Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-01-29
The Fire Department Appointments
MASS MEETING OF COLORED CITIZENS AND A

The Fire Department Appointments.
MASS MEETING OF COLORED CITIZENS AND
PROTEST.
mass meeting Of colored citizens last night,
at Gallilean Fishermen's hall, was called to
order by Col. Perry Carson, who, in stating its
objects, said twenty -four firemen had recently
been appointed, and, as all the appointeeS were
white men, the c0lored people thought that
great injustice had been done them, and had
determined TO call this meeting to express them
selves thereon. Mr.. Jerome A. Johnson was
CHOSEN chairman, and Mr.. Isaiah Washington
secretary.
Mr.. johnson remarked that some new fire
companies had been formed, and in liking upon
the emplo yeeS to run them. the claims of the
coiored people had been entirely ignored. APP
plicat1ons and petitions had been presented to
the Fire Commissioners couched ID respectful
language, setting forth the claims OF his race
to d recognition in the new appointments; not
no consideration, thereby violating one OF the
rights they, the colored people, hold by the
constitution Of the United States.
Mr. Isaiah washington moved that commit
tee be ..,,'ninted on protest and that tiley nre
pare 6: PAPER to b; read before the meeting;
adopted and the chair appointed MeSsr3; WIN.
Beckett. j. A. Clark, Richard Laws, Z: II. Car,
SON. Malcolm Brady waiter Miaae'U Wbo a re
tired for a short time and reported as folloWs:-
s.The colored citizens OF the District or Column,
bia in mass meeting assempied, aeS.1e - ~ ga eau
the attention OF the honorable DOard OF COM
missoners of the District to the TACT tnat III Tue
late appointments to membership OF the new
fire companies recently organized, the claims
of the colored citizens to a representation In
said department were entirely ignored by the
Board of Fire Commissioners. we therefore re-
spectfully, though earnestly, protest against
such discrimination as unjust. unfair and I'M
worthy of the officials OF the fire department,
whose duty it should be to so manage their OFF,
ca trust as not to discriminate against class
of citizens predcated upon race or COLOR
1.-THE CIOVEN FOOT
The report was received, and upon motion
to adopt, Mr.. Washington said 1t seemed to him
been studied thing. He for one felt the Sight:
not that he wanted to be fireman, but he mad
some good friends and capable ones Who did
want and expect places. They are Taxpayers
too. and have some rights as citizens. Provided
they We're as capable as any men they have the
same rights to recognition in the distribution
OF these places, and the avenues to labor cannot
De shut to them. They have ambition and
wish 20 rise in the scale Of social and political
life. The little close corporation which governs
the District had shown the eleven foot ia this
thing; they had taken it into their heads to rule
out Mr.. commissioner Reed and cut his head off
under c1rcums tances particularly embarrassing
TO him. This was done ON the score of econo-
my, and the same stroke OF economy had in-
creased the salary OF an official from $4,000 to
$1,000. The only representative OF the coored
race on the fire board, Mr. Garter A. Stewart,
had been cut off, and it looks as if the time for
recognizing the cOlOred people had passed out
or about nifty appointments on the police force
mere was one negro, and even in this case they
had placed
BLUNDERBUss IN HIS HANDS,
with which TO kill himself and he had actually
done SO, and this trio of District officials viii
not be troubled with him any further With
all the revenues TO the District from the colored
citizens, he did not believe $4,000 was dsbursed
to them annually for salaries, and the most
eXtravagant local government on the face OF
the earth Is this one OF the District.
The chair here interrupted. stating that il
cost from 100000 to 100000 more to run this
District government now than it did the old
corporations.
Addresses of the same tenor were made by
Messrs. Richard Laws, DR.. Purvis Col. Carson
ard others. Mr.. Laws said they could expect
nothing from the District Commissioners, as
they had defied the Congress OF the United
States in the matter of Commissioner Reed.
and they would respect no petition from colored
men.
DR.; Purvis thought they ought not to expect
anything. as they would be disappointed. The
three democratic Commissioners would not
heed colored republicans. There never was
such thing as an honest democrat God never
the subject Of the Negroes wrongs and work up
sentiment of sympathy in his behalf In quar-
teis where It would In the end do good. There
is to be mighty revolution In political affairs
In this country. Whom the gods would destroy
they first make mad.
COMMITTEE TO WAIT ON THE DISTRICT COMMIs-
SIONERS
Col. Carson moved that committee of % be
appointed TO wait on the District Commission
ers TO DAY and present the protest. and ask the
commissioners to review the action of the fire
commissioners In these appointments and set
things straight; adopted, and the chair an
PGRsed the following 6 as the committee: Sidney
thiaS Hunter, Robert Davis, David Stewart
Dennis Edwards, Jerome A. Johnson w Beck
ett, richard Laws, Perry Carson, G. ii. Lee
5 5td Daley, Edward A. Atkinson, II. c. Boul-
qln, l.. York, Edward Scott, Alfred Stephenson,
j. r. Wilkinson, j. w. Freeman. Jas Collins
": Hutchinson, w: Laws, Walter Middleton, E
INTERVIEW WITH THE DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS
ms committee called to-day, at O'clock on
the District Commissioners, led by Col Perry
/! Carson and Jerome A. johnson. ConmiS-
slonerS Phelps and Dent were present, Mr.
Jerome A. johnson addressed them, stating
their grievances, as above set forth, and asked
that the District Commissioners do not concur
In the appointments, and that the fire COMMITS
s1oners be directed to reconsider their action In
this matter. Mr.. Isaiah Washington stated
mat not one OF the committee were applicants
Tor any position in the fire service; yet they do
not like to see this discrimination. Mr.. E. A.
Atkinson said the race was Disseminated
against all the time, all over the land He
Would not IKE to have 1t go out that such dis
the capitol OF the United States. He requested
lnat a ralr representation be accorded them
Another one OF the committee said it was not
province to ask a proper recognition
Commissioner Phelps said it was the first time
TINS question had come up. The District Com
inlssionerS have to appoint the fire board, and
they have the duty OF providing means and
tney nave the power to dismiss or to discern
Ilhue The IRE board; but the law gives the fire
commissioners all power as to the appointments
10 De made OF firemen. The District Commits
SlOnefS have not even the right OF approval
I commissioner Dent said the subject was one
that should be inquired intO the District Com
l9iss1ohefS made no discrimination on account
VI eolof themselves, as there are several prOn
hent offices filled by colored men under their
appointment. Commissioner Phelps said the
sroJect IS very proper one for them to com
plain about, and although the District COmmis
'ioners have no authority or power directly In
ne mater, yet they would cause an inyestga-
ION 10 De MADE, and see If there had been any
zee then withdrew.
AmusemeUts. &c.
, NATIONAL IHEATER.-'' Kit; or, The Arkansas
III aVeier, Will be repeated at the National this
1venlng; tomorrow, and for the remainder of
ne week, the OctorOonr Will hold the boards
NO one should miss seeing Kit, with the Judge
,nu tne MAJOR. The play last night went Of
Ia