The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-07-18
AS TO THE FIRE CHIEF.

1t is not true, as stated in a paper
, given to continual Justification, that
The Herald demands the dismissal of
the Chief of the fire department The
/ Herald has given voice to the senti-
ments which is almost universal in
/ this city, that something must be done
/ to establish public confidence in the
/ efficiency of the fire department. We
/ have stated that there is a wide
spread feeling that harmony will not
prevail, and that a thoroughly COM
/ petent fire department will not be had
nj Salt Lake city while the present
chief is at its head.
If there is any doubt as to the prev
alence of this belief, one has but to
converse with business men of all po-
litical parties and the reading people
of every class in this city, to dispel
any dubiety that may be left about
that matter. There is a general feel
ing of insecurity. 1t is doubted, if
a large condagration should break out
similar to those which have devastated
larger cities, that we have a fire de-
partment under such management as
would be likely to cope successfully
with the visitation. That, however,
may not be well founded.
The Herald is not responsible for
this sentiment. 1t has done nothing
to start ii or to encourage it. It has
simply given voice to it as enter
tanned. The Herald is the paper of
the people. 1t expresses public senti-
ment. 1t will continue to do so, no
matter who may feel disgruntled or
cha grined over its expositions.
The squabIbles in the fire department
are a public scandal. 1t was hoped
when the chief had been relieved of
the consequences of the charges
preferred against him, the advice of
the Board of Commissioners would be
followed and harmony would prevail
in the fire department. But the old
ferment is still working. There is evil
dence of i'll feeling and spite between
the officers and men and between
some of the officers themselves. It is
believed that the charges against Dom
ovan and Sullivan proceed from that
feeling, and that either the chief viii
have to go, or the department will
have to be almost entirely cleaned out.
That is how people talk.
The Herald has no personal feeling
in reference to this matter. There is
no politics in it so far as We are con-
cerned. We do not care what politi-
cal party the officers or the men may
belong to. We concede the right of the
fire chief to affiliate with either party
or with no party as he may elect. AT
the same time we desire to see the law
carried out according to its spirit and
intent. From the testimony adduced
at the investigation Of the chief, it is
evident that he has been an active
participant in political affairs. We will
say, however, that there is no proof
that he carried that spirit into the fire
department or that it has Influenced
him in relation to the men.
The Herald has no candidate for the
position. 1t has no choice in the mat
ter, nor have we heard of any one
being proposed to take the place of the
present head of the department. But
it is a fact that the common expression
upon the lips of men in business cir
cles and upon the streets is that De
vine would make a better professional
politician than a practical fire chief.