Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-26
Nobody Is Held Responsible, but Chief
Jones Clerk Was in for
Roast All Around
SCHEyLEY PARK ENTRANCE PAID FOR.
Good Grist Of Interesting Twin City Happenings of
Yesterday.

meeting was called TO order by Chairman
Simon who stated its object. Chief Muir
phv, of the Department of Public Safety,
Superintendent Jones, of the Fire Bureau,
and Superintendent Loomis of the Bureau
of Electricity, were present.
Mr.. Stauffer at once asked Chief Murphy
to make statement concerning
the matter The Chief replied that
he knew nothing except what he saw in the
newspapers. From what he understood
from Chief Jones and the Superintendent of
Electricity the wire had burned out near
CITY Hall Before it was repaired the mat
ter was brought TO the attention of the Fire
Marshal 1t had been an accident, and was
liable to happen at any time. The wire
was repaired as soon as the Marshal could
get man over. He was of the opinion
that everything was in first-class condition
before the Superintendent of Electricity
went away. He had told the Superinten-
dent he could go if everything was
in irst-class shape and if there was man
in his place. The superintendent told him
that everything was all right, and that he
had made arrangements with Superintend-
ent Metzgar, of the Telephone Company, to
send a man over if anything went wrong
that the men could not fix
AN EXTRA MAN NEEDED.
Continuing, Mr.. Murphy said that he
would suggest to the committee that they
have printed an ordinance providing for an
assistant in the electrical department. If
the man they now have should get sick,
there is no one to attend to the business.
Mr. Drum said that he had been told that
he had had the meeting called because he
was antagonistic to the chief of the depart
ment He had heard that the chief himself
had said So and that it was because of an
old grudge. Mr.. Drum then explained
about the breaking of the wire, the Fire
Marshal hearing of it anu the Board of
Underwriters asking to have an investiga-
tion. The called meeting was the result.
II was not 4 consequence of antagonism and
he was not in the habit of striking anybody
over someone's shoulder. If he wanted to
strike he struck direct.
Chief Murphv-As far as l am concerned,
1 never said that. If l was quoted as say
ing that you were antagonistic to me, etc, l
want to say that it isn't so.
TOO MANY PEOPLE AWAY.
Mr.. Drum.-Well, it is evident that too
many were away from the department at
one time. There was not a man present who
was able to find the break in the wire. The
assistant chief saw the wire burnt of, and
made a remark about it. No attempd.was
made to fix it for some time, until after
word had been sent over to the Fire Marshal.
] don't say this from my own knowledge,
but that things were in q bad and unsafe con-
dition there is no question about.
Chief Murphy thought that everything
was provided for. The Superintendent of
the Electrical Department told me he had
arranged for everything and had an ar
raugcment with Mr.. MetZgar to send man
over If anything happened.
Chairman simon here read an order of
procedure for the committee. which he had
prepared. 1t provided Tor hearing the Fire
Marshal. reading the ordinances, defining
the powers and duties of the chiefs and
sUperntendentS of bureaus, inquiring if
there were any derelictions on the part of
any of the officials, and if the harmony
necessary for the best interests + the de-
partment existed among the officers.
As the Fire Marshal was not present, Mr..
Drum called for the reading of the ordi-
nunces. They were read. whereupon Mr..
Schad said that he did not see why there was
any charge against Chief Jones' as he had
nothing to do with the Bureau of Electricity.
There was none except in the news
papers, was the reply.
WANTED TO EXoNERATE JONES.
Mr.. Schad then moved to exonerate Chief
Jones and all the rest.
Chairman Simon suggested that they should
investigate thoroughly first, so that it could
not be said that the matter was white
washed.
MIR. Drum called on the Superintendent of
the Bureau of Electricity for his explana-
tiOn.
superintendent Loomfs said that he had
obtained permission from Chief Murphy to
60 away. He had left his two best men,
Jake seymour and George Daynor, in
charge, and had made the arrangements
with Mr.. MetZgar referred to.
Nj. GOctman-Did these men know of
your arrangement with Mr. Metzgar?
superintendent Loomis-The Clerk to the
Chief knew OF il.
Mr.. Goettman-why didn't they fix the
break?
Superintendent Loomis-It was taken out
of their hands. The assistant chief asked
them if they could fix the break. They said
they hadn't found it yet. He then said they
had demonstrated that they couldn't fix it
and sent for another man. As to the kick
iug because the office was locked up it is al
wave kept locked. The machinery is auto
matte and needs no one to look after it. Mr..
Seymour had the key of the office.
Mr.. DTum-Ihere is only one person we
can look to in this matter, and that is the
Superintendent OF the Bureau Of Electricity.
A. to all being away, that is a matter the
Chief OF the department. Is responsible for.
J
part of some one, and it might have been
serious. ] have every conf jence in Mr.
Loomis, who is a thorough electrician, but
he certainly should have left some Cne in
charge when he went away who would be
eble to attend TO matters.
SHOULD HAVE A COMPETENT ASSISTANT.
Chief Murphy-As to his going away, L
take that responsibility on myself. gave
him permission.
Mr. Drum-I have no fault to find with his
going away; he should have left compe-
tent assistant in charge. l move that it is
1he sense of this &C mmittee that the Chief of
.he Department OF Public Safety was dere-
Ict in his duty in allowing so many to be
absent at one time, and that the Superin-
teudent OF Electricity was dereict in his
duty in being absent and leaving no one in
mis- stead and that we so report to the Gen
eral Committee.
Mr.. HARRISON insisted that Superintendent
LOonis was not to blame. He had permis-
sion to 90 away and had left the two best
men of the department in charge.
d. A motion to adjourn for two weeks was
made but not acted upon, nor was Mr..
Drums motion.
Chairman Simon next proceeded with his
order Of business and took up the subject of
harmony among the officials. He said he
understood that the Chief of the Fire
the Chief were on bad terms, which should
not be.
Mr.. Schad-Can we act on that?
Chairman Simon-We can make q recon-
mendatlOn.
"It is well known since the organization Of
the department that there has been feeling
between party, who is clerk to some one
and the chief" said Mr.. Drum. "At IL 6 time
of the Winn matter charges we're made
against Chief Jones, and there was much
feeling between Chief Jones and the re-
porter. Notwithstanding, the reporter was
appointed clerk to Chief Jones. There