The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-10-27
FIRE COMMISSIONS TROUBLES
THAT BODY SEEMS TO HAVE IN
PLENTY OF HOT WATER.

ouire which May Cost the Latter
s1OO-The Chief Raises a Point Of
Inv Against His Fine Which
seems to Worry the Commission.
UcStay's Death Also Being In
vestiGated-Chief Mcguire % Sue
the Insurance HcraId-Chairman
cravsOn Says Inspector johnson
Is a PIagiarist.
Tho fire commission will have a meeting
.his afternoon. Chairman Grayson said
yesterday that there was no important
business to come before the board, but 1t
=. likely that some interesting subjects
will be discussed.
Recent occurrences, it appears, have
oonsnired to keep Chief Mcguire in hot
rater and to furnish matter for the con-
s5eration of the board. In addition to
+be fine of 500 imposed upon the chief by
.bo commission for his election work, the
commission has recently been quietly in
restigating general charges of careless
ness against somebody in connection with
the death of Fireman Frank McStay at
the Hull fire. Whether any charges have
been preferred is not known, but it is
soid that ex-Chief Puder called the atten-
tion of the commission to the fact that
Ncstays death by falling through the
omen grating on the Bay street front of
Hull & Co.'S store was due to careless
ness on the part of somebody.
Several of the foremen together with
+be chief and assistant chief, were sum-
moned before the commissioners at head
quarters one day last week and a quiet
investigation made. No results have been
announced as yet.
Ex-Chief Puder is also said to have had
something to do with the charges before
the commission against Chief Mcguire
on account of the latter's work at the
polls on election day. The name of the
party making the charges was not given
to Chief Mcguire when the fine of 800
was imposed upon him. He stated his
belief, however, that the charges were
made by Mr. Puder.
Chief Mcguire has written letter to the
commission, urging that the fine against
him be RENTED and presenting very
cogent arguments, it is said, to show that
the commissioners exceeded their author
ity in attempting to impose and collect a
fine in the manner in which they did. The
letter has been referred to City Attorney
Adams for his opinion on the legal points
raised by Mr.. Mcguire.
Mayor Myers, Chairman Grayson and
Chief Mcguire were seen yesterday, and
none of them would discuss the contents
of the letter or state what the legal points
were which had been raised by the chief.
From this secrecy it looks very much as
If the commission had encountered an OBJ
stacle in its efforts to exclude politics from
the department Chairman Grayson was
asked if the fine would be RENTED.
Not with my consent, unless the law
overrules me-" he replied.
Chief Mcguire was present, and heard
the statement. Both declined to state
what the point of law was which has been
raised by the chief.
The last issue of the Insurance Herald
of Louisville, KY contains the report of
Inspector w. H. Johnson of the national
board of fire underwriters of his inspec-
ton of the Savannah fire department. in
September
The report had already been received
here in pamphlet form about two weeks
before The report contains a number
OF recommendations, all of which had
been under consideration by the fire COM
mission for some time and some of which
nave already been put into effect Chair
man Grayson explains this by saying that
Inspector johnson obtained his recon-
mendations from him almost verbatim
ethteratim, but overlooked the little other
When the fire commission had its
i conference with the committee of local
underwriters, at which Mr.. Johnson was
present" said Mr.. Grayson. 1T
asked if they had any i'm
provements to suggest. They had
none and asked me what improvements
the commission had in contemplation. 1
look my note book and read off the i'm
proyements proposed by the commission,
among them being the placing of a fire
boat on the river front, water cisterns on
ule river front, new quarters for No en-
H ehe company, and new chemical engine for
4 tle southern section, additional hose sta
IONS and several other things. Capt
wheaton, chairman of the underwriters
committee, instructed Mr.. Carswell, the
secretary of the committee to take this
uoWh IN writing, which was done. Mr.
Johnson has simply used this information
ana recommended what he knew we had
IN contemplation"
Inspector Johnson makes the following
cndrge against the fire department.:
GOOD discipline does not exist, and the
efficiency and usefulness of the fire de-
parlment is hampered, caused by the
odheIul influences of partisan politics."
passing It's opinions upon this statement
eNaehtly, the Insurance Herald asserts
Ilat the present chief fireman has
proven himself thoroughly incompetent"
a prospect
uldt general reorganization of the de-
pdrument will be made in January next,
ana mat a new chief fireman win be APP
ms Is interesting information to Sa-
aiIhdn. Chief Mcguire is very much
wrought up over the matter.
l intend to enter suit against the In
a.Iahce Herald for its statement that the
r,Isesent chief fireman has proven himself
thoroughly incompetent' he said "T
VIII make them prove that or paw dam
sVs. nave been waiting for this charge
o.s De made from a responsible source in
na uer mat might take action against the
parties making it,"
irn'iuently the fire department will con-
rr nue 10 furnish interesting news to the
s s"oLc LOT some time yet. Chairman Gray
If If" realizes realizes that his position is not bed
RATES MADE FOR SETTLERS.