The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-06-22

Today. the four firemen, Splian,
Chapman, Welch and Burt, who were
told by the chief that their services
would terminate on this date, will
cease to act in the capacity of MEM
bers of the department, although they
will report for duty each day until
some action is taken by the board in
their cases. The attorney for the men
has instructed them to do this.
AS a matter of fact the case will be
heard again before Judge Merritt 1t
will doubtless come up on an order
to show cause why the chief and the
commission should not be punished
for contempt. 1t will be contended
the order of the court was plain. That
he decided the four men, Gilbert,
Mowers, Clark and McMullin We're il
legally suspended and that it follows
those who were appointed in their
places are Illegal appointments. SO it
will be seen that all this work will
be gone over again.
The cases of Gilbert, Mowers, Clarke
and McMullin will come up again on
Monday night Perhaps. There is
some reason to doubt if further pro-
ceedingS will be taken. Some of the
firemen contend there is a sort of whee
within a wheel in all this business.
That Devine sees a chance to kill two
birds with one stone That by laying
off this last four he stands 2 chance
of getting eight men who are distaste-
full to him out of the department. And
hard stubborn fight will be made.
The whole muddle is becoming inter
esting to taxpayers who stand and
look on at the dissension which pre-
walls. The insurance men are not
idle. They are contending in favor of
some action and are getting ready to
make a demand for what is right in
their opinions. There will be a lot of
fun ere the circus is over.
Chief Devine no longer takes the
charges against him as a joke. He
has come to believe they are to COM
pass his destruction. He is working
of course, in his own interest in an
endeavor to discover where he is at.
1t is no picnic.
Considerable comment is INDUCED in
around the city over his action in lay
ing off Splain and the others. They
are among the oldest men in the ser
vice. None of them had any fault
found with them by either Devine or
his predecessor on account of ability.
And when the time arrives for the
hearing there will be some racy testi-
mony introduced in relation to the
whole matter.
Amos Moreton will learn his fate
on Monday evening when the board
will announce its decision. He seems
TO be in a cheerful mood.
Referring to fire department mat
ters, there is well organized move
ment to chang the law governing the
fire and police board. 1t is contended
that a mistake was made when the
control of this and the police depart
nent was taken from the hands of
the mayor. Although the session of
the legislature is far off, new facts
are being collated which will be pre-
sentsd to the next assembly and it
will be urged that the power should
be vested in the mayor who should
he a member of the board ex-officio.
The experience of other cities will be
cited as examples. Portland, Oregon,
is trying to abolish the board and
place the control of the department
in the hands of the mayor. The Fire
mans Herald advocates that move
ment and suggests many other need
ed reforms. The action Of the mayor
of Boston, who has sent a message
to the board of aldermen asking it to
reconstruct the fire department by
placing it in the hands of man who
shall be directly responsible to him
for all acts will also be cited. The
Insurance Age, in commenting upon
this says it is an act which should
be taken hold of and pushed to a sue
cessful termination.
There is trouble in the depart
ment of st. Louis. 4 chief with a
penchant for politics has been using
the axe very freely and while the COM
mission is standing by him, the in
surance men are making a great kick.
Fremen of years of ripe experience
have been cut off and without reason.
All these fects will be presented the
legislature and others will be intro
duced to show the control of the
workings should be in the hands of
the mayor as before.