, 1873-08-09
THE FIRE MARSHALSHIP.
The Mayor Waited on by Deputation
of Firemen,
They Ask TINT tic Marshal Do Chosen
from tllo Department.
His Honor's Views on the Important
Subject.

u4H ooAor's V1oW6 on the 41npOFtHnG
Subject.
Yesterday forenoon tho Committee Of ofllcors
OF tho Flro Department charged with tho pro-
aontstlon OF tho petition in favor of tho direct
promotion Of tho coming Fro Gfarshal from tho
rnnkB Of tho Department, waited upon Mayor
Moli1l In tho City Hall. Tho mombers of the
Committee woro Charloss. Petrio, ". Mushan,,
Jool L. Knnoy, Loo Myers, William Conway,
Jnnos Grant, and A. MoAtonaglo.
Tho petition wns q very bulky ono, and con-
eistod Of about dozon pngos OF foolscap, bear-
ing some 200 signatures Of the mon lnl tho Do
partmont caoh man attaching to his namo tho
lougth and character of his sorylce.
Tho Rubjoct Of tho document was to urgo
upon His Honor tho Justice md oxpedicuoy Of
adhoring to tho rule Of direct and consecutive
promotion from tho ranks Of tho service to fill
my vacancies occurring thorein, aud without
enggostlng any particular 1lnmo in tho prornsos.
Of tho 0hiof Marshalship.
Tho Mayor received tho deputation courteouely,
and proceeded to tho porusal Of tho petition
with much doubcration and caro, evidently
ofnGapS of asSr calf deep HdnGg togos rod y the rd aqhs
Fotrio ssd ho would givo s''nS tho as mattor
htB most earnest consideration whorcupon ott-
~, sued tho following discussion, substantially
Tho Mayor-Thla petition bears largo num-
ber Of names. Who started it, or how was It
got up? Wns thore any, influence brought to
Mr. Potrie-Mr. Mayor, aa far, ma my infu-
ence having boon brought to bear upon the SUBJ
5cct is concerned, don't think tloro has beon
any.
Tho Mayor--of course, ehould not bo ablo
n iI1f NJ {f1nt ot nr,r4 tail
whoshor thoro has boon or not. Who wcrc tho
primo movers Of this thing2
Mr; Pctrie-Well, your Honor, number Of
members Of tho Department personally asked
With tho movomont @ % on piyncplo coSaontod oymRatn
with others to do 80, As far ne can fudge tho
and popular momber Of tho Department; ho is
PHO Of tho originators, too and, as far na I
know, they al 1ignod it without question.
Kinney, advancing, aaid "Yorr Honor, It has
loss, porfeet conildcnco roigned botweon tho
heads Of tho Department and thoir subordinates
Its affairs would always bo misnanagod mud tho
public service would suffer Il las also
but right and Just, and that those
only who Ind experience in tho aorvico should
he selected for honors md responsibility. But
II that could not bo obtained, ut least harmony
ccrs In whom tho entire Department. had conf
donco, may eay that thcro have been officers
In tho Department In whom that confidence was
not folt, md layo myself received orders on
active duty TINT have doclinol to fulfill, as I
know that i had done 40 mons livea would be
endangered.
Tho Mayor I havo been called upon by other
Aromen who have suggested for tho existing
vacancy certain names. 500 your petition does
MIR. Petrio-No, sir wc leave that for you to
do, as we aro fully conscious that that is your
place and privilege, and We arc satisfied TINT 1t
% respect tho principle Of rotation Of promotion,
you think tho public can be aa vol served,
and wo think there Rro plenty OF men in the De-
partmont competent to fill any vacancy. You
neRs, Mr. Mayor, aud We scarcoly think you
would promote man from setting typo, or
Kechng press to tho editorial staff, and jump
him ovor tho heads Of all tho otherB.
auch n man rosRea4ed aomc peculiarly, efficient
qualities for what wanted him to fiji. Thoro
arc instances Of mon who have filed great
positions who hnye been rapidly promoted from
instance, WAS given high rank in tho army from
tho grade Of d simple Second Lieutenant and
We might quote many others, Phil Sheridan
emong them.
Mr. petrio-Yea, cir, but they nll havo moro
or loss Of q practical knowledge Of what they
presumed to undertake, and We aro satisfied
That promotion should rest on TINT bnsis.
Lis Honor-Woli. gentlemen, tho fact is TINT
havo beon thinking good deal about this ap-
posntmont In plain English, what you want to
get out Of mo is my idca about rotation Of pro-
notion: We'll, I am willing to tell you this
much, that I'LL othor things being equal, I aul
decidedly in favor OF diroct and consecutive pro-
nlotion,
Mr. Potrio-You ought to DO, your Honor, and
you father Of Civil Service Reform. [Laugh5
tor in vtYJaFt 1fn initt
Tho Mayor-Well, gentlemen, that is very
trlo; but must insist upon your observing one
thing seriously. It is my duty as Mayor OF tho
city to aoleet for tho place tho vcry best man I
can find: II can find him iu tho Department.,
partmont to find tho man I want, ahall cor
tainly do It. l1ayo boon thinking OF this thing
almost exclusively for the paBt week, in fact, 1
may say haye boon contemplating tho suprc,ne
mp9%taneo Of t II ths direction @
il can Ind {ho man to llf tho proaont Vacancy
in tho Department.. believe that method tho
true ono, but il I can find something
better outside, ehall certainly do It.
Chief Fire Marshal the most grave and i1npor-
tant that hns fallen to my administration during
my term Of office, and shall loayo no effort ul-
spared to I'LL it ntly. shall regard naithor tho
Interests Of any cliques in tho Department nor
nay political combinations outside 1t, tho dicta-
tion Of any underwriters nor tho eympathy OF
personal friendships but shall strictly and i'm
partially discharge my duty to thB great city in
trust, in SOLICITING tho ittest incumbent for this
responsible and Important post. will try and
mako up my mind on tho matter by Monday
next.
Tho Committee thon withdrew.
PERSONAL.
Judge Nation, Of st. Paul is at fho Sherman.