Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-06-09
LOO AL N IL w 3.

Al0 COHHltttoe HppuluGcu Wy Glio S"ohS'i So'Ao
tine since to examine the accounts OF the flro
Wardens, and to enquire into the workings q
tho Fire Department., to see If ats management
had or had not been economical, met on natur
day evening at the chamber of the board OF
Aldermen. There were present: Inc Chalt,
man, James S. French, DIR. j. Is. johnson ana
VIM f. Henderson. r
Geo. 4. Frcuch Secretary of tho Board OF
Fire Wardeps, was present with the books ana
paners of the Board, for the purpose OF aiding
and assisting the committee IN their lnVcstlga-
ton. .,.
The Chairman, when about to proceed, with
Tho business. was enuuired of by DR.. johnson
whether the rest of the Wardens had been sum-
moned to attend the meeting
The Chairman replied that thcy had not;
that he presumed the Secretary, having the
rocords Of the Board, could give all the intor-
NATION needed by the committee.
This explanation not sultlng the Vows OF Or.
Johnson, who stated that it was matter OF
prime importance that all tho Wardens should
be present.
There being no one, at tho moment, to send
for the Wardens,
Mr.. Henderson suggested the propricty of
adjourning till next week, and in the mean
time notice could be served on the Wardens.
The Secretary of the Board opposed any ad-
iourpment, and volunteered his service to briug
the Wardens before the committee, and very
Boon they we're all present and the business
commenced by the chairman reading the report
of the Wsrdens, in which appears a detailed
statement of the expenditures of the Fire De-
partmcnt.
Next the resolution adopted by the City
Council under which they were appointed and
empowered to act, was read.
DIR. johnson commenced the examination by
asking the President of the Board of Fire
Wardens, James R. Smoot, how long he had
been Fire Warden.
Mr.. Smoot-I don't recollcot; six or seven
years probably.
DR.. Johnson--Have you been sworn.
Mr.. Smoot-I have.
were sworn.
Mr.. ST. don't recollect.
DR.. J-What do you consider the Fire De-
partment.
MI. S.-The property belonging to the Cor
poration.
Here the chairman iuterposed and desired to
know what these questions had to do with the
examination of tho accounts of the Fire Ward
Gus? He held the questions to DO entirely
foreign to the subject for which they had come
together; that they had nothing to do with the
history and formation of tho Fire Department;
they were there for an entirely different pur
pose.
DIR. johnson resuming, asked one or two
more questions, which the reporter Jailed to
catch the full import of.
MIR. Smoot replying, said, "Your questions
are impcrtinent, and will not answer them,
and then stated to the chairman that he was
present to give any information in his power
whip the scope of the resolution, but not to
be catechised upon matters wholly irrelevant
and having no connection Herewith.
The chairman again interposed, Insisting that
the accounts should be at once taken I'D and
examined, and to that end, referring to tho re-
port Of the Wardens, he remarked, the first
items notice are salaries for engineers and
drivers Of the steamers.
The Wardcus explained, referring to the law
authorizing certain amount to be expended
for this purpose
BY the Chairman-Can efficient mon for
this work be procured for less than now paid?
The Wardens were decidedly OF the opinion
that there could not
The Chairman---I SOC new set Of wheels
charged
The explanation was, that it was thought alb
so'utely necessary that new set of wheels
should be procured, and that before giving out
the contract bids had brcn solicited from sever
al firms, the lowest bidder receiving the con-
tract
Here DR.. johnson remarked that there was
secret history connected with the purchase OF
these wheels which the public was ignorant Of.
This charge was resented on the instant by
the Secretary of the Board of Fire Wardcns
Who springing to his feet demanded, What
do you mean, sir? Explain, sir
DIR. j will at the proper time.
The Secretary-No cir, you will explain now.
DIR. J.-Mr. Chairman, will you call the
meeting to order ? at the same time replying to
the Sccretary--I will not explain; and continu-
ing, said ~ GU arc here to answer questions,
not to ask them"
The Secretary replied-I wish you to dis
tinctly understand | am here as your equal, not
as your slave, and propose to ask you as many
questions as think proper, aud eXcitedly clos
inr the book, declared that so far as he was
concerned the investigation stopped here Til!
this matter was settled; that but one inference
could be drawn from the remarks of the gentle
man; he had made charge which no NUT take
back or make good, contending that when gen
tlemens' honesty was called in question, 1t was
not optional with the party making the charge
when and where be would explain; but now and
here the explanation must be made.
About this time things began to look little
squaly and the reporter, VINO had Deen re,
Gently mixed up with alittle ''unpleasautness,
and had derived no special benefit thereby, but
which, on the contrary, still brought. painful
recollectons to mind, reached for his hat, but
the disavowal of Dr. johnson, which I'M
mcdlatey followed the very free expression OF
SSplnlSSn Of the Secretary of tho Board relieved
a nm IRON the necessity of falling back and TAX
'nS new position.
Ut. Johuson dsclaimed any intention of call
ing IN N, question the honesty and integrity of
Tue MArdens, and objected that any such inter
b;e'.lon be put upon tho remark made by
h Iam tnat; he had publicly stated, and it had
e "esu SO published, that he believed the Ward
w uIS were INCH minded, honorable gentlemen,
"' TS word would be tai ken anywhere.
uL Inc secretary replied he thought he knew
n Trs' simple English meant, and unless the
=, -: remark meant the construction put upon