The morning news., 1897-07-29
DEMANDED HIS DISMISSAL.
INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE Sc
WE'RE ON MAGUIRE.


Chief Has Been Fully Demonstra-
ted-The Report AdODted-Unless
the Fire Commissioners Comply
with the Demand Within - Rea-
sOnabIe Time" Impeachment Pro-
ccedings VIII be Instituted
Against Them.
The investigating committee of the city
council, which has had the charges
against Fire Chief Mcguire under inves-
tigation for the last three weeks, made
its report yesterday afternoon.
As expected the report deals very Sc
verely with Chief Mcguire. As the result
OF its investigation. the committee con-
cludes that Mcguire Is Inexperienced and
that his election was due to political rea-
sons; that he is unfit for his position;
that he has debauched the department for
political purposes; that he has been guilty
Of drunkenness, and that he is incompe-
tent.
1t would hardly have been possible for
the committee TO have presented a more
severe arraignment. The report concludes
by recommending that the council demand
ed, unfit and incompetent and that If,
after a reasonable time, he is not dis
missed, that the commissioners them
selves be impeached for incompetency and
retaining in so important ar Office, after
notice, a person so conspicuously unfit.
The report was read by Alderman Chari-
ton chairman OF the committee
t1It off ha
following resolution:
Resolved, That the report OF the investi-
eating committee upon the charges pre-
ferred against Fire Chief John E. Mcguire
be received and adopted. and the fire com
missioners be notified Of the action Of this
body, and that the said fire chief be no
titled of his dismissal five days after the
adoption of this report.
The point was at once raised that coun-
cil did not have the right to dismiss the
chief, and at the suggestion Of Mayor
Meldrim this last clause was stricken from
the resolution.
Alderman Krouskof was the first to
speak upon the motion. 1t is a serious
matter, he said. He asked whether the fire
commissioners and the chief had been in
vited and requested to take part in the in
vestigation 1t was proper that they
should have been, he said, so that there
might have been no one-sided investiga-
tion. Alderman Krouskon said he was
not acquainted with Mr. Mcguire but il
rs per cent. of the charges against him
had been disproven and the other 25 per
cent found to be true it would have been
sufficient to prove his unfitness for the
head Of the fire department.
Have those people been invited 20 pre-
sent their side of the case?" he inquired.
Alderman Charlton replied to Alderman
KrouskoT that the committee had made
its invitation as broad as
possible. An official advertise
ment had been published calling
upon all having any knowledge touching
the competency or incompetency Of the
fire chief TO present the names Of their
witnesses to the clerk of council. When
the committee first convened for this pur-
pose, he said, he inquired If anyone were
present presenting the fire chief, and no
one responded. The chairman had not felt
called upon to advise the commissioners
or the chief to take part in the investiga-
tion. That the commissioners and the
chief were fully aware of the investiga-
tion and its object, he said, was evident
by the fact Of their having a stenographer
present 20 report the proceedings, and by
the action of the fire chief in suspending
firemen, who had dared to appear before
the committee in response TO its summons.
Alderman Krouskoff repeated his objec-
tions. The board of aldermen, represent
ing as II did, he said, the liberal people
of Savannah, could afford to be liberal In
every respect II would have been better
had an invitation been sent to the fire COM
mission 10 take part In the investigation.
a.. L.
afforded for II 10 be said that the invesu-
cation was a one sided affair.
Alderman Guckenheimer moved that the
council demand the dismissal of Chief Ma
guire within five days. The motion was
seconded by Alderman Davis.
This brought on discussion as 10 the
proper time TO be allowed the commission
In which to comply with the demand OF
council. Alderman Smith. Davis and
Guckenheimer insisted upon the fve-day
limit.
Alderman owens opposed it. He said
he thought il would be a mistake to con-
fine the commission to five days. He un-
derstood unofticially that their investiga-
ton Of these charges would begin Tues
day, and he thought II proper that they
should be allowed 70 make their investiga-
ton before being called upon to act.
Alderman Guckenhelmer moved as a
substitute for the Smith motion that the
report be adopted and the commission al
lowed until Aug. q TO act.
Alderman Krouskon advocated conserv-
ative action The commission should be
allowed at least two weeks. he said.
Alderman Charlton said that the matter
was covered by the recommendation OF
the committee in its report. 1t was prop
er that the commission should be allowed
a reasonable time IN which to act aud
council could Judge as to what constituted
reasonable time
Alderman Guckenheimer's substitute was
put TO a vote and lost by a vote OF 20 2.
Aldermen Guckenheimer and Davis voting
In the Affirmative.
Alderman Davis moved that a reason
able time for the fire commission to act
be five days from the date OF the adoption
OF the report.
Mayor Meldrim suggested that council
should not be apparently wanting In cour-
tesy 10 a coordinate body of the city
government A reasonable time should be
allowed that body in which 10 act
Alderman Davis amendment was lost.
The motion 10 adopt the report was car-
ried unanimously.
Later Alderman Smith offered the FOL.
lowing resolution, under the head Of new
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