Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1893-08-01
FIRE BADGES FOR REPORTERS.

49,
AgErieved Firemen wanted the Papers
Punished. But tho Commissioners Rule
Otherwise.
ing Of the board of fire commissioners
last evening and there were present
Commissioners Hynes, McAuliffe and
briggs. When the regular monthly
bills had been disposed of the clerk read
petition from the reporters of the
different papers of the city, as follows:
To the Honorable Board of Fire Com
missioners Of the City of Waterbury:
Gentlemen: The undersigned respect
fully represent that they are reporters
on the newspapers published in Water
| bury; that in order to satisfactorily dis
charge their duties toward their several
papers it is necessary that they enter
the fire lines established by the depart
ment during the progress of fires.
Therefore. they respectfully request
/ your honorable board to grant each of
them badge emitting them to the full
privilege of entering the fire lines on all
occasions of fire in Waterbury, it being
understood that the badges shall be non
/ transferable except to regular members
of the staff of their respective papers
and used only for the purpose of aiding
in the discharge of their duties as men,
bers of the press.
Il I'IlkRS luoNCh W bablS
consideration of the petition. The mo-
ton was not seconded.
Commissioner J. y. Hynes then
moved that the chief be instructed to
procure two badges for each of the local
newspapers, and the motion was
seconded by Commissioner McAuliffe
"My object" said Commissioner Hynes
lin making this motion is that this
privilege is given to the reporters in
almost all cities of Importance.
would have it understood, however,
that the wearers of these badges he
under the supervision of the chief and
} they must not go into a burning build
ing until he grants them permission. ]
r see no harm in allowing them to enter
} the fire lines and don't know that the
commissioners intended to draw the
, line so fine when the framed rules were
adopted However, the rule was there
| that no one but members of the fire de
. partment should be allowed inside the
fire lines. and the chief had no alterna
tive but to enforce 1t.
Commissioner briggs said he haC
made his motion as it would require
careful preparation to frame motion
t in the matter. Mayor Webster re
marked that the motion should be sub
v mitted in writing and suggested tia
( Commissioners Hynes and briggs retir
n and frame a motion.
The mayor allowed free debate on tn
Iquestion. Chief Snagg remarked tina
he did not think the board should gran
these men department badges, for a
they are not known to many in the de
partment they might pass the guards a
b the entrances to burning buildings. H
e thought a badge of different desigI
1 should be granted.
D Harry ]. Reynolds, foreman of Mutua
D, q. and L. Co. No /, did not think tn
d reporters should have bad1 es at present
< because they have not used the depart
lie ment we'll lately.
as John H. Loughlin thought the repre-
It sentatives of the press should be a
S. lowed inside the lines. but not given er
Is trance to burning buildings.
s, Foreman Reynolds wanted to read a
lie article from the DEMOCRAT. but tn
n mayor decided that personalities shout
" not enter into the discussion.
h Second Assistant Engineer T. O'Brie
n condemned the abuse of Forema
Il Reynolds and remarked that report,
in knew nothing about fires, anyhow.
Commissioner briggs saidthat as he III
derstood it. part of the feeling displsye
was on account of criticisms at recer
fires He believed the reporters shoul
at use their knowledge of previous actor
If the board when reporting fires an
,e said: II believe in granting badge
q under orders and direction of the chief
le The following resolution framed b
s: Commissioners Hynes and briggs WIS
. then offered and adopted.
m "Resolved, that the chief be instruCte
w to furnish each of the papers publishe
N in this city two badges for use of the
NJ representatives; persons wearing sue
) badges to be subject to all orders of til
I'd | chief or his assistants, as regular fire
! men; also to provide one badge for til
IN representative of the United Gas In
10 provement Co: also that said badges |
O made of a different design from ii
n regular fireman's badge"
3 A discussion followed on the new IL
I'd partment rules for the benefit of Il
H. foremen present. Commissioner Hyn,
al Explained that rule had reference onl
to the salaried members of the depar
ment. The section of rule 81. providin
for the keeping closed of the large doc
of the fire houses on Sundays was the
n, discussed. The rule is in great disfavC
at No Is house as there are no baC
IN doors and no means of ventilation c
20 warm Sundays for horses or men whe
= the front doors are closed. Forema
w. E. Bannon of No 4 said he had bee
H. instructed to ask that the rule be 81
y aside in the case of Protectors house
M there was practically no ventilation e!
cept by means of the front door
- Others spoke against the rule. Tt
commissioners will take the matter I'M
"a consideration. Chief Snagg sugGeste
~ some slight changes in the insignia
~ rank OF officers, and the suppression {
l. q 4 Al