The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-06-17
Fire Chief and Insurance Men.


Little Ogeechee.
Fire Chief and Insurance Men.
1t would seem that Savannah is never to
have a fire chief who is satisfactory to the
insurance men. They were not satisfied
with the old fremen who used to protect
the city at their own expense; used to
work day and night, get overheated and
wet and then get sick and pay their own
doctors bills. The old volunteer firemen
could not keep fires from burning. One
day they were incontinently fired out of
service because they could not put out a
fire in lot of cotton stored in a brick
warehouse with iron doors until they had
got the iron doors openl
When the volunteers were retired, paid
department was organized; and then we
had the biggest fire for years. 1t was
costly fire, no doubt. A great deal of
property was destroyed. and the insurance
companies had to pay for it, The fire
chief in charge was an old and expert
enced fireman, but he was
made sick by the attacks
upon him after the fire. and soon
Il
procession of fire chiefs, one after anoth-
er; and each in his turn received his
share of blame and censure because he
wouldn't Cor couldn'O put out fires as
quickly as the insurance men thought it
ought to be done. The last man of this
procession, up TO date, is Fire Chief Ma
guire. Houses and stores have been
burning here, just as they have been doing
in other places, and he Is placed upon the
rack
In none of the charges against the fire
department does it appear that the fire
men are credited with the numberless
fires which they have extinguished, with
! small losses TO the insurance companies
When a big place with large stock and
! heavy insurance burns, then comes a cry
charging inefficiency in the department
The Morning News does not know any
thing about the ability or mefficiency Of
Fire Chief Mcguire; but it does know
that the complaints made against him are
similar to those which haze 5een made
against every head of the department Tor
the past twenty years or more. Possibly
If the insurance agents were less anxious
! to write policies, the fires might be less
frequent and the losses less heavy.
Savannah has an abundant supply Of
water, and a river to fall back upon in
| case Of necessity; she has hundreds of fire
plugs. a full equipment in engines. hose.
| reels. ladders, wagons and other machin-
cry; her fremen are as brave and active
as may be found in any other city; her
! fire commission Is made up of practical
| business men. With these advantages.
her fire department should be a good one,
even without a fire chief. There Is scarce
~ doubt that Fire Chief Mcguire was
given his office, like some others. for his
| political services; but II he is a good Off
GER that should not count against him.
He should have credit on his merits.
-s-o-s
II is remarkable to what extreme nights
civilization has gone in some of the east
ern states. After FIVE months session
the Connecticut legislature adjourned the
other day with an exhibition Of rowdyism.
! horseplay and almost pandemonium. such
| as ia rarely Witnessed In the most extreme
/ populistie communities. Members threw
everything they could reach az one an
| others heads. and then wound up by pre-
senting watches. Persian rugs and
trinkets 10 the officers OF the legislature.
Connecticut ought to study the ways OF
some OF the much-laughed-at western leg
islatures. ana learn a lesson In decorum.
| s-e-s-
A correspondent OF the London Daily
News suggests that the name Of the
/ British empire be changed 20 "Enwiseo-
lia," because that word takes IN initial
letters Of all the countries under Il, name
| ~: England. Wales, I-reland. Scotland.
Colonies and India. The chances are.
however. that this new name will not go.
There Is no mention OF England's alleged
most important possession the ocean.
| -s-e-s
The seven-year locusts have struck the
farms ana forests OF Long Island IN
swarms and are leaving everything bare
behind them. It is raid each ono Of these
queer Insects Sc marked with a "w." This
IL the old war" sign which the FIRST set
4 tiers delight 20 talk about.