The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-01-26
TROUBLE AHEAD.
Want of Harmony Between the Fire Com mi
zion md CouncIls.

Want Of HARMONY Between the Fire COmmis-
sion and Councils.
When the paid Fire Department Commission
ers last week went to New York to inspect the
workings of the Fire Department there, they
little expected that during their absence Coun-
ellis would make them subservent to them.
Great therefore was their chagrn, intense their
indignation, when upon returning they discov-
cred that supplemental" ordinance had been
passed, and signed by the Mayor directly when
1t reached him, which required them to submit
all they did for the approval of Councils.
The bad feeling which was developed by this
action has grown very rapidly, and to day we
hear from good sources, though IL may be a
piece OF strategy to regain their lost powers
mat three OF the commissioners have declared
their intention of resigning. unless Councils
this afternoon repeal the supplemental ordinance
passed last week.
Meeting to-day a member of Councils tho
roughly conversant with the condition of affairs
we asked bm:-
"ls il true that some of the commissioners have
threatened to rcsgn?"
Whereupon he responded. at is; though l
don't believe they will They haven't any right to
take exceptions to the supplemental ordinance.
III they OBJECT to that part of the ordinance
which says and the name Of every person
appointed shall be transmitted to Councils for
approval they should remember that the
Mayor, who is an elective officer, must do the
same thing They object TO the clause too,
which says
ALd ali contracts for the lease or purchase OF
houses apparatus and other property for the n5e
the department, and all eXnenditures for aitera-
tions, repara, or supplies where the cost thereof
shan exceed two hundred dollars, shall first be Run-
mtted TO and authorized by the Committee on Fire
department.
"But this is correct and proper. These com
missioners give no security and have the dis
bursement under the original ordinance of
100000, and though the people do not believe
they would use it improperly, the citizens
should have guarantees that il was properly
paid out"
Has this ordinance checked them in any
projected purchase thus far?"
That l cannot say; but do know that they
intended to do away with the entire lot of
leather hose, and get in a supply of india
rubber hose. They have defed Councils already,
for they fitted up their present quarters without
saying word to that body or the Committee on
Fire Department, violating that clause of the
fifth section of the ordinance creating them
which says:-'They shall have authority IN
conjunction with the Committee on Fire Depart
ment, to fit up and appropriate to their use
suitable rooms offices, ETC."
"Will Councils repeal that ordinance this
afternoon?"
mo, sir. If the present Commissioners dom
like il, let them resign. We can get plenty of
good men who will be willing to work under it
as Commissioners. This thing is going to cost
a million of dollars before we get through with
it, and Councils have a right to ask of a COM
mission created by them how it intends to ex-
pend the money given it. At a recent meeting
of the Commissioners one of the number defed
Councils and said they would spend the money
as they saw fit"
From this the reader will very properly infer
that the path of the paid Fire Department Com
mission is not covered with roses.