Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-06-28
TIE FIRE DEPARTMENT


Some of the volunteer firemen seem
70 think that they have cause for griev
ance against the HERALD on account
OF It's position in the recent election
contest and its plainly expressed belle
that the management of the depart.
ment has been characterized by incom
potency and reckless extravaganza
They are wrong. The HERALD has
earnestly urged tn importance Of
making such changes as would moi
only greatly increase the efficiency of
the department but would reduce the
cost of maintenance to limit consist
ent with the real needs of the CITY and
the condition of its finances. But il
has INDUCED in no criticism of the
work of the department which the
facts have not fully warranted and has
not in any instance been unmindfuI Of
the rights of the firemen under
the ordinance and rules govern
ing the departments manage
ment. Quite the contrary, in fact
as the hremen themselves well know
But If ever the taxpaying people of
any community were imposed upon in
the matter Of expenditures for fire pro-
lection 1--WE are the people, There are
scores Of places in the west and proba-
Oily hundreds in the country twice or
thrice the size Of this where far better
organizations are maintained for less
than half as much annually as the de-
partment has cost here during the past
year The condition of the city,s
finances ought to teach the necessity of
radical retrenchment, and re-organlza.
ton is clearly necessary to promote
efficiency. The serious dissensions
which have finally eliminated in the
disruption Of the department were but
the natural consequence of incompetent
management. Wilmot's election as
chief at the outset was a mistake and
the choice Of Gibson as his successor
was much worse one. Possibly Mat.
thews would not have made any better
record had his election been confirmed
out 1t is not at all likely that he would
nave made worse one. He was sup- {
ported by large proportion of the best
men In the department and received a |
clear majority of all votes cast. In re- &
fusing TO confirm him on such a f,imsv
pretext as that afforded by the uDsup- {
ported and nninvestigated charges Of !
Irregularities and illegalities made bv
the defeated candidate, and in denying
MIN fair hearing, the council over.
stepped the proper bounds of its autbor. :
ty and trampled ruthlessly upon one of ;
Inc most cherished rights of a volunteer 4,
The babyish personal a
protest against the confirmation of
Matthews as chief, upon which the n
council saw fit to set the seal of its an !,
proVal, was likewise protest against a
Ine confirmation Of Gibbons as assist 1
ant. If Matthews was not fairly elected
men Gibbons was not. The confirma- q
non OF the latter was plain confession a
OF the weakness of the case against the n
orfner. IL is not In the least surpris- I
ng that the whole matter should Z
'esult as 1t has, and yet out of the L
'haos which the action of the council /,
has preeipitated better order Of things s
nay come. The end may justify b
he means. The business men v
ma property owners ought to b
'vince such degree OF interest in
he matter as to insure the organiza. p
ion and economical maintenance of n a
department, They can Il
much better afford to "get In and a
irilP' themselves than they can afford
o take the chances of increased insur- 8,
'nce rates or possible cancellation of So
,olicies. h'