St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-02-21
FIRE sToPPED INQUIRY.
Runge Had to Go, and the Com
mittee Adjourned.

Runge Had to Go, and the Com
mittee Adjourned.
Owing TO a small fire at the corner Of
Twenty-siXth street and Stevens ave
nue. the fire department investigating
committee was forced 10 adjourn the
meeting until this evening at 7:30.
Just as the committee was
about to beinf, a conglomeration
of mixed up alarms came ring
ing over the huge gong which hangs
over the city hall. Chief Runge grabbed
up his coat and ran out of the building,
stating that he could not wait for the
committee. He did not return. 1t is
said that he did not 90 to the fire,
either. An attempt was made to 90 Oh
with the session without the chief, but
it proved a failure, for the firemen, Oh
the advice of their counsel, Judge
Fish, declined to continue the
cross examination without the
presence of Runge. Aid. Jenninge
came out tlat-tooted and stated that he
would not consent to be party to the
deliberations unless the affair was be-
gun in a legitimate and businesS-like
way. 1t was only fair to the tremen to
have him present and put on the stand
first to explain why he had DISCHARGED
the men. The fremen could go OH the
stand and refuta whatever he testified
to, Ill case ii was not right.
1t was finally decided, however, to
begin operations, and Capt. Pollock,
formerly of Engine House No. 10, was
asked to tell the committee why he was
discharged. lie did not know He
had been in the service for over twelve
years and had never been called before
the chief on any important charge. He
considered the discipline at his old en-
CINE house as being good. Hugh Fox,
Andy Mcdonald and =. McElroy were
then called, but each in turn declined
to testify untIl the chief should be
present. This was done on the advice
of Judge Fish, who insisted that it was
nothing more than justice to the men to
allow them TO reply to whatever charges
Runge might make against them and
not to testify first.
1t was then decided to adjourn. The
committee appointed by the underwrit-
ers' association at the meeting held on
Friday afternoon presented themselves
before the council committee and offered
the following resolution, which was
| placed on record:
"To the Chairman of Committee from
| City Council on Investigation of Fire Depart
ment: At a meeting OF theiC Underwriters As
| ISOLATION of Minneapolis, held this day, the
| following resolution was passed with the re-
| quest that the same be presented to your
committee:
Whereas, The Underwriters Union of Min
| neapols is advised that the fire insurance
| companies doing business in this city have
! sent an agent here for the purpose of making
a new schedule of rates Oh mercantile build
| ings and stocks, and that said agent finds &C.
| casion to make an additional charge OF 4
| cents per 500 of insurance on account of
/ nfnnfrN nnraf of firn dor
! ment through what is considered improper
| political influence, and having been advised
! that an additional charge will be made on
| account OF the lack of a full complement OF
| men al all fire stations:
| Resolved, That we respectfully request the
| committee on investigation of fire depart
| ment that they extend their investigation TO
the end that The existence of such conditions
in our fire department be disproved or con-
| frmed. A. S. EvERTs,
w. S. HERRER
| HART y. HIT
Committee on Resolution.
Minneapolis, Feb. e, 1899
This resolution will have at least one
effect. 1t will put ail end to the false
statement, iterated and reiterated by
couple of newspapers, that Insurance
rates have not been affected by the pol
itical squabbleS OF the department.
When the committee had adjourned
Chief Runge returned. 1t was then too
late to reopen the meeting, for many of
the witnesses had left the city hall. A
knot of discharged firemen gathered in
the hall, and for time it looked as
though there might be trouble, for they
eyed the chief with anything bnt
friendly looks. 1t was minated that
Runge left the building when the fire
alarm came in because he wanted to de-
lay the Investigation. twas stated that
he had no business to run to the fire. for