New-York tribune., 1896-04-08
FIRE BOARD DISSENSION.
A DISAGREEMENT OVER THE ALARM
BUREAU INVESTIGATION.
SUPERINTENDENT SMITH SUSPENDED AND TO BE
TRIED ON FORMAL CHARGEs-HE Is DE-
PENDED by COMMISSIONER SHEFFIELD
REQUEST FOR AN EXAMINATION OF

TENDED by COMMISSIONER SHEFFIELD
REQUEST FOR AN EXAMINATION OF
THE DEPARTMENTS ACCOUNTS.
Formal charge to De preferred against Super
intendent j. Elliott Smith. OF the Alarm Bureau OF
the Fire Department. and he Is suspended from
duty pending the result of the trial be held
cordlng to the decision OF the Board OF Fire Com
mlssoners at meeting yesterday. On the heels
OF this announcement came the declaration from
! President La Grange that another serious matter
remained for the Board TO consider" and he moved
that a reques, be sent to the Mayor to have the
! Commissioner OF Accounts examine the books OF
| the Fire Department This motion was unanimous
| ly adopted.
When TIE subject OF the investigation OF superIn-
! tendent Smiths conduct came up. Commissioner
| Ford remarked that in his opinion, the state OF
affairs was astounding
MR. sHEFFIELDs ATTITUDE.
| Commissioner Sheffield took exception to this by
remarked that In the presentation Of the charge
! against the Superintendent that he had purchased
alarm appliances which proved defective on sew
enty-six occasions. this could not be regarded as
an astounding state OF affairs where, In city like
! New-York. 400 alarms are sounded yearly
| Mr. Sheffield declared that he opposed TO
the methods which have been followed in conduct
/ Ing the Investigation" and that he had voted
against the employment OF Edward \. Callahan as
an expert investigate the charges against super
intendent Smith. He continued follows: i
| have become convinced that Superintendent Smith
has been faithful and efficient public officer lie
has been in the Fire Department twenty-three
years and for sixteen years has been the Supcrir-
! tendent OF the Bureau OF Fire Alarm. Telegraph
and Electrical Appliances lie probably STANDS al
the very front OF his profession. and with the nm
tied means at hts command has made Of the fire
alarm signals OF New-York one OF the most EN-
cent signal services TO be found anywhere In this
! country"
Commissioner Sheffield then replied in detail to
some of the accusations against Mr. smith
SERIOUS CHARGES MADE.
Commissioner Ford submitted a long statement. In
which he said
have come to the opinion that the laying ,Ss oI
direction Of MI smith during the sea' th
experts testimony. this should have been done @ @ ior
Thaf Mr thn Smith made his Specifications
ton work n such way as to make comIe.',ioh LOT
inaeane manner ann in Which such speehcaons
drawn he enabled to place In the hands 1l r ,te
! erick Pearce actual monopoly OF the construc-
tion work OF the Bureau. TO the detriment OF 'he
| city's interest as shown above.
Superintendent Smith is shown by the evidence 10
have purchased from pesrce supplies at
The evidence shows that in some Of the most i'm
some typewritten sheets recently pasted IN a scrap,
! Cable Company The evidence shows that the
Standard Underground Gable Company had the en-
tire monopoly OF the work. that excessive prices
were paid for the work done by said COMPANY. ana
the evidence shows that. although our Department
has been paying hundreds OF thousands OF dollars
TO the Standard Underground cable company, tne
Fire Department has no records or TINS WORK eN-
contracting company. whose cxorbitant charges we
have been Investigating. such cOinihet" suDinls-
sion OF the ctys interests to the entire cohtrOi OF
the contractor is. believe. without parallel
President la Grange submitted a statement sus-
! tairing the conclusions OF Commissioner Ford.
VOTES OF TWO TO ONE.
/ Commissioner Sheffield then went on record with
a motion that after reading the report OF the ex-
merit and the statements OF the superintendent ana
after hearing the evidence submitted. ana aiter
full and careful consideration OF the matter reating
70 the Bureau OF Fire Alarm, this Board mas no
nroper cause shown that would JustIy tne pre-.
ferring OF any charges against Superh'ehuehl
The president and Commissioner Ford voted no
against MI Shefiields aye, ana the mouo" ""'
"This." remarked the chair, "is the first serious
difference OF opinion In this Board although many
! have been imputed to II. , .... <,
Mr. Ford then offered resolution that lorIna, si
ohnrces hased upon the evidence. be preferred
araInst uperintendent Smith: that ne ne placed on
fra, and that be forthwith suspended from uu'y
nendng the result OF such trial , -
TO this the president and MI ford voteu hye'
aairst Commissoner Shefiied's no. and the resOlu-
tlon adopted ., .h, ho had r.ce,v.d
n check for $500 from Howard Gould ana axe enc enc
from John W. Mackay and one Tor slW from Johh
/ ID Crimmns as contributions toward sehdihg New.
York 0remen to the internationa. ekhioitioh az
iondon in June the Board adjourned TO meet this