St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-02-22
A REO-HOT SESSION.
Chief Runge Is Placed on the
Witness Stand by the
Committee.
He Irritates the Aldermen by
Refusing to Answer Their
Questions.
Ingalls,, Of Kansas, on Intense
Political Questions Of
the Day.
Aid. Snyder's Latest Sugges-
tions on Special AS
sessments.

Chief Runge was on hand last night
when the fire department investigating
committee called the meeting to order
! in the committee room of the city hall.
There was a very large crowd present.
and it was finally found necessary to
adjourn to the council chamber in
order that the committeeman and
witnesses might have room to
breathe freely. The committee signi-
fed its intention of calling Chief Runge
to the stand as the first witness, and his
| attorney, f. f. Davis, asked the privi-
lege of saying a few words. He stated
that the chief had acted in good faith
when he dropped the men from the
list. He had been advised what to do
by the city attorney, whose business
| it was to give advice on
such matters, and he had had
the sanction of the fire committee. The
list of appointments had been regularly
submitted TO the council and confirmed.
llS Vi CO1 (ttlIl VI WV OlNt HlNlllSli
| did not appear Oh this list for the reason
that they were not wanted in the de-
partment, and the chief had q right to
| leave them off if it was for the interest Of
the department.
The committeeman hoped to come to
some understanding OF the matter they
were investigating when the chief took
the stand, but they were nicely
fooled, for he remained as dumb
as an oyster on all matters tending
to show the reason for the discharge of
the men. He did not deem it right or
proper that the committee should know
why the men were discharged, and de-
clined positively to v0uchsafe them any
information whatever.
He was asked to name the men whom
he had requested to resign, and be said
the only ones were Glazier and Vance,
the painters. The others were merely
dropped from the lists, as the city char
ter allowed him to do. Their names
were Govey, Watts, Noonan. Pollock,
Mayo, Fox, Rober, O'Hearn, McEIroy,
Smith, Mcdonald and Harrington.
Chairman Gray asked him why he re-
queSted Vance and GlaZier to resign.
Il don't hardly think it right should
give my reasons" answered the chief.
"Do you decline to answered. asked
Gray.
ii do" was the response.
"Will you kindly inform me-" said
Gray, "whatyou expected to get when
you asked for an Investigations
81 wanted you to ascertain what the
discipline of my department was"
"HoW do expect us to get at it, then,
if you declue to answer the questionsw
Miner on the Warpath.
Aid. Miner then interrupted with
list of cutting questions.
Don't you consider yourself" said
he to the chief, Ian officer Of the city,
appointed by the council and amenable
to its laws? Don't you think the city
council has a right to punish you for
any official misconduct? Why don't
you answer these queStions"
The chief replied that he did not
think it proper for him to answer the
direct questions concerning his men. 1t
had never been done with his predeceS-
sors. He had the right to appoint his
men. for the city charter gave him the
right.
chairman, where you got the authority
to discharge, or request the resignation
of any member Of the Departmental
81 don't know that there is any au-
thority."
"Why then did you ask them to re-
sign? You admit yourself you had no
authority"
The law says each term of Office ex-
pires on Dec. 81, and it was this l oper-
ated under"
But that doesn't give you authority
to discharge. Will you tell me why you
discharged them?'
II decline to answer"
SIS this an advice of your attorneys"
asked Miner.
The CHIEFS attorney. Mr.. Davis.
flushed as he retorted:
IF that is meant for me. | will say, l
don't shoot from under cover. l had
not advised him. but he has anticipated
my sentiments"
"Wheu did you give Engineer Watts
notice he was no longer member of the
| department." continued Miner, turning
| to Ruge.
Several days after [ was reappoiut-
| ed: few days before the fire committee
met. | notified the committee after
| sent Watts his notice. l did not intend
| the notice as discharge, but notifica
| that his name would not appear on the
| list of appointments"
did you consult Aid. Woodward
| about this matter?"
mo. sir" replied the chief emphatic
ally.
He then said he sent letters to Pol
| lock, Watts, Mayo, Carey and McElroy.
| Carey and others asked him for his rea-
sons for the letters, but he declined to
| give them.
"But why" said Miner, "do you de-
| cline to give us these reasons. Don't
you think we, as representative of the
| people, ought to kno N?''
DuEnb as an Oyster.
Runge declined again to answer. He
| acknowledged that Watts had been in
| the department about nineteen years,
| but he declined to say what kind of a
member he bad been, though he knew
| full well. Miner asked him if he
| thought it good policy to release
| a man who had been i'll the department
| for so long a time for no reason. The
chief declined to answer. He said he
could justify his actions, but refused to
| tell the committee his grounds. Watts
had been called before him once for re-
fusing to go through drill, but that
| had nothing to do with his being dropped
from the list. He declined to say if
there were any professional reasons.
''Now, chief" interposed Alderman
Lackey. Twill you tell us if your reasons
were personal or public ones~