New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-11-10
orFloIAL JOURNAL OF sTATE 81 LoulsIAwA.
NEW ORLEANS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER TO- 1877.

sER 10, 1871.
Ing water on the adjoining buildings, an,
destroying property unnecessarily, and al
that sort of thing. And further, that 70,
were all pack Of Democrats, not in sym
patty with us, and that we ought to tur1
you out, and take charge Of the fire depart
ment, for political reasons. Iexamined the
bill. and the statistics of the city, and ex
penees, and also the expense of extinguish
ing fires in other cities, and found, to my
surprise, that the expenses here in New OF.
leans were very much less than in other
cities, and advised the originators of the
scheme to desist for that reason; and told
them that did not think that the political
considerations were sufficient to induce any
such move.
An examination, it seems to me, of the
history Of this city, win 60 far to show that
it is the most efficient fire department in the
United States. 1t has been q subject Of
wonder to me the rapidity with which the
department gets to q fire and the rapidity
with which it is extinguished. It is
something remarkable. / have seen
great tires in st. Louis, Chicago and New
York. and l never saw such efficiency.
Your people seem to be inspired with dis
position to see how quickly they can get to
nre, and one company tries to get there
before another to put it out.
am in sympathy with this organization.
l know great many young men belonging
to 1t, and. personally. have every disposi-
non to ald you in any manner which may
be in my power.
So far as the city administration is con-
cerned, my position with it is peculiar. The
men hold their Offices BY my appointment,
all except one, and for that reason l am
10th to interfere with the city government
in any way, because they are sensitive on
that score, and they may think that because
! have appointed them to Office that, there
fore. claim the right to dictate to them.
So have studiously avoided, since the new
organization OF the city government, to in
terfere in any way.
Mr. Remick, the Administrator of Com
merce, consulted with me, however, in rela-
ton to this matter some time ago, and l
gave him the benefit Of my previous exam
inatiOn, and advised him to let you have
the contract again as measure of economy.
He represented to me that the underwri-
ters were disposed to have . new fire de-
partment. ! was informed BY both himself
and Mr.. Walton that they had talked to the
underwriters, and that they were anxious
to have change. and in these interviews
Mr.. Remick said he intended to introduce
an ordinance giving you the contract.
l talked also to Mr.. Bonzano, and he
seemed favorably inclined toward the Or
ganlzatiOn. l have not talked to Mayor
Flanders on the subject. He has his own
ideas on the subject, and anything that
might say to him might, perhaps, have a
to convince him that was wrong.
and would make him 60 the other way.
All can say is this: If you show any
considered otiicious by these people at the
City Hall, l will take pleasure in doing it.
Ii You will give me copy of the ordinance
introduced by Mr.. Remick. and the modifi-
cations suggested by the Board Of Under
writer's, will examine them, and probably
make some suggestions to the Council. Off
cially, OF my views. Maybe that will be
some help to you. have not seen the ordi-
nance.
Mr.. Marks: 1t is published. The modifi-
cations suggested by the Board of Under.
writer's l understood Mr.. Briggs had drawn
Up, and sent copy to Mayor Flanders.
We have none in our possession. They
propose now to get these committees to-
yether and adjust this matter.
Governor WarmOth: l will see some of
:hese gentlemen of the Council. with whom
have some influence. and see whether |
IAN help you in this matter.
Mr.. Marks: In relation to this meeting
hat took place at the City Hall, at the
,lose OF the meeting, when Mr.. Bonzano,
he only member Of the board who de-
'lared himself in favor of the contract.
aid: Il will vote tor the ordinance for
i've years" He said, although you are
Ill politically opposed to u.s." made no
'eply to him, because l did not think
nat was tue time or place to speak. But
wnnl1 lilo IN
has never been a political OF.
.anizatiou. We have etudiously avoided |
having anything to do, as an organization,
with political questions. and in all the con-
constitutions of all the COM |
,anies and of the assOciation-there is a
lause forbidding political and religious
liscussions at meetings: and we have car
led that thing SO far that whenever an at
empt has been made by either political
'arty to use an enginehouse for political
Meeting, the chiet engineer was directed
ave seen notices published Of Demo
ratio meetings at enginehouses, and i'm
nediately the chief engineer was
lirected to inform them that no such meet
ng could be held; that the Fire Depart
nent could be used only for the purpose
or which it was created. But with the
'olitical opinions Of the members individu-
lily, and as citizens, we have nothing to
70. When they are not performing their
uties as tiremen, we have nothing to do
nth them; but we all know that as an Or
les. We know that there is quite a re-
pectable number Of Republicans, and some
cry leading members of the Republican
arty, belonging to the association. 1t has
ever been made a matter of cOmment-we
ever discuss that. and it would not be
roper, it man presented himself as a
to inquire whether he was a
republican or a Democrat; but if he
as liked, personally, he would he bal
tied for and elected. There is no political
ceiling in the organization at all; but if
ity Hall, l have no right to say that it
oes, and l do not believe it does, but if
ley wanted to make it a political organiza-
on. the best way to bring that about
ould be to abolish the present organize
on Of the fire department, because the
iremen's Charitable Association would
'ntinue to exist. Each company is char
red, and it has possession Of consider
Die amount Of property. The body is
most a unit, and they would be better
nited then than now, because, YOU are
ware, that when people are persecuted
icy are apt to become more compact. If
icy believed that they had been improperly
eated in this matter it might cause them
use their influence, individually and col
ctively, against the party who had go
eated them. / do not know if that would
} the case, but it appears to me that it
Ould be likely.
But as now organized it can not be made
political organization. l have told them
at whenever it became a political organ !
alton l would cease to he q member, and
would be anxious and willing to see it
oxen up. That was the reason the Or