Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-05-05
Fire Department Matters.


CRoNIN DIFFICULTY, ETC.
The fire commissioners met last evening:
present MesSrs. Collins Qn the chair, Bacon
and Reed. Chief Engineer Cronin submitted
his report for the month OF April, showing that
there wire eight alarms for fires, involving an
estimated loss OF 81, 100, on which there was
Insurance of 81, TOO The report OF Superinten.
DEBT Miles, of the fire alarm telegraph, that
the telegraph was working In good order, was
also submitted. 4 proposition from the Silsby
Manufacturing Company, offering TO sell ID the
department third class Silsby engine for
IS, eco. and take In exchange one OF the Amos
kesg engines now In the department, for which
they would allow 81 200, was, on motion Of
Gen. Bacon, referred TO the District Commits
siOners, with the recommendation that the en-
CINE be bought on the proposed terms. On the
recommendation OF the chief engineer, Walter
Cox was confirmed as foreman, Jacob ". Acker
IS fireman, and Highland and Sullivan as prl-
Yates. The Chief engineer was instructed to
order the men 10 appear In the summer uni
form on the 10th inst a number OF samples
OF sun mer hats were submitted, and a Gran
Vile hat, like the brown StrawS worn last year,
costing Sl.l5 each, was adopted. letter to
the District Commissioners from MIR. Edward
Weston, asking that the order requiring four
re-eScapeS to be crested on the Portland
building, at the intersection OF 14th street and
Vermont avenue, be reScinded and giving q
detailed statement TO the effect that the build
Ing was nre-proof, which letter was referred
TO the fire commissioners. was read. and IL was
agreed TO inspect the building to morrow after
noon. Applications were received from Ed
ward WooddiSs Boss, John E. Medley Henry
Hefferman and Richard MeGrath for employ.
mint Ii the department
THE CONFLICT OF AUTHORITY CASE.
communication from DIR. Tindall, the Sec
IetaIy OF the District Commissioners. was read
as follows:
"a charge having been made to this board
by commissioner Morgan, OF incivility and in
subordination toward him On the part OF Chief
Engineer Martin Cronin, of the fire depart
ment. at the Heuricn brewery IRE on Sunday
morning, the 1St instant, and admitted by said
Cronin, the Commissioners have dec ded that
the discipline and amenities OF the service de-
mand an apology from the chief engineer for
his conduct on said occasion to Commissioner
Morgan. and direct me to ask that you require
from him and forward to this Office sucn an
apology, as pronounced and public as the
anroDt, and warn him that a repetition OF the
offence Will subject him to serious conse-
quences. l am further directed to request
that you viii please instruct him that his au-
thOrity at fires and elsewhere is at all times
subordinate TO the orders OF the District Com.
missioners, or either OF them, and make all
letters and action in connection with the COM
munication matters OF record"
Mr.. Reed moved that the matter be referred
Instructions contained therein and The motion
was agreed 20. and the board adjourned.
WHAT COMMISSIONER MORGAN SAYS
AS the MoTgan-CT0nin difficulty, SO called,
seems 70 DE In the way of satisfactory ADJUST
n ent which Will restore the ante -bellum rela-
GoBS OF tie parties concerned, is Is dne to
Commissioner Morgan, Of whom some harsh
tniDgS have been said, % state that {seLting
as,,Ss- the tgai QUE stiop as to the power OF the
CCmmissioners) he positively 1i5ciain1s any
improper assumption OF the authority of TIL
chief engineer at the fire last Sunday morning.
AID states that, being cary on the ground aud
not seeing the chief engineer or assistant chisf
er neer, he merely made suggestions to tn
fIemen as to what was best In his Judgment
to De done, and pointed out the dangerous
points needing Immediate attention, and that
HOY M ayxar m no 0f
engineer until he heard the iatter'5 remark,
made in loud and angry tone, about he (the
chief engineer) being In charge of the fire. Tine
chief engineer from the first admitted that his
manner was offensive, and that he was willing
to make proper reparation for 1t, so the work of
reconciliation should be easy. The law under
which the chief engineer claims sole control at
fires is In paragraph II. under head of Fire
Department, /" In Weoos digest of the laws OF
the corporation OF Washington, and reads as
follows: 1.-THE Chief engineer shall have the
sole command az fires over all other officers aud
members or the department and all other per-
sons who may be present" etc.
THE LETTER OF CHIEF CR1NIN
was sent 70 the District Commissioners to day.
He disclaims any Intentional incIyillty or 10
suboIdin alton tow arGs Commissioner Morgan
for whom, personally and officially, ne has
always entertained the highest respect; AMI
dress ing him on the occasion refe r. to- which
lie regTets, be offers in writing, as he has yer
ballv aone, 81 apology; states that the serse
VI Tue Impending uduStT Vi iai &c ilTe WHICH tu"
Uared him at that cribs and his earnest sonci-
sude for the safety OF the threatene1 rrrooerrrvv
made him impatient He states, further, that
he has always ceen under the impression that
the authority OF the chief engineer OF the fire
department made by law was supreme al q
FIRE for the reason that some definite plan OF
action must De adopted and pursued under one
controlling head, to ensure prompt and eff
cient work, but that the instructions of the
District Commissioners, transmitted through
the beard OF fire commissioners. will hereafter
De his guide, and viii meet with prompt ooe-
dienee as all other orders from the executive
authority or the District.
The letter IS understood TO be entirely salts
factory to Commissioner Mogran aud his col
leagues.