The morning call., 1892-06-05
Will NOT INVESTIGATE.
Fire Commissioners Refuse to
Revive an Old Scandal.
Mr. Martin Demands an Accounting of the
Department Charitable Fund Sick
Members Not Benefited

All the members of the Board of Fire
Commissioners were present at the weekly
meeting yesterday afternoon.
p. Wralty was promoted 10 the position
Of tiierman Of Truck 2 and John Filzsim-
mons was appointed a tTuckman TO fill the
vacancy.
Daniel Shay, the driver of Engine /, who
was recently transferred from Truck /,
asked for 10 days leave OF absence and
tie application was denied.
Under the head Of new business Commits
sioner Martin said he had heard that
Auditor Smiley had refused to approve the
salary demands of the three newly ap-
pointed relief engineers.
Commissioner Ames volunteered the in
formation that the Auditor had not fully
decided upon the matter
just before the meeting adjourned Com
missioner Martin provoked a heated debate
by resuscitating tie old scandal connected
With the Fire Department Charitable Fund.
He spoke of the organization of benevo-
lent association in 1874 and the selection
Of the Fire Commissioners as directors.
no REPORT RECEIVED.
No report in reference to the operation of
the fund had ever been received.
There was a so-called benevolent asso-
ciation," said Chairman Schmit, but /
concluded no body of men could ompel me
TO act as a trustee Of any fund without my
individual consent This fund has been IN
YeStigated by Grand Jury and the finance
committee of the Board OF Supervisors.
The members of this board are not trustees
of that fund, which is controlled by the
men who subscribed to it.
Commissioners AmeS, Edwards aud
Brown agreed with the chairman that the
board had no control IF the fund and moth
ing to do with il.
Martin, however. was not satisfied. As
member Of the board he claimed the Tig Int
to demand an accounting OF the fund.
What have We got TO do with it?' asked
Ames in disguised tone, no more than the
Bank OF California"
Schmitt went Oh 10 explain that since the
Fire Commission refused 10 have anything
to do with the fund it had been in The Gus
tody Of the association. Martin could re-
ceiye any information from the board Of
foTemea aud engineers.
NOT SATISFIED.
This did not satisfy Martin. lie said that
certain sick fTemen who were entitled to
ala Lad not received anything from the
fund.
why don't they enter a complaint.
then?" asked Schmitt
Why shouted Martin. You know
very Wen Why. ANY member OF the Depart
meDt who entered a complaint or protest
would be broke by this board"
Nonsense" muttered the chairman.
Then in louder tones he asked: "Have
you any motion to make. Mr. Martin ?"
NO" SAID Martin: mo motion. What
would be the use. You know the tate Of
all motions made by me-"
In answer 10 various questions Martin
learned that Chief Scanneil is president of
the association having charge Of the fund.
District Engineer Mckitirick is secretary
and District D0!an IS treasurer.
The other Commissioners agreed that they
did not care TO 20 into an investigation of
something they had no interest IN and ad-
j0urued.
After the adjournment Martin and Schmitt
exchanged few sarcastic remarks Schmitt
asserted that whenever there was anything
crooked" in sight he was always willing to
iuyegtlgate.