The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-06-09
ARE OPPOSED TO CHANGE

Tog. p,,nx,. M SEATTLE. June 9, 1897
appoint,, We are pleased to note the re-
80, oi MI Gardner Kellogg 10 .ncca.d $500.
hi. oi the fire department.. and trust ~ 40
.s,,ors 'ment may meet with no seriou. on,o-
IT, al the hands OF tho council
c,,,. eApefienee Of Indianapolis and o.he,
outra .. US taA: new men. however sood 70.
f,oy, ".s 20 learn the workings, the CITY. etc
nro,.-., nremsns standpoint, and that much
mer az sAd many lives may be lost while new
.r.a.a becoming acquainted J. C. Invram
'a agent for the Liverpool and In,aon 80
80. An'uranee Company, in Indi.n.noii.
chies, 'sis'fiag 20 that city as follows. .Tbe
ssas. ioes was 20 keep his force up TO the moo,
sht point, regardless of politics. ara he va.
,o1,.. " make Changes simply as a reward 10
=, ~ wofksrs He was removed, and a chief
sirsa ah pohIcs, who would make the de-
cnanges, was appointed The depsrtmen.
was oemoralizsd by lack of harmony roi.r,.n'
aseihens aud the constant criticism of neyx..
p.pe's ana the public The Gilman va. ,aschaa
s..s. IN March, is9), In the FIRE in the Rove,
aunR' Twelve fremen were killed and az n,
&C., more badly injured, owing largely to in.
spe'snt management. The old chief was
na.., :, oy votes OF members OF all
pa.ues Mr.. Ingram further states that he has
yes TO learn OF q single instance wba-a e. a.
Partment has been successful or kent i'm a s,s,a
VI eMeieney when subject 10 the notion, Of every
po.ucai enange In city government There 4.
" n4s.ofy much in the same line of experi.nce
ieei that Chief Kellogg has by his long
earnest service good knowledge of the eity' =
qaAiements and has an able force about him.
ri. a,e pieased 70 note the appreciation Of
w tue new administration and trust that
tnose YET to pass upon this very important mat.
'et wiz agree with US as to the merit I'm the
present department regardless of politics. AL.
snougn underwriters, We are Of different pol:ti.
iueas ana we do not allow politics to enter
INTO sne discussion of this matter
some cities have gone so far a. to prohibit
.SeiI nIemen participating in any manner in
'ne primaries, conventions or elections, excspt
.nefeiy 10 vote ct elections, showing their feel.
ing that this, OF all departments, should be pure
ano Tree from foreign infuences Charges
merit VI Nv
we cannot claim for our chief that not = ain.
eis error has been made and that he has n o
faults, but We do feel that he 10 faithful, com.
pe'eh' servant, and experience shows that
property and lives are safe so long az he has the
governing power Ia the Seattle IRE department
Al our hremen feel that Their pos tions ara safe
10 tnem during good behavior and com potency
we may reasonably expect continued good
results
BURNS q ATKINSON, FARMERS ISs. Co.,
LEE & BowDEN IA. FpE1M.s
J.. w.
The W. l. GAzzAM Co., JAMES boutwell,,
ZwIcK, SHAW d Co., CAscApEF ISs. Co..
" "a. bLoD9ETT, HANFoRD Il STEWART,
Il. A BURCH d Co., HOME FIRE ms CO..
JOHN 5. MOORE D. SPENCER
CLARK SCHROEDER. WASH TER Inv. Co,
CALHOUN, BERRILLtCo., EUGENE B. sTopDARp,
sCHwABACHER BROS. & Co.,
Seattle Fire Insurance Agencies
SEATTLE, June 8, 1892
10 The EDITOR: As fire department matters
are now under discussion desire to submit the
following letters for the information Of the
public from the chiefs OF two OF the largest and
best-drilled hre departments in the world.
CHICAGO May Is, 1892
b. W. Baker. Esq, Seattle, Wash.-DeGr Sir:
Replying to your favor OF the 18th inst, / mail
you herewith copy OF our rules and regula-
tons which contains all the Law We have on the
While 1t is fact that this department 10 kept
"out OF politics." shere having been but four
IRE marshais in thirtythres years, this result 10
not due 10 any express statute or ordnance on
the subject. The traditions and presidents of
this department have been almost uniformly in
tenure OF ONCE during good behavior and pro-
motion based on merit ana length of service
Yours respectfully, D. j. swEINI,
Fire Marshal.
BosToN May 81, ls92
B. w. Baker, ESQ -Dedr Sir: Yours received
sni: DAY IN regard to the rule. governing the
department.
The Enclosed is the rule which the members
OF our department are governed by in regard to
politics:
IS No officer or member OF the permanent or
call force shall attend any political convention
u delegate, distribute tickets at any election,
or take any part Whatever in political matters
other than to exercise the right OF suffrage. On
election days sufficient time will be allowed
each permanent member OF the department to
vote"
In my opinion the chief engineer of fire de-
partment should be elected TO servo during good
behavior aud should only be removed for cause
or when incompetent TO command.
Respectfully yours, l. L. WEBER,
Chief of Department.
RAvun