New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-15
EVIDENCES OF COLLISION.
THE SPECIAL FIRE SIGNAL COMPANY
AND THE DEPARTMENT
GOOD GOVERNMENT CLUB BEGINS ITS IN
VESTIGATION OF THE CHARGES-WHAT
EACH SIDE SAYS

EACH SIDE SAYS.
Good Government Club D has begun its work
of investigating the alleged improper of the
Fire Department wires. conduits and posts by
private corporation known as the Special Fire
Signal Company This company Is managed by
Frederick Pearcc, an electrical expert who does
business at No. 20 John-st. and Is the successor
Of Pearce. Jones Co. which had been at this
address many years In the division OF the city
departments for investigation In the interest OF
pure administration, the inspection OF the FIRE
Department was assigned to Good Government
Club d. At meeting ~ the directors OF this
club held Thursday afternoon in the offices of
Preble Tucker. No. III Broadway. the charges
against the Special Fire signal Company were
considered and 1t was decided that the evidence
in hand warranted immediate procedure on the
part of the Investigating Committee of Good
Government Club ID. and that steps be taken TO
the end of gathering further evidence for the pur
pose Of making presentment against the parties
concerned in the matter to Mayor Strong when
the latter takes Office" subcommittee con
sistng of Prebe Tucker. c. Taber and A. Turn
bull was appointed 10 continue the investigation
and To collect evidence.
The Special Fire Signal Company has been IN
existence twelve years. and it's chief business is
to supply theatres and other buildings with
direct wire communication to the headquarters
Of the Fire Department. IN Sixty-seventh-st. 1t
Is charged that the company. acting in collision
with the Fire Department. has tapped the resu-
lar wires Of the department. and that 1t has no
regular wires Of its own running into the De-
partment Headquarters. The company has been
charging 800 a year to each theatre for this
direct communication with Fire Headquarters,
but recently measures have been. taken to put
all the wires under ground. The company de-
clares that this will entail heavy expense on 1t.
and 1t has announced that the rates will be in
creased to Slii year Most Of the managers OF
theatres have protested against this. and have
refused to agree To the new terms. Such man
| ayers within the last few weeks have received
notices from the Fire Commissioners that their
signal boxes out Of order and that unless
they are attended to they Will be subjected to
| fine II $50 and be liable to imprisonment
The managers declare that this is merely
| conspiracy to force them to sign contracts with
the Special Fire Signal Company at the new rate
Of slH year They have put the matter In the
hands Of Charles Henry Butler. Of No. 1,4O2
| Broadway. The electrician Of Hoyts Theatre de-
clares that the alarm in that theatre Is attached
| - thc Flfth-aVe circuit II the Fire Department
and that m" company has no regular wires run
ming directly to Fire Headquarters.
Frehle Tucker said 10 a Tribune reporter yes
believe "A
| should be- carefully investigated. one fact Is Ger
tain. and that Is the company has no right TO
| have underground wires. We have been unabl"
| 10 discover that they have any above" grounl
| wires from the theatres from which they draw
| nav These facts together with the Tact that
| as soon as the managers Of IN" theatres reius"i
- submit 20 the sudden increase OF rates rom
! so t. Siii. they received notices from the Fle
| Dapartn.nt that they would be subjected 10
| fine Of $50 and imprisonment II their sisnass were
not pui in order. point strongly To- COLLISION De-
/ . fl.ftl H.
| cannot ton YOU just how "" are going N TINS
matter bat W. VIII probe IL to the bottom
Mr. Butler said. Il have been retained Dy
number u theatre managers 10 ight ms increase
I'm the rates which We regard as exorbiiant' ana
! II there il any COLLISION between the tire De
! parinent and IN. Special Fire signal company
! a.. will ferret u out I'm sh ~ order. have =
the case fully under way at present but on my
return from a trip out OF town Will devote an
| my energies To H. - -,
| rr,I.rirk P.arc- was seen n his office. In john
| 81, Yesterday. ana denied that any collusion ex-
| isted between his company AM the f4rc Depart
| m.ni lie said: There IL no occasion Whatever
! ~ ali INF. fuss over m" matter. II IL a per
fecily simple and straightforward business trans,
| nc,ion I, IL absolutely false that have tapped
! the Fire Department wires. II - true ihat !
| nav. ,i,ceI nv wires on the poles Of IA" flrr
| Department. hut that Is privilege thht mas oreh
| extended 10 other companies besides NY v""
The. is no special faVOrlti-m III IL Al AT nav :
| ,hr.. circuits ~ my own private wires running
| directly into Fire Headquarters TWO 90 th' CIR
cults run south II Sixty-sevenih-st ana Uhe 'un'
| 10 Harlem In the last few years IN" F"' ~
| ,,rtment has been cutting down it, poles south
| ~ Slxty-sev"nth-st.. and have been '"ilp'"'r
80 ,,, nv. ,,ircs over the roofs ~ houses. but as
! 1 am not allowed - repair these wires / ~ n
| Le~n compelled 10 seek underground circuits. rms
| hav. done by endeavoring to l"aS' the WIS ~
| IN. METROPOLITAN Telephon" COMPANY ms r",
| tails 4 very heavy additional expense. ana ! was
| unw.lIllng t. undertake 1t unless my sups'i'priS
agreed To- Il. - I sent OUT circui'I '''a' ,a'
rates would bc sii year II can Eea 'n' , : :
| managers Of theatres t. accept thls NJ" ~
| ,,iII have the Telcphon" CompanNs wir'S' II ro',
! | viii be compelled 20 CIV" up 'h' Wiz Iii nm
| .,a,., an rho Harlem circuit. which IL sun on
| t,ir. Department poles have no cohh'ct'"i
| Il..r1n II wires az an