St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-02-22

tee is running THIS lnVeStlgatl0n, re-
marked Aid. Miner.
Yes, but you can't run the chief nor
me-" replied Davis.
Judge Fish then explained that he
was present at the meeting in the inter-
est of number of insurance men who
were interested in the efficiency and
discipline of the fire department. Upon
this explanation, Mr.. Dayis withdrew
his objections. The Judge asked
Runge If he could find anything
in the city charter allowing him
to drop any and all firemen at the end
of the year, and he replied he could not,
except in the one section which designat-
it made any difference whether men
were discharged during the year or at
the end of the year, though be had an
opinion, and proposed to hang to it. -
A Call for the Police.
eff the chief violated the rules Of the
department" said Judge Fish, would
you ordinarily expect the men to OBJ
serve them and also expect good -dlsci-
piine?"
The reply was in the negative. Davis
objected to the form OF certain ques-
ton. and Aid. Miner broke out with:
llONO Gudb OtlS ClllCl COuilOOl tANNP
quiet during the examination of the
Witness"
81 WON'T do it," exclaimed Davis.
"You can rule as much as you please,
and | will~keep right on. You can't
stop free speech"
"We'll get the chief of police" re-
marked Miner.
Get him and his whole force" re-
torted Davis. "FII keep on Directing
just the same"
Quiet was finally restored. and Judge
Fish announced that, as it was lmpoS-
Sible to get any information from the
chief, he might as well stop. He con-
sidered that the evidence, or lack
of it. adduced by they chief, showed
conclusively that he arrOgated
to himself autocratic powers, and as
sumed he could discharge the entire de-
partment at the end of each year, If he
saw fit. The spirit of the city ordi-
nanceS was to perpetuate the ire de-
partment, and the law. in his opinion,
did not permit the chief to drop
men at the end of the year for nothing.
He defed MIR. Davis to point out to him
any law which would permit of such a
high-handed proceeding. Judge Fish
remarked that his advice to the commit
tee would be to report back to the coun-
eli the result of their investigation
and secure power to broaden the scope
of the investigation, and probe into all
branches of the department. He be-
lieved Runge had asked the council to
investigate all branches of his depart
ment, and he should be taken at his
word.
Mr.. Davis replied to this speech by
saying that Judge Fish had evidently
been speaking for the newspapers. 1t
was not within the province of the CON-
mittee to regulate the ordinances or
make laws. Chief Runge had shown
in his testimony that he had
acted IN good faith and on
the advice of the city attorney.
Judge Fish then reiterated that Runge
had no right to peremptorily discharge
men. directly or indirectly, without
cause. There was ample provision
made in the law for the discharge of
men who we're not efficient or who were
a detriment to the department. lie
charged Runge with having openly VIC
lated the rules by dIscharging the men
as he did.
Chairman Gray asked Runge where
of the committee. Runge stated that
at and Z O'clock in the evening he was
at his residence, at 5 o'clock he was
in the office of his physician. and
afterWard dropped into Schiek's saloon
to walt for street car. 1t will be re-
membered that there was a strong sus-
picion at the time that Runge remained
away from the meeting on purpose
to delay the investigation. He
was asked why he left the
committee room Monday night. causing
a postponement of the investigation.
He replied that he was called to the fire
on Stevens avenue. Owing to the ILL
ness of his first assistant chief. Kinney,
he had agreed to answer all second
alarms. so when the second alarm came
in he went
The committee went into executive
session for a few moments, and de-
cided to adjourn, subject to the call of
the chairman. 1t is not likely that
another meeting will be held until after
the meeting of the council Friday
night, for it is desired to be vested with
more power.