Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-03-13
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IMBR0aLI0.
The documents In the Case.

made in regard to the history Of the recent fire
Dc partment unp1easartness that the following
copies Of the correspondence in the matter may
CommiS Com sioners during Mr.. Reeds absence
in Europe. cropping from the board him
ser ana Inree 05ners o tfe y
to represent the United States on the f1re board,
the objection of the District Commissioners to
ana Se he
trict Commissioners as to Mr.. Reeds alleged
legal 1neligibility, he being resident OF the
city of Washington, while the District Commic.
sioner5 claimed that the law required that he
should be resident Of the county Of Washing
toB, meaning the county outside of the city,
have heretofore been published in THE STAR.
The correspondence that has not hitherto been
published Is as follows:
Under date OF July 10, 1879, District Commis-
siOner Phelps addressed letter to Secretary
the honor to acknowledge the receipt of his
letter Of the 9th instant, and requesting their
reasons for wishing delay. The action Of the
is based on the opinion Of the attorney for the
District, copy OF which Is enclosed, and in
which they entirely concur. Their reasons for
requesting delay are based on an understanding
that the appointment OF Mr.. VIM. B. Reed has
been decided on, and are entirely personal to
him. Apart from the question of Mr.. Reeds
eligibility under the law, which has been de-
9th Of the % SUPREME Court @ Of this Dstriet, Certain
charges OF official misconduct, while member
OF the late fire board, are now the subject OF In
vestigation by the Commissioners, and, II sus-
tained, they could not give him their confidence
nor Willingly recognize him as member of the
present board. They esk, therefore. that rea-
sonable time be accorded for the compile
ton of this investigation. The objections to Mr..
Reed being removed, the Commissioners will be
disposed to meet your wishes in the premises
Under date of July 10th, Secretary ScnuH ad-
dressed note to Commissioned Phelps acknow-
relative to the delay in the appointment of
member OF the fire board, and stating that the
department prefers to conduct all Investigations
having for its object the determination of the
fitness or character of persons proposed for
appointment to Office under its control, and re-
queStirg the Commissioners to file without fur
ther delay any charges that they may desire to
make against VIM. B. Reed with such evidence
bearing thereon as might be in their possession,
to the end that the Secretary may determine
whether they are of such character as should
affect bis judgment In making the appointment
provided by law.
On July 18th, the Commissioners submitted to
Secretary SchuIZ "a copy Of their correspond
ence with John McClelland, ESQ.,, respecting the
charges of official misconduct on the part or Mr..
w. b. Reed while member and secretary OF the
board OF fire commissioners or the District, to
which reference was made in their letter Of the
18th inst. Mr. McClelland Is prominent citi-
zen Of the District, whose reputation In this
community Is such as to place his statement be-
yond question"
Coffee OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE DIS
TRICT OF COLUMBIA, WASHINGTON, July 7, 1Sl9.-
John McCIelldnd ESQ, Care Geo. d. Sutton, 65
McDugal street, New York.-Sir: report has
been made TO the Commissioners that sometime
since Mr.. w. B. Reed then member of the fire
board and secretary Of the same, made to you
corrupt proposition, under circumstances about
small steam yacht which Mr. Reed had expected
to use for an excursion down the river with
some fir ends, but which for some reason could
not at the time be placed at his disposal that in
consequence he proposed that you should hire
a yacht or tug for his excursion and charge the
expense to the account Of repairs Of appar-
atus of the fire department, for which you then
board, would see that the bills were approved.
1t appears that the matter was unknown to the
other members of the fire board until some
months alteI wards, although you had reported
the circumstances to the chief engineer OF the
fire department at an earlier day. AS before
stated, no knowledge Of the matter reached the
ears of the Commissioners until a few days ago,
and they now desire to know from you the facts
of the case, 1t having become matter of conse-
quence in connection with the proposed ap-
pointment of Mr.. Reed as fire Commissioner,
by the Interior department.
Very respectfully,
(Signed.) s. L. PHELPS, President"
Hon. S. L. Phelps, President Of d, c. Commits
Sioners:-Sir: The facts in the case as stated
above are correct, regret this matter exceed
ing known him from boyhOod, and mentioned
TIE subject to the chief at the time as friend
of Mr.. Reeds, and then thought 1t was mine or
some OF his friends duty to have talk with
him and warn him to be more cautious, and not
mix himself up in such matters. The above
statement Is to me an exceedingly painful one,
from the city has prevented my giving it an
carrier reply. Respectfully, &C..
(signe0 JOHN McCLELLANp.
OF July, 1879. JOSEPH c. Rock,
[Seall Notary Public.
Under date of July 24, 1879, Secretary schurz
addressed note to Commissioner Phelps in
which he says: Referring to your letter Of the
18th July, transmitting copy of your letter Of
tie 1th instant to Nj. John McClelland, and of
his reply thereto, without date, l have the
honor to inform you that Mr. Reed has, under
oath, denied having made any such alleged cor
rupt proposition to Mr.. McClelland, at any time
or in any manner whatever. / desire to say
that unless further proof in support of the
charges above referred to, can be promptly ad-
duced. or further objections affecting the char
acter of Mr.. Reed can be substantiated, l shall
see no reason for longer delaying his appoint
ment."
Under date of July 96, 1879, Mr. Thomas p
Morgan, the late president OF the board of fire
commissioners addressed note to the Com
missioners, stating In reply to your inquiry
whether had heard of VIM. B. Reed, late fire
commissioner, making certain corrupt proposals
to John McClelland, Of this city, would state
m1ssioners 1t was reported to me by some one
connected with the fire department. that Mr.
Reed had made application to Mr. McCIelland
for the use OF his steam-y yacht to take party of
friends down the river; that Mr.. McClelland
declined letting the yacht go, for some reason
not now remembered. Mr.. Reed then proposed to
Mr.. McClelland to hire a certain yacht and
charge the amount OF hire in his bill for repair
ing engine, think then In the house, which he
declined. l have never had any conversation
with MI. McClelland about the transaction"
Under the same date, Mr.. Collins say II have
the honor to reply that know nothing of the
truth or falsity of said charge, as am not per-
sonally acquainted with Mr. McClellaud. from
whom or .from MIR. Reed himself only the
facts could be obtained. / did hear
the matter mentioned either before or after
one OF the meetings of the late board
OF fire commissioners, when two or three
OF the members were present; but in my
business of journalist hear so many bad things
OF prominent people that the conversation In
question made but little impression on my mem.
ory, so little that cannot now, with certainty,
even recall who was present, but ! think MT.
Morgan, president Of the board, and Mr.. Hume" :"
Gen. Bacon writes: "Some time prior to the
departure OF Mr.. W. b. Reed for Europe, heard
from some one connected with the f1re depart
ment that w. B. Reed had made a proposal to
Capt. McClelland to hire tug boat for himself
and friends to make an excursion down the
Potomac. the expenses of the trip to be paid by
the District Of Columbia and charged as repairs
to fire apparatus. Not believing It to be true.
called on Capt. McClelland, SO that I might
deny deny the report, and, much to my surprise, he
Mr., Hume writes: " In an indirect manner IT,