Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-05-14

especial favotite Of 4 leading member who most
efectually fls of the arm-chairs at the board.
The fremen. year closed on Monday evening
9Th, and that being the time to reorsani2e for the
ensuing year, the fremen found themselves in a
strange, uuheaid of position. Under the usual
order Of things it the duty of the Chief to re-
organize the three companies, and select the men
who should run upon the several machines. Mr..
Morse consulted the City Solicitor, Mr.. Pil,oury,
to the eva t purport of the ordnance, and that
Off .er assured him that under it, be had no ght
whatever to reorganizs the companies, OF to say
who should he meubor,-that power now belonged
entirely to he b ard of Aldermen.
The Pacific company had been disbandeI by
the board of Aldermen but at the earnest quest
Of the Chief, consented to run another week.
This they have done as a personal favor to Mr..
Morse, but they have only denupcistions for the
cruel policy of the board of Aldermen. Not
caring to bear up under further insults, the
steamer Cushhoc company, on Thursday evening,
voted to withdraw 10 body from the department,
fourteen of the fifteen members voting that way.
property Of the city, which they have guarded so
long. they agreed to do frcmens duty for one
week, in order to give the board of Aldermen an
opportunity to fiji the rank'. The Atlantic COM
psny bad meeting on the same evening, to express
their indignation at the proceedings of the Alder
men, but come to no particular decision in regard
to disbsnding. That question will come up at
another meeting which was called for last evening.
In this state of affairs, having been abused and
insuted, and the last vestige of power stripped
from him. Mr.. Morse resigned his position
Chief Engineer. Smaitng under the same insult,
his first assistant, W. w. Robbins, than whom
there is no better fireman in the city, also handed
in his resg nation. Both were promptly accepted by
the Aldermen at a special meeting on W Wednesday;
and then the board proceeded to make another
blunder. Instead Of promoting to the office of
Eng neer and Assistant, such men as q. c. Flagg,
foreman of the Cushnoc, who has run with that
machine since lSGG--a first class fireman. or Chas.
II. Saford-they go outside of the department
and take two new men-good men, it is true, but
who have got to learn the trade that these sturdy
flemen have Tor years had burned into their souls.
Put a new company on the Cushnoc and it will
take more than year, with active service to ham
die the machine. or do the service of which the
present company is capable.
SO the stupid and wicked blundering of the
board OF Aldermen, inspired by the returning
board" and the Young Mems Democ attic club"
has resulted in this
The resignation of Henry T. Morse, Chief
Engineer, who has no superior in that capacity.
whose five years experience in the place would
be OF ncalculabe value to the city
The resignation of Warren W. Robbins, a
true aud noble fireman, who has stood firm at the
post of duty IN sunshine and in storm,
The discharge of Alex. McCsu.land, the driv-
er of the city team though the frenen in a body
asked for his reappointment;
The dsbaudng of the Pacific Company, the
name OF which is identical with the history of the
city for the past twenty five years;
The dissolution of the Cushnoc steamer COM
pany-the most efficient branch of the entire de-
partment;
The probable di,bandment Of the Atlantic
company, in which the citizens on the east side
take an honest pride;
Such decentralization of the entire fire de-
psr.ment as to cripple its efficiency.
If a record like that is the usual record Of re-
formers the good Lord spare us from reformers
These politicians, who with dirty hands pull the
wires expecting to manipulate the fire department
and make it a party machine, don't know the
character of the boys with whom they are playing.
The firemen not to be fooled, and they have
been out in the world too long to have the wool
pulled their ewes now. In the meantime,
while the department. dissolving the property of
the city is jeopardzed and rendered insecure.
Our democratic Aldermen will learn when it is too
late that they do not understand the mettle OF
Augusta Firemen