The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-04-01
There is q pleasure in being mad
Which none but madmen know.

There is pleasure in being mad
Which none but madmen know; a.
Editor Democrat Your Sundays issue con-
tains a communication signed Thomas O,Con-
nor, apparently leveled at your correspond
ent Proctor" wherein the chief, according 10
our erratic intellect, unwltt1ngiy oeseroyse NE
last plank OF salvation. The CHIEF says: line
Fireinen's Charitable Association, by lts con-
tract with the city of New Orleans, agrees to
furnish the services OF the FIRE Department
to the city for the sum OF Sl4O,oOO per annum.
And little further on, couples with thlS the
startling and damaging assertion: Inc SER
vices rendered, under my direction, to Capt.
Ella were rendered with the full knowledge
and appreciation of the Firemens Charitable
II Chief O'Connor, to use his own express
sion. were half SO learned as he seems indis-
Greet to out raving mind, he would have
known the old, sound Latin maxim: "Qut
and ut once have perceived the impropriety
and danger OF Identifying the Firemens Char
table Association with himself in this matter.
He should have Steered clear OF the assoc1a-
ton and they clear Of him. Necessity pointed
to such course. But now 1t cannot be helped;
the mischief is done.
In his attempt to show that he Is not an
employee OF the city Of New Orleans. but only
responsible to the Firemen's Charitable AS
ISOLATION, Chief O'Connor loses sight OF three
significant facts:
4. The Chief Engineer and his assistants
are commissioned by his Honor the Mayor
Of New Orleans.
Orleans for the faithful performance OF their
duties.
s. The Chief Engineers annual report is
sent primarily to the City Council, and only
Incidentally, If at all, to the Firemen's Chari-
table Association.
These observations summarily dispose. OF
the question Of want of priDity between the
city authorities, the Chief and his aids.
All this Is bad enough for the CHIEF; but IN
his anxiety to justify or palliate his lndeftnsi-
BILE course he Is fatally led to disclose to an as
tonished and tax-ridden community that
there was no time while this work was In pro-
gress that there were not engines enough and
more than enough, in readiness for any emer-
gency likely to occur in the way Of fires"
WHAT Twelve steam engines and two hook
and ladder companies can be engaged inces-
sanity for sixteen days, in laborious .pri-
vate self-imposed duty, and no detriment re-
suit to the service from such employment?
The conclusion is irresstiblei Our City
Fathers must be- wasting the hard earned
money OF their constituents by the employ
ment OF much larger force than the service
requires. This is very grave charge, com
ing as it does from an officer Of high rank
It Is charge which, though, indirect, is we'll
worthy the earnest attention OF the City
merce (Mr Cavanac). whose respective duties
are thus defined in the new "City Charter"
act No. Z, OF 1870:
SEC. IL. "The Council shall have full power
and authority to provide the means and make
regulations for preventing and extinguishing
confagrations; and to regulate the SERVICE OF
persons employed IN 1corking fire engtnes.'
SEC. 9. So. "The Department OF Commerce
shall have general superintendeace OF the mat
ters relating to markets, railroads, canals,
weights and measures The fire department and
manufactures, and shall be vested with all
such other functions and duties as may from
time to time be prescribed by the Council
In the face of the foregoing extracts from
the city charter we have been refreshed upon
reading in SUNDAYS Times (31st) the following
assertion of Mr., Thomas O'Connor:
ut Is no concern whatever either OF Mr..
Cavanac or the city that the twelve engines
were used for the purpose described in my
petition"
nOr's communication to the Times upon which
we must, and do cheeriully, apologize to the
fifteen days, but the chief says: The petition
further shows that all this was done and the
work performed for period Of sirteen days"
We stand corrected.
The last utterance of the chief in his COM
munication to the Times, worthy Of any no.
tiee. is this:
ssThe twelve engines were employed as they
were required, and their employment regu-
lated SO as to avoid all risk OF embarrass-
mert In case Of fires"
This Is rather loose, Mr. O'Connor; why
not come to details !? Perhaps the chief had a
keen eye on a stumbling block, which we hold
in reserve for him IL he ever ventures to enter
into details on this delicate subject.
And now, in conclusion, let US beseech the
City Council generally, and Administrator
Cavanac particularly. to take into their serl-
GUS consideration whether New Orleans shall
occupy less exalted position than the city
OF Galveston, Of which a distinguished judge
Of the United States Supreme Court said,
with evident qualification, in the case OF
Davey ct ais VS. bark Mary Frost and cargo,
decided In May 1876: 1.-THE city authorities
OF Galveston did well to repudiate the claim
Ia this case, as the record Shows they did, and
1t lis to be hoped that the fire department will
not ternish the lustre which its noble sacri-
fees have justly earned for 1t, by repeating
a demand of this kind" PROCTOR.