amusing production. The
tricks worked perfectly last night, many new
ones being introduced: The Zanfretta family
were, Of course, excellent. Mr.. Parkhurst, as
the giant, has found a part in which he shows to
great advantage The ballet, with Westmael,
Rici, and Celline, as PRIMERS, was capitalize
can-can being, as usual, encored.
Ihe troupe OF MINISTRIES now performing al
Wallis Opera House deserve the encouragement
OF our citizens, for they present an entertain
ment of the most enjoyable character, and the
performers are artists Of decided merit. The
singing, dancing, jests and pantomime are SUI
peIior to that Of any similar troupe that has
visited this city for some time. Life in the
South, /" by Little Mac, Is encOred over and over
again. Barney and Johnny Wild are very good
comedians, and Tyrrale, the balladist, las a
sweet voice, and sings with ex preston and
taste.
TIE STEAMER COLUMBIA IN A SToRM.-The
steamer Columbia, due at Alexandria OIL Sunday
evening from Baltimore, did not arrive until
about tive O'Clock Monday morning, having been
detained by stress of weather. The Alexandria
Gasette says: Captain Harper reports the storm
as one Of the severest he ever encountered, and
says that the waves of the sea were higher than
he ever knew them to be. At CObb's Point the
gale was 20 strong that fish were blown ont of
the water, and the Columbia brought up one
hundred punches Of the largest perch ever seen.
that had been blown ashore there and caught
while numbed by the cold. Thousands of punches
could have been caught had the condition OF the
fish been discovered earlier, for the warm sun
of yesterday revived them, and thew were en-
tn cav,H init