Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-02-12
ST. PAUL FIRE DEPARTMENT
A Bill to Appoint a Board of Commits
sioncrs and Reorganize Things Gener-

A Bill to Appoint q Board of Commits
sioncrs and Reorganize Things Gener
ally.
The following is an abstract of a bill
introduced by, Senator Crooks yesterday
and passed in the Senate under suspen-
sion Of the rules:
Section / creates board of fire COM
missioners who shall be freeholders.
Sec. names Charles N. Parker, John
H. Reaney and B. Presley as first mem.
bers of the board.
Sec. requires the commissioners to
| assemble at the rooms of the common
council on the 1st day Of February next,
or as soon as practicable, and draw lots
for their tenure of Office, which shall
expire in one, two and three years, the
first to expire on the 31st Of December,
1881, and commissioners hereafter ap-
pointed shall hold Office for three years,
and may be removed by the judges Of
the district court.
Sec. requires the judges of the dis
trict court to appoint a commits
sioner to take the place of the one
whose term is about to expire.
Sec. S forbids the commissioners to re-
ceive any compensation for services, or to
accept the nomination or appointment Of
any political Office; gives the commits
sioners control of all property now in use
or to be hereafter acquired by the city for
the purpose of extinguishing fires, in
cludlng apparatus and buildings used for
storing the same; gives the board
power to purchase apparatus, construct,
alter, repair and locate such apparatus
and buildings; requires the board on the
1st of January of each year to present the
judges of the district court and ommon
council report showing an inventory of
property, a statement of all fire alarms
and fires during the year, and the cause of
the fire, statement of losses by fires,
amount of apparatus and the number and
names Of all companies under their direc-
ton, and the number and names of all
officers and persons in the employ of the
board and their compensation.
Sec. requires the appointment of
chief engineer, who shall appoint two
assistants; all engineer, fireman and driver
for each engine; a driver for each hose
reel, foreman for each company, five
hosemen for each reel and driver; til
lerman, driver and eight laddermen for
each hook and ladder truck, which ap-
pointments shall be subject to appeal and
removal for misconduct.
Sec. confers powers of police officers
upon chief and assistant engineers, and
gives them command of all firemen of the
city, and shall hold office during good be-
havior.
Sec. authorizes the board to disband
companies organized or to be hereafter Or
ganized, and may require applicants to
appointment to pass satisfactory exam
inatiOn.
Sec. authorizes the board to admins
ter oaths and issue subpenas in cases of
insubordination, and for investigating
such cases shall have the same power to
compel attendance of witnesses as belongs
to the municipal court.
Sec 10 authorizes the board to decide
upon all plans for buildings hereafter re-
quired and to purchase material therefor,
and may decide upon the kind of appara-
tus to be used, but in all cases where the
amount is over 800, the board shall ad-
vertise for proposals.
Sec II permits the board TO employ a
clerk and fix his compensation, and de-
fines the duties of such clerk.
Sec. II gives the board power to pre-
scribe the duties of all persons who shall
be appointed to serve as firemen, and
empowers the board to suspend, expel or
discharge officers or fremen for cause.
Sec. l3 requires all drafts for money to
be signed by the president, two members
of the board, and the city comptroller.
Sec. IA relates to causes of action grow
ing out of this act, and provides for
suing the city.
Sec. Is gives the chief engineer or
assistant. authority to command and
have sole direction of apparatus and fire.
men at fires, subject to the authority of
the mayor, in cases of riot or disturbance.
Sec. l6 gives the board sole control of
the fire alarm telegraph, and may ap-
point a superintendent.
Sec II makes the chief engineer and
assistant er-oficso fire marshals, under
the direction and control of the board,
and relates to their duties as such, in
respect to inspection of buildings and TAX
ing precautions against fires, requiring fire
escapes, etc.
Sec. 18 repeals inconsistent acts