The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1888-02-07
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Monthly Meeting of the Board of
Representatives.

The monthly meeting of the Board
of Representatives of the Honolulu
Fire Department was held at the Cen
trail Station on Thursday evening.
Chief Engineer c. B. Wilson, presid-
ing, First Assistant Frank Hustace,
Second Assistant J. F. Morgan, Secre-
tary Henry Smith, and representatives
from all the companies made up an
attendance of twenty members.
A communication from Engine
Co. No. l, stating that they had
agreed to the proposed amendment to
the Constitution, by vote of 10 for
and l against, was received and filed.
One from Pacific Hose Co. announced,
in regard to the same subject, that they
had postponed action till furtherdate.
Another communication from the
Hose reported the result of their an
nual election of officers, namely: j. w.
Mcdonald, foreman; w. H. Mclean,
first assistant; NJ. @. Mclean, second
assistant.
Chief Engineer Wilson left the chair
to move that the communication be
received and filed. He omitted the
the officers so elected be invited to take
their seats as members of the Board.
His reason for the omission was that
he had charges to make against Pacific
Hose Company, which he proceeded to
prefer verbally. The gist of the charges
was that the company had shown in
subordination in disobeying his official
instructions and the resolution of the
Board in regard to the annual parade.
The motion carried, as did a succeeding
one, that the officers of the Hose be in
vited to take their seats.
Mr.. J. G. Tucker, delegate of Pacific
Hose Company, undertook the defense
of that corps. He maintained that
while they were bound to obey the or
ders of the Chief and Assistants at a
fire, in their stated meetings they had
full liberty of voice and action upon all
matters regularly submitted to them.
Mr.. Tucker had to break off his argu-
ment at a dozen points, to admit of
questions and explanations interiected
from all sides-Messrs. Morgan, w. r.
Herrick, c. J. Mccarthy, J. W. Nc
Donald, Smith, J. H. Boyd and Hus-
tace lin the chair, all becoming in
volved in the desultory discussion.
Foreman Mcdonald, in answer to a
question from Second Assistant Engi-
neer Morgan, stated that Pacific Hose
would send ''three men, no more-One
n front and two behind,n with their
apparatus, to the parade.
Delegate Herrick's contention was
that such a turnout was not in COM
pliance with the law of each company.
Secretary Smiths part was to cite
the Constitution as to the Boards
jurisdiction, at the request of Delegate
Tucker.
Foreman Boyd's interlude, some
what excited, was elected by Delegate
fuckers suggesting, in the line of his
argument, doubt as to the legality Of
No. as election of officers.
That is where the Chair came in,
ruling that there was nothing affect
ing No. 4 in the question before the
Board.
Delegate Touissant only interposed
to Heiaculate, that he was bored with
the whole business, wanting it incon-
tinently pitched overheard and the
attorney for the Pacific with 1t.
While several members jointly in
terrupted the holder of the floor, two
pairs of them got in motion each for
the previous question and the post
ponement of the case to next meeting.
Both motions were adopted with
scarcely a sign of dissent, and accord
ingly, to the great relief of the bored
member, the matter went over to
"some ither day"
Chief Engineer Wilson, on resuming
the chair, stated he desired to issue an
order. which was that every company
of the department should turn out Gas
company" at the annual parade on
the following day.
The Board by general consent took
up the question of the proposed amend
ment to the constitution.
Foreman Mccarthy stated, with ar
guments to prove that the position
was correct, that No. Company de-
clined to take action because the
method adopted by the Board was I'M
constitutional. The only way the con-
stitution could be changed was by a
two-thirds vote of the members of the
department. This could not be con-
veniently attempted to obtain until
the annual election, when special bal
lots for and against the amendment
should be cast. He made q motion
accordingly,
Delegate Herrick contended that the
Department contemplated in the
constitution was constituted by the
Board of Representatives. This body
made the constitution and was compe-
tent to alter it. 1t was settled twenty
five years ago, he being member at
the time, that the Board should con-
troll the companies and not the COM
panies the Board.
Secretary Smith thought McC arthy's
motion was premature, as only one
company had reported action.
Second Assistant Morgan doubted if
the resolution of No. passed with the
requisite two-thirds majority.
Delegate Tucker agreed with the
terms of the motion.
Delegate T. Lucas thought it ought
to be settled before the annual election
in June, as the amendment was in
tended to govern that event. He pro-
posed an amendment that the Depart
ment as whole take action six weeks