National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-09-05
THE FIRE COMMISSIONERS.
A Meeting Held without NIr. Eccd-A Claim
That the Board Is Full.

Meeting Held without Mr.. Eccd-A Claim
That the Board Is Full
The meeting of tho Boatd of Fire Commits
sioners, postponed from last Wednesday even
ing, was held yesterday afternoon at the Dis
trict buildings on Fouraud.a.half street. An
effort was apparently made to keep the meet
ing secret, none OF the representatives OF the
press in this city being informed Of 1t. On the
contrary, they were mised in the matter by
those who should have known Of its coming
off, aud it was by mere accident that RErUB-
LIcAN reporter gained Il clue. Upon going to
room 20, the office of the board, the door was
found to be locked, aud 10 sounds inside betok-
ene1 tho fact thata meeting was in progress. A
visit down stairs to the District Commissioners
Office developed the pleasant news that the Fire
Commissioners had gone up stairs about ten
minutes before and had not yet adjourned
Another visit was made to room 26, aud knock
at the door was answered by the clerk to the
board. us this II secret meetiug2" asked the
visitor. "Oh, no walk ill.," was the reply.
Messrs. Collins, Hume and Bacon were pres
cnt, but Mr.. w. b. Reed the newly appointed
Commissioner on behalf Of the United States,
was conspicuous for his absence. In reply to
a question us to whether be had been Informed
of the meeting u reply was made by II member
of the board that his lawyer, Mr.. Lambert, had
been notified that u session would be held in
the afternoon and this was deemed sufficient.
Among the different publications concerning
the present standing Of Mr.. Red as II Fire
Commissioner, several incorrect statements
have been made. No agreement has been
made whereby Mr. Reed shall qualify and re-
sign ut the same time, thus dispusing Of the
controversy. When such proposition was
presented at the Interior Department, the AN
swcr was respectfully returned that no condi-
lions had been attached to the appointment of
| Mr.. Reed rs representative of the Government
on the board, and rs Mr.. Reed had accepted
| the commission, he was expected TO perform
| the duties Of his office, and his recognition MS
n member OF the board should be uncondi-
| tional. Mr.. Reed WAS sworn in and confirmed
on the Sth of August last On the following
| day the District Commissioners were officially
notified Of the appointment by Hon. Alonzo
| BJll, Assistant Secretary of the Interior, aud
returned II reply acknowledging the receipt OF
the notification, but stating nothing as to
their recognition of Mr.. Reed as Fire Com
missioner. The fact that they have not yet
| reOrginized the board to meet this action Of
| the Secretary of the Interior indicates that
they do not propose to recognize Mr.. Reed.
Last evenings star Of which Mr.. Collins, the
president of the Fire Board, is an editor, con
| tains the following, which may be considered
us an expression Of the views of the Fire Com
missioners:
The Board of Fire Commissioners did not NEE
last evening in CONSEQUENCE Of the absence from
this city of Mr.. Hume at the Rockville Fair. Mr.
w. Il. Reed, appointed Fire Commissioner by III,
Secretary Of the Interior, was at the Columbia
building to attend the meeting accompanied b!
his counsel, Mr.. Il. A. Lambert. 1t Is not known
what his object was as the Fire Commissioners arr
poworlcSs 10 act on his case. The questions at is
sue are not between him and the Fire Commits
sioners, but between the Secretary of the Iuterio
and the District Commissioners, by whom or by th'
courts they must be settled. II will DO rencm
bered that the District Commissioners reconstructed
the old board while he was in Europe last summer
and that he entered suit fora mandumus on then
| TO compel them to reinstGte him. which was dis
missed in the courts. There was no vacancy II
| the board at the time Mr.. Reed was last GppOute'
by Secretary Schurz, and there is none now. Pub
| lshcd statements as to changes of the meetings o
the board to monthly or bi.aonthly meetings art
. | Incorrect.
Mr.. Reed stated last evening that he ha
not received any notice of the meeting he'll
yesterday afternoon, and that Mr.. Lambert
i his counsel attended him when he visited th
District building Wednesday night, not for til
purpose Of establishing his legal right to sea
in the board, but in order to witness the pro
| ceedings OF the meeting.