The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-02-20


Union do not compose the whole of
the citizenship of this city and there
lare many other people who know a
thing or two and have spoken for a
Ichange-a radical change. Devine, in
his opinion, was the one man for the
position of chief
/ j. e. Game was sure that his COM
Ipanies did not object to a change in
the fire department and he did not fear
Ian increase in insurance rates should
THAT change be made
/ c. O. Whittemore and several other
Devine men declared that jor Stan
ltonS fate had already been sealed and
his retention was a thing of the past
The man nominated was a brainy, well
Educated man and one who would
lprove a credit to the department. The
former gentleman argued that a pro-
test would be an insult to the intelli-
gence of the mayor. He was sub
lJected to a heavy fire of questioning
| by a. number of the gentlemen present
land his answers were somewhat
tangled in his efforts to conform with
the views of both the mayor and city
Icouncil in the matter of removals. He
was addressed as the prospective city
lattorney.
Mr. Chairman said Mr.. Benson,
1T strikes me that there must be
politics If this. Mr.. Whittemore, has
just stated that Major Stanton has al
lready been removed
| In reply to a question from Mr. Ben
lson, Captain Donnell said the appoint
Iment of Mr.. Devine or any other man
as chief of the fire department will not
make any difference in insurance rates.
| but the minute any changes are made
lin the department which would impair
its efficiency there will, most certainly,
Ibe an increase and in all probability
n "a
Iago resurvey was made of this city
by the Pacific Insurance Union, which
governs rates in the west, and on ac-
lcount of the splendid water supply and
efficient fire department a decrease of
fully Is per cent. was made in insur-
lance rates. Any changes from the con-
lditions which merited that great de-
crease would more than likely mean a
return to old schedules.
| Julius Thompson, a heavy property
owner, though not resident, felt sur
prised at many of the statements made
by some of the gentlemen who had
spoken and expressed the view that
to place a man in the position of fire
chief, regardless of his other qualifica-
tons, who has never had any exper-
lience in a fire department, and remove
a man whose record is very brilliant as
a fire fighter was the same as saying
that any man was qualified to act in
any public office. He considered the
present department a credit to the city
and objected to any changes where
none was necessary, protesting that the
matter was not a political question,
but one which touched the bus
mess interests of every property
owner The right of appeal was
guaranteed to every American
citizen and a protest against any
change in the department would not be
IN nj no or.
council, but simply an exercise of a
sacred right. That protest should be
made.
Mr.. Kenyon claimed to have been
behind the curtain several times" and
said the majority of Salt Lakes citi-
zens WIRE pleased at the proposed
change and but few had entered spro-
test against Devine.
Judge Grant H. Smith said there
was one question, the most important
in the matter, that of character, which
had been lodged by every speaker.
This insinuation met with considerable
condemnation, inasmuch as it had been
made without explanation. Several
gentlemen demanded the gentleman's
reasons for the remark, but none were
given.
c. j. Q. Irwin denied the statement
made in an affidavit placed before the
meeting on Saturday. which was to the
effect that Deyine had said he would
sweep all but six men out of the fire
department. This denial was made
upon q personal statement from De
vine. The mayor, he said, has de-
clared that Stanton must go and De-
vine would make a splendid successor.
at has been asserted said Mr.. Ben
son, that a majority of the people of
Salt Lake have asked for or declared
! in favor of the removal of Stanton. I
h q n No Of q
of twelve which presented a protest
against any change in the fire depart
ment to the mayor. That petition was
signed by 80 per cent. of the principal
business section property owners. I
move that a committee of ten, of which
Mr.. Thompson shall be chairman, be
appointed to present to the council a
petition asking for the retention of
Mr.. Stanton"
Mr. Whittemore offered an amend
ment to the effect that a committee
Of five be appointed to ask for the
retention of Chief Stanton and an
other of like number to petition for
the confirmation of Mr.. Devine.
Several gentlemen expressed SYM
pathy with one or the other side of
the question, and during the speech
making motion to adjourn was
sprung. The motion was ruled out.
however, by the chair, for the reason
that the other motion and it's amend
ment were under consideration and
the meeting had been called for the
purpose of taking some definite action
upon the matter in hand.
John G. Midgeley had voted for the
Citizens movement in order to clean
out every vestige of the former admin
Iistration, which had ruined the CITY in
four short years. He wanted a change
lin the fire department and would take
chances of ..DIlg1iOcr I'M
After short but heated discussion
! the motion TO adjourn was demanded
despite the ruling of the chair and
the motion was put and carried, the
affirmative securing twenty-three
votes and the negative seventeen. The
meeting then adjourned amidst CON
siderable confusion. Both sides are
again at work.
Last night anofheN meeting was
held and committee of ten was an
pointed to present to the CITY coun1it
a protest against any change in the
fire department. Each member of the
commlttee last night received a copy
of the following letter:
Salt Lake City, Feb. 10. 1894
Dear Sir-At a meeting of prominent
citizens, property owners and insur
ance men held this evening you were
appointed on a committee to be pres
ent at the meeting of the CITY council
tomorrow evening to protest against
any action being taken by that body
which will result i'm a. change of the
city us
The entire committee of ten is com
posed Of Julias Thompson, chairn1ar1.
Wendell Benson, NJ. H Walker, R. Altf'
Jacob Moritz, Henry Dinwoodey. Jas
Glendenning, L. L. Terry, L.. S. Rick
ett's and Judge Colborn.
please caHfoyd ~ ,,,.a..4..--