The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-10-18
FOR WORKING AT THE POLLS.
CHIEF MAGUIRE FINED 500 BY
THE FIRE COMMISSION.

Observation-Disclosures by Making m
Example of the Chief-A Severe
Dose of Discipline Given the De-
partment-FOur Men Discharged
and Several Fined-Five New Fire
men and Eight Supernumeraries
AppOintcd-The Power of the
Chief to Maintain Discipline In
creased.
Fire Chief Mcguire is out just 500 on
account of the late election. The money
was not lost on a wager, however. If L
had been there would have been mucn
more satisfaction in the loss to the chief;
albeit, there is not much satisfaction, as
a rule. in paying election bets The 800
will be taken out of the chiefs salary by
the fire commission.
The commission has decided to stamp its
disapproval, once for all, upon any par
ticipation in elections by members of the
fire department and to make the chief a
conspicuous example Mr.. Mcguire was
quite active around the court house in the
recent election in the interest of the Citi-
zens Club, and his prominence was un-
favorably commented upon by members
of the opposition
AS a result, charges were preferred to
Chairman Grayson and the charges were
taken under consideration by Mr.. Gray
son and the other members Of the COM
mission. Chairman Grayson informed
Morning News reporter Of the decision
yesterday.
1.-The members of the fire department
must be given to understand" he said,
that they are not allowed to take an
active interest in politics, and that this
applies to every officer and member or
the department. If the conduct of the
chief had been allowed to pass unnoticed,
how could we compel other members OF
the department to abstain from taking a
hand in future elections? If it had not
been that my duties as one of the mama
gers of the election kept me inside the
court house, l would certainly have or
dered the chief to keep away from the
polls
The announcement of the commissions
decision came like a thunderclap to Cher
Mcguire. He had not the slightest anticI-
patton of anything of the kind. If tine
commission had adopted a resolution or
sympathy with him at the result of the
election, it is safe to say that he would
have been less surprised.
THE action of the commission was a
complete surprise to me-, said the chief
to a Morning News reporter. IF any
of the commissioners had given me any
intimation of disapproval OF an active in
terest on my part in the election, l would
certainly have guided myself accordingly
That ! was actively interested in the sue
cess of the Citizens Club was well known,
and l made no concealment of my eff
forts in it's behalf on the day Of cleo
ton"
Chief Mcguire said that he would miss
that 500, but he didn't see any help for it,
The result of the election must have
put the commissioners in a bad humor,
judging by the unsparing manner in
which they have dealt with offenders.
Four firemen have been dismissed from
the service, and several others fined. The
dismissals are as follows:
James L. Brown, No. 3 engine company,
for leaving quarters without permission.
j. e. Lenzer, truck company No. !, for
the same offense.
W. T. Toshach, supernumerary, failing
TO report after leave of absence, and
leaving the city without permission.
John Meitzler, supernumerary, for vio-
lation of city ordinances
Brown and Toshach practically dismiss
ed themselves from the service, finding
other employment more congenial to them.
John 7. RackstraW of No. engine COM
pany, was fined $40, and ordered repri-
manded for being under the influence of Ii
quor at the Hull fire. The charges were
preferred by Assistant Chief Mouro. All
that saved Rackstraw from dismissal was
the fact that it was his first offense.
William McGrath of No. ! engine COM
pany, was fined $40, and ordered repri-
manded for being intoxicated while on
dVaru NJ ba CT he oh
ferred by Foreman Connolly.
John c. Henderson, of engine company
No 4, for refusing to obey the orders of
the chief at the Hull fire, was fined $50 and
ordered reprimanded.
A. L. Pitts of chemical company No.
!, was suspended seven days without pay
for failure to report after expiration of
regular leave of absence.
The following appointments have been
made; A. NJ. Rogers to engine No /; j. j.
Hearn to chemical No. l; L. J. Taylor to
truck No. /; J. E. Harper to engine No, 3;
S. Lilienthal to engine No. 2.
The five men appointed have been serv-
ing as supernumeraries. The appointments
b exhausted the supernumerary list and the
following have been appointed supernum-
eraries: Michael Cullom, Patrick O'Neill,
w. w Hughes, j. J. Solar. j. II. Meyer,
A. J. Darcy. James II. Gallagher and
Charles C. Craft. The supernumeraries
rank in the order named.
J. w. Grady has been transferred from
the Office to engine No. l, and f. J. Sey-
mour of No. 9, appointed clerk in his
stead.
A resolution was adopted by the com
mission at it's last meeting requiring that
all members appointed to the department
after Oct 20 shall be not less than feet
6 inches in hight, and not less than 1850
pounds in weight They must also pass
a satisfactory examination by the medical
examiner.
An amendment to the rules was adopted
Increasing the authority of the chief, Civ
ing him the right to suspend from duty
without pay, for periods not exceeding
seven days, without first preferrlng
charges to the commission. The object
of this is TO save the commission from the
investigation Of every petty infraction Of
the rules, and to enable the chief to better
enforce discipline. In all cases of fragrant
violations, rejecting discredit upon the
department. the chief Is required to report
TO the chairman of the board at the ear
lest opportunity.
This liberal dose Of discipline is likely
to clear the atmosphere around the fire
department for some time to come, and 1t
is likely that things will run more smooth