The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-08-01
CHARGES TO BE FORMULATED.
FIRE COMMISSION PREPARING FOR
ITS INVESTIGATION.

Mayor Meidrim Invited to BE Pres
ent-Charges to BE Presented and a
Date Fixed for the Hearing by the
Commission at Its Meeting Tues
day AfternOOn-The Documentary
Evidence in the Council Investi-
o. cation Furnished the Commission.
At the August meeting of the fire COM
mission, which will be held Tuesday aft
ernoon, charges will be formulated by the
commission against Fire Chief Mcguire,
based upon the evidence before the investi-
eating committee of council.
Under the law the charges must be pre-
ferred in writing and the chief has five
days in which to prepare for the invesu-
cation.
Chairman Grayson said yesterday that
if this right Of five days is waived by
Chief Mcguire the investigation will be-
gin at once, that is, within day or two.
Chairman Grayson has received the doc
umentary evidence taken by the investi-
eating committee. BY instruction of the
mayor a copy of the report of the COM
mittee, with the action of council, was
sent to the commission on the day fol-
lowing the meeting of council. In ac-
knowledging the receipt of this communi-
cation Chairman Grayson requested that
the commission be furnished with the doc
umentary evidence taken before the com.
mittee. The request was complied with,
and the official evidence was received yes
terday, accompanied by the following let
ter from Mayor Meldrim:
City of Savannah, Mayors Office, July
81 1ST.-W. L. Grayson, Esq, Chairman,
City: Dear Sir: Your request that the
transcript of the evidence and documen-
tary testimony in the matter of the in
vestigation of Mr.. Mcguire for incompetent
cy etc, has had due consideration. / have
not the slightest hesitation in having the
evidence sent to you and only beg to call
your attention to the fact that some of
the papers are of great value in the in
Vestigation, particularly the leave of abb
sence granted to c. e Pitts, and the let
ter from DR.. Drummer to J. c. Henderson.
This letter Is the personal property of Mr..
Henderson and belongs to him.
Feeling assured that proper care will be
taken of this evidence and the exhibits l
take pleasure in directing their address
20 you. If 1 can facilitate you in any way
in this matter of investigation let me know
and / will be pleased TO render any ser
vice 1 may be able Yours very truly,
P. W. Meldrim,
Mayor c. s.
To this Chairman Grayson made the
following reply:
Savannah, Ga. July 81, 1S97-TIon. p. w.
Meldrim, Savannah, Ga, Dear Sir; Your
communication of this date, as we'll as
the report of the evidence and documen-
tary evidence introduced at the investi-
cation of charges against Fire Chief Ma
guire, held by committee of council, has
been received. We will carefully preserve
the same and return it to your office when
our investigation is concluded.
We beg to remind you of your right to
be present at our meetings, and desire
TO say that 1t will give us pleasure to
have you present during the investiga-
ton of the charges which we will prepare
against Chief Mcguire, and publish at our
next meeting. Very respectfully
VIM. l.. Grayson, Chairman.
Chairman Grayson remained at his Of
flee until late last night going over the
evidence. When seen there by a Morning
News reporter he stated that as the
charges would be based upon this evidence
and as they would have to be formulated
by the commission. no one else having APP
peared to prefer them, 1t was necessary
for him to famiiarize himself with the EVIL
dence before undertaking to formulate the
charges.
The latter part of section of the act
creating the fire commission provides that
the board shall have the right to remove
the fire chief at any time for incompetency
or inefhciency or for inability
from any cause to discharge
the duties of said office, or in the
event he should be convicted of any crime
under the laws of Georgia or for any mis-
conduct or gross neglect of duty, such as,
in the Judgment of the board, would rem
der him unfit to hold this important office
any longer, but such removal shall not
be effected unless written charges against
said fire chief are formulated, which shall
be heard by the full board after five-days
notice to said accused. Said fire chief
may be removed from office upon the hear
ing of said charges, provided each men,
Der of said board shall concur in such re-
moval. and the action of the board upon
such hearing, showing the vote of each
member upon the question of the removal
of said fire chief, shall appear upon the
minutes of said board of fire commission