El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1897-07-19
FIRE DIRECTOR ANSWERS.
THE Tall Sycamore of the Wabash"
From Ward + Given Il Talking to.

To the HERALD:-In reference to the
criticism made by certain mem bers of
the council as to the need of invcsti-
eating the board of directors of the FL
Pa>o fire department, we will say that
a IS far as an Investigation is concerned.
we are at any and all times ready to be
investigated.
For the Information of the citizens
rs well as the council the board of
directors are chosen as follows:
Five members from each company
are elected TO serve the term OF one
year. Ex-chirfs are life members,
these with the president of the fire de-
partmeut, the chief and his assistants,
making a total of about 30 men, COM
pose the board of fire directors: and
it is owing to the fact that 30 many of
the members are representative citi-
Gems and business men that the Affairs
of the Ell Paso fire department have
been so a bly, transac ted for the past 10
wears, and the result is that today We
nave the finest fire department. In
the state outside of the i've big
cities.
To show the good feeling existing
between the fire department and the
city council just short time ago, we
quote from b story of TIE El Paso
fire department written for the cOnven-
ton by one of our old st tiremen.
The city council, during its many
changes Of administrator has granted
almost every demand made upon 1t by
the firemen, and the department can
say, to a man, that IN no city OF Texas
has there been such mutual feeling
between council and fire department as
has been in FL Paso during the past
fourteen and half years. This is due
to the fact that the department las al
WAYS looked after it's affairs as though
it was personal one. taking good care
of apparatus, handling all money with
economy, and strict integrity, ever
geutlemanly in their conduct. they
have held the respect and confidence
OF each succeeding council. Political
factions which have destroyed the
efficiency of many good fire companies.
are utterly unknown among the ri Pa
so firemeo; this contributes much to
the esteem of the department among
the citizens. Money that comes to the
department by donation and otherwise
is necessary, and every dollar Is az
counted for in most careful and
judicious manner. No lodge in the
city is more rigidly conducted of the
citizens: and accounts for their res
ponding so generously, both in money
and assistance, when the department
calls upOn them.
Now what has suddenly disturbed
this mutual good feeling be-
tween the council and especially the
tall Sycamore from the 4th ward. is
mystery. unless he is getting even with
some one, on his 4th OF July resolution.
Now as to taking no hand in politics,
that is something the department
prides itself on, for no one in FL Paso
can recall the time when the FL Paso fire
department ever directly or indirectly
took part in an election.
The Ell Paso fire department stands
today, as she has in the past and in-
tends to do in the future, clean and
free from politics.
The board of directors desire to say
that in regard to investigation, that no
better investigation can be had than
for the city council and citizens TO
attend the meetings of the fire direc
tors and see just how the affairs of the
IL Paso fire department are conduct
ed. 1t has been our motto in The past
rs we'll as the present, quoting our
honorable President Judge Edwards to
50 conduct our business both financial
ly and otherwise, that our worst enc
mics cannot pick u flaw in our transac-
tions. Conse quently we are mot will
ing to De Investigated, as we are con-
tideut it will result to the credit of the
FL Paso fire department.
AN OLD DIRECTOR.