Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-10-02
The Meeting of the Fire Board

MR.. REED PRESENTS HIMSELF AS A MEMBER.
The Board Of Fire Commissioners met last
evening. present Messrs Collins I'm the chair
aId Bacon secretary). RoutiDe business was
teirg transacted when Mr.. W. B. Reed. the
commi sioDer appointed by the Secretary OF the
Interior, entered the room and. addressing the
chair, said: "a ask my presence here to be noted
ment, according to my Appointment by secre-
tary SchurZ," and proceeded to say that he had
not his commission with him, but he would
have it in few minutes Mr.. Collins asked him
adding that this was not legislative body
which could prescribe or decide upon the quail
f1cations Of its own members, but was the crea-
ture OF the District Commissioners, and unless
Mr.. Reed presented credentials as member of
the board from the Commissioners he could not
be recognized. Mr.. Reed said, nevertheless, he
came to the meeting to represent the gov
eminent OF the United States. Shortly
afterwards messenger boy appeared with a
latter took the paper and advancing toward
Mr. Collins, said: "Mr. President, here are my
credentials, signed by Secretary Schurz." Mr..
Collins cast his eyes over the document and
returned 1t, saying that it bore no evidence of
having been presented to the District Commits
sioners. To this Mr.. Reed replied that this had
been done on the 9th of last August, and that
sioners, who now sent him back to the District
Commissioners 1t was an embarrassing posi-
ton for the board, but they must not blame
him with it, but their superior officers. the Dis
trlct Commissioners, for not attending to the
matter. During the discussion Fire Commits
sioner Hume came In and concurred with his
colleagues in their course on the matter. The
routine business was resumed, when the chair,
after reading over the list Of bills requiring
payment, said: "If there be no objection the
bills will be ordered to be paid Nj. Reed re-
Inns, 81 have stated before that cannot recog-
nize you as member Of this board. You can
have redress only by applying to the District
commissioners Speaking as a friend and not
fire commissioner, would advise you to pur-
sue that course" After this Mr.. Reed remained
a quiet spectator OF the deliberations of the
board. Before adjournment he inquired what
had become Of a communication he had sent to
the secretary of the board. Gen. Bacon, the
secretary, replied that he had referred the
communication to the District Commissioners.
The letter to which MI. Reed referred as having
been sent to the secretary was one formally
announcing his appointment, asking to be in
formed Of the time Of the next meeting, as the
meetings had been held at unusual times Of
the board that until he was recognized he would
protest against their proceedings as Illegal.
Mr.. Hume reminded Mr.. Reed, In reference to
his statement in his note to Gen. Bacon that
the meetings had been held at unusual times,
that.he had been notified of one meeting, and
his counsel OF another, by Mr.. Hume himself.
During the latter part Of the meeting, Mr.. Reed
tnquir1ng as to his status and the way his pre-
sence would be noted, Mr.. Collins said that
there was nothing to note; that the case was
not before them for action, and therefore no
tesy they had heard Mr.. Reeds statements. Mr.
Reed thanked him and said the action was not
a surprise to him. that he expected this course
He also said during the meeting that If his pre-.
Sence was not noted he would come to the Office
to-day and enter 1t himself.
REGULAR BUSINESS
The report OF the chief engineer for the
month Of August was submitted and approved.
no
loss being 81, 800 and the insurance 81 100. The
report mentions the manner In which the visit
ing fi,e engineers were entertained during
their convention held here last month, and re-
turns thanks to all who were instrumental in
making the visit pleasant one. The dismissal
OF the four men from Truck 3, and the appoint
ment of VIM. Roach, Chas. McCarty, VIM.
Whitmore and VIM. Ellis in their stead, was
referred to. The superintendent of the fire
alarm telegraph submitted his report stating
that the trees on Montgomery street, In
Georgetown, fntertered with the proper work
ings of the wires, and requesting that authority
be granted TO erect new telegraph poles IS feet
high. requisttion for the necessary materials
commissioners. letter from Health Officer
Townshend calling attention to defective drain
age OF the yard In the rear OF No. engine.
hGns on Ngna Avenue was referred to the
that the yard was not used by the fire depart.
ment, but by the District generally, and the
cost Of necessary repairs should not be charged
the agent of the Hydro Pneumatic Fire Extin-
guisher Company to be allowed to give test of
the qualities OF his patent was referred to the
chief engineer. Applications for positions In
the department from the following persons
We're f1led:-John H. Fleet, Joseph B. Grinder,
John p. Groves, Daniel McDevItt. Walter E.
Colby, Robert H. Lamb and Ralph Orr.
THE DISMISSED FIREMRN.
The following communication was read,
signed by VIM. Beynon, Thos. O'Brien and JAS
Murray, three of the members of Truck Com
pany "B," recently dismissed: HThe under
signed respectfully ask reconsideration Of
their cases, and your action dlsplacIng them as
members Of the fire department.. We do not
wish at present to enter into any question of
regularity or legality in your action, but SUBJ
init that we have been faithful members of the
department., and have done no Intentional
wrong, If any, to justify your action. We ask
you to consider these matters, and act favor
ably on our request. This we do without waiv-
ing any OF our rights" This communication
was laid on the table. President Collins stated
that he had received another communication
from the same source, asking for copy of the
charges against them, but, as it was addressed
to the board In a disrespectful manner, he
would not present it or have it recorded in the
minutes. IL it had been properly addressed In
the same manner as the other, he would have
favored granting the request.