The morning call., 1891-02-01
NEWMAN THREW
"A SPECK OF DIRT"
1t Struck Chief Scannell. But
Did Not SticE
A Lively Breeze at the Meeting of the Fire
ommissioners-Squabble Over Bills
for Repairs.

The proceedings at the weekly meeting of
| the Board of Fire Commissioners were en-
| llvened yesterday by an attempt of Chairman
| Newman 10 cast reflection on Chief En-
| gineer Scannell, and although II years of
| age, the Chief showed that he was as capable
| of defending his good name and conducting
! the affairs of the department as he was when
| he first became its chief, some twenty-six
| years ago.
! After the routine business had been dis
posed of Clerk Maxwell produced big
stack of bills, the total-of which exceeded
the months appropriation. The first cause
| of dissension was the bills for shoeing the
| horses of the department.
Commissioner Parsons thought that So
for each horse is steep charge, and the
| Chairman explained that it had been the
custom to pay that sum.
Custom" remarked Mr.. Parsons, sar-
| castically, " does not make it right that the
city should pay more for the work than
| private individuals"
After considerable discussion the matter
was finally Strengthened out and the horse
| shneing bills approved.
Various bills, aggregating over $500. for
| the repairing OF the house of En- CINE Com
| pany 16, caused heated debate.
Commissioner Schmidt thought that the
bills of S493 for making concrete founda-
| ton and S4l7 for cement were all right, as
| contracts for them had been made by the
! Fire Committee of the Board of Supervisors.
NOT ACCORDING TO LAW.
Commissioner Newman asserted that the
| englne-house had not been repaired accord
] ing to law. The Commissioner had no
| right 10 approve a bill for over $500 and to
| circumvent this law lie believed the bills
| had been split up into sums of less than
| $500. 1t was also his opinion that the Board
SInprVIGnrs n tnn In .naly
| tracts for Fire Department work for less
| than $500.
| Chief Engineer Scannell stated that lie
had been instructed by the Commissioner
| TO ask the Fire Department Committee of
/ the Board oil Supervisors to have the work
| done, and the repairing had been carried
| out III pursuance OF that request.
The bills for repairing were not approved
and the Commissioners were becoming
| rather tangled III their arguments when it
| was decided to refer the whole matter to the
| City and County Attorney for his opinion.
Commissioners Newman and Schmidt
| were at the same time appointed q commit
| tee to wait upon the City and County At
views in writing. The most important ques-
| ton to be answered is.
q Is it legal for the Board of Fire Com
misslonerst to audit demand for less than
| $500 for work and material that has been
| ordered by the Board OF SupervisorS?"
THE CHIEFS IRE AROUSED.
Then Chairman Newman made the state
ment that aroused the ire of the Chief.
Before this board adj0urns," he said, Il
would like 10 instruct the Chief Engineer
| and the other executive officers of the de-
| partment that they must consult the COM
| mission before ordering repairs or supplies
| of any kind"
In an instant the Chief was on his feet.
Il have been Chief Engineer of this depart
| ment for twenty-six years." he said, land
hat I
| the expenditure of one dollar without cou-
| sulting the Fire Commission. This is the
| first time that speck of dirt has ever
| been cast at me. If any one says | have
authorized expenditures without authority.
| they state an untruth, ana in future if
nail Is to be driven in the wall your honor
| able board shall be first consulted"
Chairman Newman fastened to explain
that he did not intend to sling mud at the
| Chief, and several henchmen of the ex-boss
| of the Fire Department, who sat in the ad-
| joining room, looked rather crestfailen over
| the speedy withdrawal of the insinuations
! that had been made.
| Commissioners Martin and Parsons stated
| that since they had been in the board thew
| knew that the Chief had consulted the
| commission whenever it was proper for him
| to do so. Thus the matter ended in the
| Chief scoring victory on his seventy first
| birthday.
| MATTERS OF ROUTINE.
The Board of Supervisors sent in Pc
| tition from property-OwnerS Who offer to
| put in hose-cart at their own expense in
| The house of Engine Company 49, As an ap-
| plication has been sent 10 the Board of Su-
| peryisors for the establishment of Engine
Company Is, the matter was laid over for
| one week.
John DouGherty, driver of Engine s. who
| has been laid up for two months owing to an
| injury sustained while exercising his horses,
was allowed 500.
The Chief was given further time in which
to report on the petition of property-owners
for the establishment of an engine company
at Twenty-fourth street and Potrero avenue
The application for reinstatement of
james W. KentZell, who resigned because
he was reduced from the rank of foreman
Of Truck 4. was laid over for another week.
Chairman Newman stated that he had
been served with copy of the complaint in
the suit of John Z. Chapman against the
board to be placed on the pension list, and
he had given the papers to the City ana
County Attorney, and his action was ap-
proved.
z. GRACE was appointed an extraman of
Truck 2, vice A. Simmons, deceased
George T. Silvey, Clerk at the Corporation
Yard, was given leave of absence for
thirty days.