The Baltimore County union., 1883-02-03
Correspondence Eaiiiaorr CoHH,y Union.
THE FIRE JUMBo'S MUDDLE.
.JAsrArY a9,h. lss.

JASUAEr 2?th, iss3.
M...r.. Editor. Mr. John II. Millender. one
Of the C0gnty mmissioners, was interviewed on
the iglh inst. A reporter said lie wanted to see
Mr.. VI. and was glad 60 meet him, and that he
would say a, the outset that rule. in III. opin-
ion, the acts Of all public officials were n proper
subject foT fair and just criticism by the press.
but not their private affairs. This was admitted
proper. The reporter said. Permit the to ask
you what was your status aud judgment in refer.
encs to the establishment, Of paid IRE depaitmen,
for the Belt section Of the county last year,!
AHs~sr.-l was opposed to IL and did not be.
lieye the thing was necessary, as We then had one
or more independent fire companies in existence
and the county was aiding them substantially.
RPortsr.-Did you did you not refuse 10 sign
any paper or contract binding Baltimore county
10 purchase and run what l. known as Holloway
fire cx,ingpishers,
An.esr.-I did refuse TO sign the Holloway con.
tract. but Il was nevertheless signed by Messrs.
Stielel and Carmichael. who were the other mem
bers of the Board. To prove 10 you what be-
lie,ed was my duty aud my personal feelings In
reference 10 the thing, sometime before the con
tract was signcd ! was taken sick, having been
confined to my house and under the care aud treat-
ment of physician. When somewhat improved
| received information that tho Board Of County
Commissioners was 10 nc, officially on the contract
at a stated meeting. then asked Of my physi.
clan consent TO 90 to Towsontown. This he per-
emptoriy refused. and said IL I did so II would
place my life in jeopardy. Then, after all thi.
warning, decided 10 attend the Board meeting
and take the consequence | managed 20 get 20
Towsontown, but not until Wednesday. Al that
meeting my colleagues were told by the the object
I had in coming. I was then informed that the
business had been fixed the day before and all the
papers had been executed by the parties interested
ReJoEtsr.-Dii not the County Commissioners
estimate In the levy Of 1889 for the Ere depart
ment, station houses and telegraph $4,000!
ARsrsr.-Thsy did.
RsJ,Orfsr.-Dors not the annual statement OF
your Special Auditor for May, 1852, show there
has been paid out of tho county treasury Sl2 si3.-
80 more than you appropriated for those objects
ARsrsr.-T believe II does.
ReJsorfer.-The County Commissioners since
that statement, say last August, paid J. y. Nor
rison for erecting the telegraph S5,Si3. This l.
an additional excess, 10 Il notl
Answsr.--Itis Il.
Rspor,sr.-will you be kind enough TO give me
about the average cost per month (leaving out the
amount of the telegraph contractl, say for seven
months. from June ist to December 3ist, 1889,
that Is the running expensesp
AHsNsr.--I cannot.
Rsportsr'-Can you approximate near II, say
within 500 or $500 per month.
ARsrsr.-I canLot; the fact IL 20 tell You the
truth the bills come tumbling In every month for
this and that Il was enough TO make q man sick.
I saw Mr.. Carmichael some time ago and he gave
me his opinion on the subject. and will give u
20 you. II Il this; lie said that the only Official
act OF his life that he regrets 10 that Of signing
this contract.
whsrsupon Mr. County Commissioner turned
on the reporter and put him up to be interviewed,
and he put Il thus;
II you we're 4 County Commissioner, and under
the circumstances surrounding this case, what
would you do Our reply was, would run this
business on bHsiHess principles. Stop "a! Hha
dead dog. Put Il out Of sight.
Tho reporter then put Mr.. Miiisnder on the
stand and asked u he had enterprise of his own
on hand and II cost money 10 feed Il Il was burn.
ing his fingers, aud u he would keep them In the
hro u would burn bis arm and ultimately his body
ifhe held on would he not take the hand out 10
save the rest? This ended the interview. X.