The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-10-28
A STORMY MEETING.
Fire Commissioners Discuss
Chiefs Suggestions.
lNCOMPETENTS TO BE FIRED.
Much Talk Over Who Shall Fill the
Vacaneies-Old Hands Likely
to Be Chosen.

The fire commissioners held another stormy
meeting last evening, discussing the subject of
nrefnen for the department Mayor White oc-
cupled the chair aud Chief kellogg and all of
the commissioners were presentA
Chief kellogg's report recommending the dis
charge OF four men was read. as follows:
To the Honorable Board OF Fire Commission
ers-Ge7itteiRen: In response to your request
submit the names OF members OF this depart
ment, who in my judgment should be dropped
from the roll of membership In making this
selection am actuated by no personal feeling
other than the best interests of the department.
Inc men have been on trial in ihe department
Tor several months. They have eudeavored to
lar no fault can be found with
them, but willingness to perform is not al
ways accompanied with proper understanding
OF the duties or with the capabilities to per-
form. In this business, in all others, much
depends on the man. Every member OF the de-
partment has a specific duty 10 perform when
IN service. II a man fails in the performance of
that duty 1t disarranGes the whole machinery of
the department. A fireman should be active,
quick OF comprehension and so constituted as
TO endure smoke and heat, always self possessed,
and, above all, of all aggressive nature or dispo-
sltlon- Where schools for the exami-
nation OF applicants are held not over
. per cent. of the applicants are selected
Tor their supposed adaptability for the service,
hence 1t is no stigma on the individual appli-
cants II they simply are by nature disqualified
Tor this particular business so in making this
=
hectlon should lie made against the men. A
trial has simply convinced Us that the business
they have preferred to follow is one they are by
nature disqualified to fill, and one in which, in
nv Judgment, they can never succeed. There
are several Others pretty much in the same situa-
tlou, but after consultation with the company
ofhcers IL was decided to give them further
trial.
The members referred to are Thomas Gillis
now with chemical No 8; Albert Johnson, now
suspended; l.. Rudd, on the firebOat; William
Mcnamara now on chemical No. 2. Very re-
spectfully, G. KELLOGG,
Chief Fire Department
Mr. Clark moved that the report be accepted
and that the designations of the four men be ac-
cepted. Mr. Kahaley thought that they should
be asked to resign FIRST. The latter suggestion
prevailed after some discussion.
The question as TO who should be put in the
four places made vacant occupied all the rest
of the evening. The mayor wanted to go to the
theater but all his efforts TO hurry up the pro-
ceedings were in vain. When they finally adj
journed each member had made about three
motions and had afterwards withdrawn them,
while about the only items on the minute book
were the record of the date and the fact that the
meeting adjourned
Erwin Armstrong T. l. Sullivan and Carl A.
Basler were recommended as members of the
department. The last named was assistant
chief for nearly year after the establishment
of the paid department.
Mr. kahaley wanted some of these practical
firemen put in. Mr. Faegre objected, calling
attention to the resolution passed at a former
meeting where 1t was agreed that the men cut
Oft by the retrenchment ordinance should be
given the preference. He thought that the COM
missioners should stick by their resolution.
Mr. Foster agreed with Mr.. Faegre. He thought
that the men who were cut off deserved the po-
sitions. He knew some old men who were no
good and he thought new men often developed
into good firemen.
Chief kellogg stated that there were only six
or eight first-class practical firemen in the de-
partment. 1t was hard to get good men aud
when they had chance he thought they should
take practical firemen in preference to others.
He had to pick from the ones recommended by
the commissioners and very few knew the bust
ness. The trouble was that the class of appli-
cants was not the best and 1t was no fault OF the
commits ioners.
Mr.. Faegre understood that there was an
other unsatisfactory fireman in the department,
and he thought that the chief should have
recommended his discharge also. 1t was Ris-
ley. on the fireboat After some discussion the
Oh eff was instructed to bring in another report
next week recommending further discharges of
incompetent men.
Mr.. Clark wanted the chief to start in and try,
one after another, the applicants who had not
been tried before. Mr.. Kahaley said that it would
be much better to put In good, practical fre-
men, like Basler, at once.
The meeting finally adjourned without COM
ing to any definite conclusion as to future
policy.
Chief kellogg had his annual report ready,
but it was decided not to read it until next
Tuesday evening. when the next meeting will
be held.