The herald., 1896-06-17
Minor Matters Attended to by
Police Commissioners
OFFICERS MUST NOT TALK
Nor Solicit the Aid OF Friends in Trying
= to Secure Promotion
The Hatter Of Full Paid Department Proba'
bly, to Como Before the Fire Commits
sloners This Morning

day morning, and after short prelim-
mary talk in his honor's private sane
tum, adjourned to the outer office, where
the board meeting was held. Chief
Glass was in attendance In gorgeous
new uniform, while Secretary Parker
looked cool and comfortable in sky
blue shirt and new summer suit.
All Of the commissioners answered to
their names when the roll was called,
Mr.. Barham coming in short time be-
fore the meeting was called to order.
The proceedings opened at 10: 80 o'clock
with the reading of the minutes of the
previous meeting, after which a letter
from the Fourth of July committee was
read, asking that the police force be al
lowed to Participate in the street parade
on that day. The matter was referred to
the chief. he to use his discretion in the
matter.
Upper & Richenback were granted
permission to use the adjoining room to
. their premises while making repairs.
The application of John Brown for the
transfer Of his saloon license from No.
$50 to No. 1873 North Main street was
granted.
The application of ]. NJ. Cole for sa-
loon license for No. 1462 San Fernando
stret was referred to the chief.
The application of Henry Pfirmann,
]. w. Green and ]. w. McCauley for po.
sitions on the police force were received
and filed.
George Vacher, the newly appointed
poundmaster, was made a special officer
without pay from the city.
officer K. w. Stewart was allowed
$32.25 from the police pension fund on
account of sickness.
On motion of Commissioner WirSching,
an amendment OF the rules was adopted
inflicting the penalty of dismissal on
any policeman who solicits promotion in
the department or requests outside as
sistance in securing such promotion or
changes. The rule was adopted by
unanimous vote.
The chief suggested that it would be a
good plan to ask the council for ten ex-
ira men to take the places Of patrolmen
while absent on their annual vacations,
In view of the largely increased territory
that 1t was necessary to cover, ten men
could not now be spared.
On motion Of Commissioner Wirsching.
the council was requested to authorize
the employment Of the ten men as asked
by the chief.
The question of the cost came up, and
1t was suggested that as extra men were
not as competent as the old men, there
was no necessity for paying them the
same wages. and they might be employ
ed at lower rate.
Inc uniform committee reported unan-
imously in favor of the old uniform but
ton, and the chief was instructed to or
der q supply for the new uniforms.
Later Commissioner Wirsching with
drew his motion asking for ten spec
ials and It was agreed to try and worry
along without incurring the extra ex
pense Of $2400.
The board then adjourned, and the
commissioners went out to see "the
nnest" on parade.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Inc hre commissioners will meet this
morning when, among other things that
VIII come up, will be the proposition to
put the department on paid basis. The
city has outgrown the village idea of
having hermorphrodite department.
and depending on call men in case of
emergency. Mayor RAIDER fayors a maid
department, as do all of the members of
the council and the only reason that the
change has not been made before is on
account Of the expense involved. This
matter Is more apparent than real, as a
little investigation will show. The de-
partment as at present conducted. has
forty-hve permanent men, including the
chief and assistant These permanent
men are the engineers and drivers of the
engines and hose carts. Then there are
the call men, four foremen and thirty
three hremen. the foremen receiving $50
per month and the call men $25. These
men. or the most of them, are engaged
IN other businesses and when the alarm
Is sounded must take their chances in
getting to a fire. They are, of course.
widely scattered, and it is the exception
rather than the rule when all of them get
to fire. It Is a well-known fact that
time Is everything at the beginning of a
nre, and f1ve minutes time, with eXper-
fenced men in charge, are worth more
than an hour. with an army of ineXper-
fenced men fifteen minutes later. Los
Angeles Is no longer city of one-story
Dulldlngs. and the necessity of having
thoroughly drilled force is every day be-
coming more of necessity. The additi-
onal cost of full paid fire department
will not exceed $500 per month, and the
efficiency Of the department will be in
creased at least 30 per cent The fire
commissioners all favor paid depart
ment. but are hanging back because they
think that additional apparatus is more
necessary than experienced men to han
die what there Is. A new hook and lad
der truck is regarded as a necessity as
the city has far outgrown the capacity
of the present machine. This will cost
about $4,000. Then another engine is
needed for the southwestern part of the
city, which is now practically without
fire protection. This will cost $500
more. To make the department a full
paid department. in which proper disci-
pline can be maintained, and daily drills
had, will cost about $500 per month To
purchase the new apparatus, and pay
the additional salaries, will require ap-
proximately about $4,000, a trifling sum-
when it is considered that fire in any
one Of the half hundred blocks in the
city which might get beyond control for
want of proper facilities for handling it.
would amount to several times that
amount. Active, intelligent, competent
young men can be got for $50 per month,
with sleeping accommodations. These
men would enter on fireman's life as
business, and not as a make shift, and
in a very short time a department could
be built up that would be a credit to the
city. Another thing, putting the depart
ment on paid basis would take it out Of
politics. a matter in itself that is worth
the additional cust, to say nothing Of the
increased efficiency.
CITY HALL NOTES.
H. B. Gerhurt and F. A. Halburg have
sent communication to the city coun-
Gil asking to purchase or lease lots
J. and, 2. block D, fronting on walnut
street. The petitioners desire to erect
a factory for the manufacture of collins
and caskets in the eastern portion of the
city between the Terminal railroad and
Pasadena avenue.
Nettie Sternhilber and others have
filed a protest against the grading of
Matthew street on the East Side.
Isabelle Drown and others have filed
protest against the seWering of Sec
ond and Soto streets.
j. e. Mcleod and others have filed
q protest against the acceptance Of the