The New York herald., 1874-12-29
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

THE FIRE COMMISSIONERS PROBABLY 10 BE RE
COMMISSIONERS OF ACCOUNTS SAID TO BE
VERY DAMAGING.
The Commissioners OF Accounts, VINO have FOR
some time past been busily engaged examining
into the arars OF the Fire Department, have at
last completed their lators, ana their report was
yesterday afternoon submitted to Mayor Vance.
The latter, III view OF the fact that there now re-
main but three days before the expiration OF his
own term of once, 1t is believed will take no
action upon 1t but simply put II on file as one OF
the Official documents to be handed over TO Mayor
Wickham. The report Is said to be ute voiuml-
nous one, and, although lts real contents are NOS
positively known, enough about 1t has leaked out
to thar il Is an indictment OF at least two OF
the Com missioners, ana that, while The third Is
not arraigned for active participation IN the
wrong dongs in the department., he is held-it Is
aileged-responsible for not having done his whole
duty in exposing
THE ALLEGED MALFEAsANCEs.
This was the case with one OF the Commissioners
OF Charities and Correction. Although nothing
definite in the way OF o criminal charge was
brought against him personally the Mayor con-
sidered that, had he exercised proper care and
determination to prevent what he could not have
but known was maIleasance, the wrong doings
complained OF would have been nlpped IN the bud,
anu because he Kept Dis arms i0lded ana slept
wnlle othe IS did mischief ne was made TO step
down and out 1t is pretty certain, therefore, that
II any OF the Fire Commissioners have to 60 they
Will all go, aud as there 10 no doubt about Two OF
them the subsequent proceedings" after the new
Mayor sends the charges 10 the Governor VIII IN
terest them all equally. IL wes generally believed
that when the report OF the Commissioners OF Ac.
counts would be made to Mr.. Vance he would take
the same action in the case OF the Fire Comms-
sioners II the report was damaging to call Tor
their removal ne took IN the case OF the Charity
Oommlssloners-namely, confer with the new
Mayor as TO their successors, and on
THE GovEkNOR'S APPROVAL OF THE CHARGES
at once remove the accused Commissioners. HIS
decision, however, simply 70 place the report on
tile, to be acted upon by Mr.. WickhRm, precludes
anything OF this kind. Besides MIR. Wlckham has
not conferred IN any way with Mr.. Vance as TO the
disposition that should be made OF the report; II
damaging, then 1t would be sent TO the latter.
THE POLITICIANS SCARED.
The fact that the Commissioners OF Accounts had
completed their report as to the Fire Department.
got very soon brulted about town late IN the day,
and ike all stories that 'take" in political circles,
proportions finally that the Fire Commissioners
had actually been removed, but even that their
successors had been appointed. Late last evening
II was reported that Mr.. Vance had suddenly
and mad determined to send his certificate OF re-
moval to the Governor. The rumor, now ever, was
without foundation.
ers that the examination made by the CommlS-
sioners OF Accounts was mere lOrmahty under
the cnarter, and that no matter how damaging
the showing OF any report they may make
against city government Official after due In
vestigatton into mis- official acts may be, the
Official Is entitled to fall hearing before removal
In other words, they contend that under the
charter the Mayor and Governor cannot re-
move them on the mere charges OF the Commis-
sioners OF Accounts before they have been allowed
time to make answer to them after having been
furnished with copy OF the charges.