Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-10-21
Meeting Of the Fire Commissioners.

meeting OF the Fire Com mfsstOnerS.
THE CASE OF PRf sIDEST WILLIAMS AGAIN.
The Board of Fire Commissioners met last
evening; present Messrs. Williams, (presi-
dent,) Thomas. (acting as secretary Collins,
Morgan and TAFT
REPORT WANTED BY THE DISTRICT COM
NIsSIONERS.
A communication was received from the
District Commissioners. requesting the
Fire Board TO make them, before the 18th
proNimo. detailed statement of the trans
actions of the fire department since their last
report, with any recon- mendatioas they may
think proper IN make, with the object of in
cressing the efficiency of the same; also, to
forward an estimate of the amount required
for its support for the fiscal year ending June
80, 1870: On motion of Mr.. TAFT, the presi-
dent. Mr.. Thomas. the chief and assistant
chief engineer were appointed as a commit
tee TO prepare n report.
FIRE ALARM KEYS.
On motion of Mr.. TAFT IL was decided to
Furnish Mr. John A Bayley. an ex commits
siOner, with a fire alarm key. On motion of
Mr.. Collins, the superintendent of fire alarm
telegraph was instructed to report at the
next meeting of the board the disposition of
the relief or master keys already distTibut-
ed, and To take steps toward having a suffi
Gent number of such keys made to supply
the members of the board with one each.
PRESIDENT WILLIAMS NEW YORK SPEECH
AGAIN.
Mr.. Morgan read a communication from
the District Commissioners. inclOSing
copy OF letter received by them from the
board OF underwriters of the District OF
a
containing the alleged words of President
Williams in the firemen's convention in
New York, to both OF which the attention of
me BOARD was invited. with request that
they furnish a report OF the facts connected
with the mater at the earliest possible
II Oment.
beard of underwriters was not real by
Mr.. Morgan, but is the one referred L.
in THE STAR day or two ago, in wAich the
underwrlters requested the dismissal of Mr..
Williams from his position as president of
the FIRE board If he had made use of the
remarks attributed to him.l
After reading the communication from the
District Commissioners. Mr.. Morgan moved
that the board go into executive session.
Mr.. Collins said that he was opposed to
secret sessions, and did not see the necessity
for one in this connection. This board had
already taken action in the matter, and h
thought that all that remained to be done by
lHem vas To send to the District Commits
siOEerS the official report of the proceedings
Of the last meeting of the board, which en-
braced all the facts in the case, SO far as they
were known here
Mr.. Morgan thought If Mr.. Collins had
read the communication more carefuIIy he
would see the necessity of further consider
ing the matter.
Mr. Thomas said that. like Commissioner
Collins, he thought that all that was neces-
sary was the transmission TO the Com mis-
sioners of the official account of the proceed-
IDgs of the meeting at which the matter had
been brought up by the board.
Mr.. TAFT expressed the same views, where
upon Mr.. Morgan said he did not insist upon
Ms motion for an executive session, and
would Withdraw 1T, as his colleagues seemed
TO think that the matter was settled, and no
further action was necessary.
Mr.. Collins said the matter was not con-
sideled settled and this board should comply
with The request of the District Commission
ers As they had no official knowledge of the
action OF this board, 1T was, in his opinion,
only necessary to forward to them a report
OF The proceedings of this body al the last
session when the Charge against President
Williams was denied by him, and tue senti-
nentS attributed to him were disavOwed by
unan nous vote. Then, if they request an
investigation of the matter. the board can go
on with II. He moved that the secretary be
instructed TO furnish the District Commits
slOners with the official record in regard TO
The matter under consideration. contained in
The proceedings of the last nesting of the
board, which was agreed TO, and the board
adjourned.
THE LITTER OF THE UNDERWRITERS,
which was not read at the above meeting, is
BOARD OF FIRE UNDERWRITERS,
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Washington. October Is, 1915. \
GtfFtf3HSt: At a regular monthly meeting
OF the board. held last night. the following
pream bic and resolutions were unanimously
adopted:
Whereas, il appears in the proceedings of
the cor ventiOn of Chief Engineers of Fire
Departments lately held in New York, as re-
ported in many newspapers, that joseph
Williams. president OF the Board of Fire
commissioners of this city, in a speech made
before said cOnveD ton, used language which
is a disgrace 10 the official position occupied
by him as president OF said board: There
fore,
Resolved. That it is due 10 the Fire Depart
ment OF This city, as well as the people gen
orally, that the matter should be investi-
gated by the honorable Commissioners of
lbe District OF Columbia, and if found that
Mr.. Williams had made use of such lam
snage as reported in the newspapers, he
should be removed from his position.
ReSotUed, That copy of this resolution be
transmitted 10 the honorable Commissioners
OF the District of Columbia"
In transmitting the above take the lib
cry OF 1ncloslng copy of the newspaper
paragraph referred to, and suggesting that
you call upon the following persons as to the
truth OF the report, viz George T. Hope
president of the convention, fire department,
New York; the chief engineer of the fire de,
partment, Cambridge. Mass, and the secre-
tary OF the convention. ! am informed that
they were present and heard all Williams
remarks. Very respectfully,
FRED. W. PRATT, Secretary
To he Honorable Commissioners Of the District
~ Columbia.