New-York tribune., 1874-12-14
LOCAL MISCELLANY.
REMOVALS. IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

LoCAL MIoOELAAN1'
REMOVALS tN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
THE SYSTEM OF SALARY DIsCoUNTING DISCOVERED
TO PREVAIL AMONG THE PIREMES-DEcIsIvs
ACTION OF THE COMMIssIONERs-METH0Ds oF
THE SALARY BROKERS'
A GOOD deal of excitement prevails among
the members Of tho City Fire Department on account
Of the sudden dismissal from service OF IS fremen
recently for breach OF discipline and dishonest prac-
tcss The immediate cause Of these dismissals was
the discovery by the Board Of Fire Commissioners that
the practice Of selling discountinR salaries
to brokers prevailed extensively in tho De-
partment. This discovery was made three or four
weeks ago under rather peculiar circumstances.
A fireman had got leave Of absence to attend pic
nIc While he was away one Of his comrades stole his
cap and going to a salary-broker under fictitious
name got months pay advanced TO him under the dis
counting system. The broker knowing the number OF
the cap worn by tho fireman who had dealt with him,
entered complaint against the owner Of the cap VINO
was entirely innocent OF the transaction, and
recovered Judgment against him. Thus the mat
ter was brought to the notice OF the Fire
Commissioners, to whom other complaints were made
by brokers' showing that the salary selling system was
In active operation In the department. They have had
the matter under consideration slnce desiring not
70 take any steps hastily, but Thursday they con-
cludpd TO discharge all members Of the department,
ing were accordingly discharged:
George Mclaughlin. iforeman, Engine Company No.
1s; WIN. Hudson, assistant foreman Company No. 10 I;
Daniel Dempsey. fireman, Company No. 2; Wm. Wogan,
fireman, Company No. 6 j. ii. Baentine. fireman,
Company No. 6; Luke Goeson, Company No II; Geo. X.
W,kehart, frcnan, Company MOI; Thos Cray, nre-
man, Company No l; James Goodall. fireman, Company
No. q; John g. Craft fireman, Company No. 80; j. IL.
Shuts, fireman. Company No. II; John Brown, fireman.
Company No. %; Patrick Doyle, fireman, Company No.
sa j. F. Cassidy, fireman. Company No. 4; ]. F. Belch-
tper, fireman. Company No. o; j. II. Ward, fireman.
Hook and Ladder Company Mol; George Luke, fire.
man, Hook and Ladder Company No. 8: Francis Nc
ouley, fireman, Hook and Ladder Company No.
Several OF these stated to TRIBUNE reporter on
Saturday that according to the rules OF the Department
they are supposed TO receive their pay on the first OF
each mouth, but they do not receive II until several
days after that date This month they say they were
not paid until the 8th. Some Of them have practiced
for p or 20 months the system OF dscouDtng their saa
ries whicn 500 o month. aud others have only
recently begun It, There several salary brokers In
the city, Among.them are Messrs. Baxter, Billings
Fife Bliss and Others The practice Is to 20 to these
brokers' on tho strength OF sthe fremen being
nublIo employees who sure OF re-
ce,vine their salaries, and to borrow money from
them in anticipation of the next months salary In re-
turn the remen sign powers Of attorney authorizing
the brokers collect their salaries from the CJnr)iief
For the use of the borrowed money theY interest
amounting to TO- and even Is or % per cent month.
The brokers agree to return each month portion Oh tue
principal paid in by the hremon, but having once got
the latter Ia their clutches they cannot escape aud arc
kent paying interest until, som, OF them say they
have paid the whole amount, and even oouo'e 'h7
amount OF the principal as interest Every month they
nav 500 for the OF soo Tie brokers, not satisfied
with the nterest they receive, manage to get
tho notes of the frcmen cashed Immediately.
without paving tho latter the advance prom
ised Recently some members Of the department
obtained an Injunction restraining the Controller from
paving the Doies prcsen ell by broker. ms mater
was carried the Court or Appeals, which several
weeks ago sustained the injunction on the ground that
tina interest received by the brokers Is usurOus. Tle
latter being rendered unable to collect their money!
made eoupaut to the Fire Commissioners. VINO hl'-
missed the men who had not tlken up iher NOES. Ie
rrnen very bitter against certain broker, VINO l.
said have entered the complaints as soon as c 9anh
that his uslriOus contracts w0u not be sustained by
the courts Tie sag they have tted to settle tue
m ltter with him. and that he agreed to receive IRON
them $40 q monta until their deDts were hschatgcu.
Some have offered 10 pay seven per cent lntorest
ON the principal beside the $40 per month pllner
than have their cases brought before tle board
Tley say that OF every ten members or the De
parie Implicated IN ,nis business. THOSE whose
cc..e. are nos yet known TO the Commissioners are
anxiou. escape recognition. There Is disposition
among the members VINO nave escaped 10 a.oiu cou.
them to talk ir. If the brokers should complain
OF the N tncv would nave defense. ThcY do not c0i-
slider tat they have done wrong Salary dic0ontihs Is
common, they say. among p0hcemen aui o1her Paphc
empoye.
Commissioner Van Colt stated TO TRIBUNE reporter
last night that truth IN tao charge that
there was 60 between the Board aud the rok RS
He W ls he saiJ strongly opposed 10 the latter. The
rem we'd dscnnrged simply because Tue COM
ssioIrrs Looked upon salary sels as dishonest ans
demuializng Tne ground of DISCHARGE was treacn OF
discipline my OF the remen sell their salaries TO Two
or three brokers at The time. anu they use ther
posItcns as uniformed officers tor other dishonest
PURPOSES. S0ue OF them get credit on the strength
or tneir uniforms, for board aud all sorts OF articles.
for which they fail TO paw. Do tiins WITH salary
brokers Mr.. Van Cott considered to he extremely
demorszlny the Department. and disgracefui To III :
m.ubcrs aud lie said that the Bolrt had Determined
IN nur An end to IL. Tue brokers arc unknown TO the
Commissioners, and the discharge OF the men Owing
them will render it impossible Tor them 10 coiect
tJelr money No new men have as yet been app 'nied
to Il tue PAGES Of those DISCHARGED The matter "ili
~, oas,Irad az tne meeting OF the Board Tomorrow.