The record-union., 1896-03-12
IT BEGINS WORK.
The Moot Charter Makers Will To-
night Start on Their Task.
Young Mems Club of Civics and the
Fire Department-What Com
mfttee VIII Advise.

The Young Mems Club of Civics be-
gins work tonight on what it conceives
should be amendments to the city
charter. The club meets at 1870 O'Clock
sharp in the lecture room of the Congre-
gational Church. Its officers invite citi-
zens generally to attend and observe the
proceedings.
The Committee on Fire Department
will make its report, and it will be
passed upon. The committee will rec
ommend these changes in the charter,
specifically setting them out in the
form of amendments: Giving the Mayor
sole power to appoint the officers and
members of the Fire Department, be-
cause, as the charter gives him super
vision over the department, and requires
him to see to it that the laws and regu-
lations are enforced, he cannot do so
truly and well unless he has absolute
power to appoint to the department in
dependent of the Trustees. Thus there
will be no divided responsibility, and
no clashing between the legislative and
executive branches of the city govern
ment, say the committee.
It will be reported that no person
should be appointed hoseman who
weighs less than 135 pounds, or hook
and ladder man who weighs less than
155 pounds, because experience in other
departments has demonstrated the ne
cessity of fixing some such minimum
standards.
Ihe report Will recommend that where
the charter gives the Trustees power
of government and discipline of the de-
partment such words should be stricken
no
vided, is to have supervision over the
department it is farcical to give an
other power disciplinary authority over
it, Where it is provided that the Trus-
tees shall prescribe the rules and regu-
lations of the department there should
be added "by and with the consent of
the Mayor and subject to the right of
the Trustees to overrule his objections,
the same as in the case of vetoed ordi-
nances.'
The charter now provides for trial
and dismissal of members of the de-
partment for cause" But it also pro-
vides that the Trustees may at any time
without trial. dismiss any man when
they determine that it will be for the
good of the service and Improvement
of the efficiency of the department.
The report will advise that this is un-
wise and unamerican and unfair; that
if man is inefficient or his removal
will be for the good of ,the service, :"
the fact should be stated in the nature
OF charge, and established, after hear
ing, of record. To dismiss without
triaP' is provocative of corruption, dis
order and inefficiency
The charter now puts the Chief and
Assistant Engineers under supervision
OF the Mayor, yet they are required to
report their doings and the statistics
of the department and it's needs direct
to the Trustees and not to the Mayor.
The committee will hold that this is
sad mistake, because the reports should
go officially to the officer having super
vision, and he should at once transmit
them to the Trustees with such recon-
mendations as he deems wise. The
committee will say that to prevent the
supervision and disciplining power
from scrutinizing the reports deprives
him of official knowledge Of the de-
partment's acts, which he is to super
wise
The charter now leaves it to the
Trustees to add a chemical engine COM
pany to the department. The commit
tee will report that the chemical engine
is so economic that it should by the
charter be put into the department,
with one driver and one engineer, and
that to do without it is more costly to
the people than to have and maintain
it or trust to the pleasure of the Trus-
tees concerning it.
1t is expected that this report will
create lively debate, as some points in
it hinge upon the vital matters that
divide public opinion as to the right
basis for economic municipal govern
ment along the whole line.