The Anaconda standard., 1896-01-14
FOR CHIEF PRO TEN
The Fire Committee Recommends
Frank Thomes for the Position.
CAPTAIN KINNEY INDIGNANT
He Doesn't Propose to Be Side
tracked Without a More Definite
Understanding With the Pow
ers That Be. He Says.

The fire committee met in the city
clerks Office yesterday afternoon ana
without a great deal of ceremony or
discussion selected Frank b. Thomes
as temporary fire chief pending the re-
covery of Chief Werner. The meeting
was attended by Aldermen Schatzlein,
Pascoe, Byrne, Knowlton, Cannon and
Montgomery. The following report was
drawn up and unanimously approved:
I'VE recommend the appointment of
Frank B. Thomes as temporary chief OF
the fire department. We recommend
that Captain Harry Kinney of the CEN
tral station be sent to the Quartz street
station with no authority when at fires
and that Captain Fred Dugdale shall
have the position now held by Mr.. Kin
ney with full authority in the absence
of the chief. We recommend that the
chairman of the fire committee draw up
a set of rules for the daily exercise OF
the firemen."
The report also recommends that a
fire alarm box be located on Dublin
street, near the Parrot mine. and that
the old bin OF the Gamewell company of
$50 for the expenses of Expert John L.
Stack who was called out here to in
struct the new department in the use
of the fire alarm system after the dyna-
mite explosion, be paid.
The committee proceeded to the bus
mess In hand as soon as II was assem-
bled. Chairman SchatZlein stated that
something for the Improvement of the
department must be done at once as an
inefficient department was a constant
menace to property and an invitation
to the insurance companies to raise the
rates.
Byrne expressed the opinion that the
present department was not as efficient
as the old volunteer brigade. He had
been disgusted with the work of the
firemen at recent fires and said If he
had been chief he would have fired the
whole outfit bodily. THE new rules
promulgated last spring" continued
Byrne, were a total failure. The de-
partment should have been left as ii
was in charge of chief and assistant.
The experiments of the new admins
tration, / am sorry to say, are a total
failure. We should have had a good
department, but experienced men were
thrown out to give place to men of no
experience whatever. When Lapp took
hold of the department after the explo
sion II was 100 per cent. better than ii
is now. The men were better disci-
plined and they were made to practice
every day. Lapp was turned down.
can see no common sense in actions of
that kind"
The mayor informed the committee
that the matter was entirely in their
hands and that he would appoint any
man they agreed on.
The names of Frank Thomes, Harry
earns and Frank Murray were dis
cussed. 1t was stated that Mr.. earns
would not accept the position tempor-
arily, and after a little discussion Mr..
Thomes was selected for the position.
Schatzlein recommended Thomes as be-
ing an experienced fireman and the
possessor Of a cool head. He also op-
posed going out of the city for an act
ing chief. After Thomes had been
agreed upon IL was decided to give him
entire charge Of the department and to
instruct him TO peremptorily discharge
anyone who failed to obey orders.
George Kessler, the electrician, came
in for a good deal of well merited
praise as a fireman, and II was sug-
gested that he be made assistant chief
AS this office was abolished by the
new rules, however no action was
taken in the matter. The other mat
ters contained In the report were then
disposed of without much discussion.
Captain Kineny was very indignant
when Informed of the action of the
committee, and In the excitement of the
moment, he virtually rendered his re-
signation to City Clerk Mcmillan, but
afterwards Withdrew IT. He now pro-
poses ito quietly await further develop
ments, but he does not intend to give
up his office without a more definite
understanding With the fire committee
and council, as he does not feel that he
has ben fairly dealt with. He has given
IL out point nt-blank that he will not go
up 10 the Quartz street station, as he
-. 49,
tee, and he naturally objects to being
removed from office without some def
mite charges being preferred against
him.
Il don't want TO be understood as
kicking about being removed" said Mr.
kinney last evening, for / am not at
all afraid of starving to death. but /
don't feel that i have been given a
square deal. In the first place, l was
held responsible for the Central station
brigade without having the authority
of the chief. / finally got things to 60
mg nicely and then the outside knock
ers got in their work and stirred lp
trouble. l don't object to getting out,
but j want the committee TO prefer
definite charges against me, and then
prove them IL they can. / will not go
up TO the Quartz street station and
viii nor turn over the keys to Mr.
Thomes, but will deliver them TO eth
ar Chief Werner or the mayor or fire
committee"
The mayor has not yer made the ap-
pointment OF Mr.. Thomes, as recon-
amended by the committee, and will
probably not do so until Wednesday
evening
George Dapp was not a candidate for
THE temporary Office of chief. and his
name was considered without any So
licitatbon on his part.
IN POLICE COURT.