The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-07-13

cipline and efficiency of the service" In
the same issue of the paper the young
chairman of the fire commissioners throws
out to the men under his control the sig
nificant, comforting and reassuring init
nation that there may be warm times in
the fire department during the next two
or three months" He wants every one
to understand that there is going to be
discipline in the fire department, despite
the efforts of certain parties to break it
down." 1t would be interesting to know
whether the methods which the young
chairman will adopt to maintain "the dis
cipline and efficiency of the service" are to
be similar to those which he employ
ed % when he diverted Fireman Hen
derson from duty at a fire, and took Hen
derson to a saloon where negro voters
were being protected from the wiles and
seductions Of the ungodly; or (2) when
during the trial of Assistant Foreman
Flynn, the young chairman, who was sit
ting in judicial capacity @ asked the
accused how he stood in politics; or 90
when the young chairman demanded that
Fireman Lenzer should play the part Of
a spy, and reckon up" the political at
titude of the crew of truck No. /, seeking
specially information about Assistant
Foreman Klernan's politics; or (D when
the young chairman directed or permit
ted his subordinate Chief Mcguire to act
as the Citizens Club captain of a pre-
cinct, to detail and require fremen (who
were being paid by the public to do par
tisan and practical political work at cleo
tons, and to attempt by suspension and
otherwise. the intimidation of witnesses
summoned by your honorable COMMITTEES,
ito testify and tell the truth before you
in this investigation.
To the conservative people of my ma
tive city 1 am content to submit the ques.
ton: Was I actuated merely by parti-
H., H.. - 7 l..
the attempted reformation of the Savan-
nah fire department? My own conscience
tells me that as a citizen, a taxpayer and
a humane being, it was my duty to act
as I have acted.
Charles F. Prendergast.
On being questioned by Alderman Charl-
ton, Mr. Prendergast said he had been
reasonably active in politics during sew
eral years. He first met Mr.. Mcguire at
a political conference and knew that he
had been actively engaged in politics
since his election as chief fireman He
had often seen his buggy standing in
front of the building where the president
of the Citizens Club had his office.
Mr.. Beckett was granted a recess for
ten minutes in which to get his ideas in
shape to present to the committee. After
the recess, another witness, William Nc
Cray was put on the stand. The purpose
was to show by him that hose was laid
irregularly at the Planters rice mill fire.
He knew that hose had been laid reversed
after this fire, he said. Assistant Foreman
Tow was in charge at headquarters. The
effect of placing hose in the wagon in this
manner was to make it necessary to be-
gin laying from the fire to the plug, in
stead of from the plug to the fire. The
hose had been dried and was being placed
in the wagon at headquarters. Should
hose be laid out reversed a great deal of
oil no 10 WA a
member of the fire department something
over three years, and never knew such
mistake to occur before.
Mr.. Beckett said he wished TO review the
evidence briefly for the purpose Of show
ing the relation of the parts of the evil
dence to each other. The committee was
indisposed to listen to argument. Mr..
Beckett was allowed, however, TO call at
tentlon TO the rules of the department,
specifying what rules applied to the evil
dence.
In concluding, Mr. Beckett said:
I'VE, ourselves, have been astOunded at
the evidence which has been brought out
by this investigation, and we respectfully
request the committee to recommend the
impeachment OF the commissioners them
selves"
Foreman Jerry Murphy entered as the
committee was about to adjourn, and an
nounced his suspension.
well, I'm gone" said he; I'm dis
missed"
lie produced his letter Of his suspension
which was read by the committee. II was
as follows:
Savannah. Ca. July 70. is97.-Mr Jere-
miah Murphy. Foreman: Dear Sir-You
are hereby suspended on a charge OF In
subordinatlon preferred against you. pend
ing the decision OF the board OF fire COM
missloners. Very truly yours.
John =. Mcguire Fire Chief
Mr.. Murphy said he was In Ignorance
as to what constituted this characterization
for which he had been suspended. lie did
not seem 70 mind his suspension very
much.
Il fear you did not make my meaning
sufficiently clear IN the interview pub
llshed with me In to-day's Morning
News" said Chairman Grayson OF the
fire commission 20 Morning News re-
porter yesterday. you quote me IN one
place as saying that There will be no
difficulty In disproving a great many OF
the statements made by witnesses before
the committee OF council What / In
tended saying was that I would have no
difficulty IN disproving all statements
made by witnesses at the Investigation re.
hecting IN any way upon me. chief Ma
guire viii have 20 look out for himself.