The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-09-12
mcguire IS STILL CHIEF.
He Is Unanimously Acquitted OIL
lie C1QTgGS HgQiISi Him.
FIRE C9MMISSION'S VERDICT


Upright Man, "a Fearless Fireman
and "A Faithful and DiIigent OIL
cer-Chairman GraysOn, in a Let
ter to the Mayor, Accompanying
the Report, CrIticises the Action
of Members of Council as "Parti-
san"-A Meeting of Council Likely
to BE Held This Week to Begin
Impeachment Proceedings Against
the Fire Commissioners.
Fire Chief Mcguire has been indicated
by the fire commissioners. The decision
was not unexpected. though from reports
which had been circulated that two men,
bers Of the commission would vote against
the retention of the chief, some expecta-
ton had been aroused of different con-
clusion. The reports, it seems were not well
founded.
The commission met yesterday afternoon
at 8 o'clock. There had been no announce
guire was unaware that it was to be held.
Accordingly when the commissioners filed
into his Office at headquarters at o'clock
and requested that he retire, he did so with
some feeling of nervousness. His nervous
ness was not allayed until some time later.
The commission remained in session near
ly two hours, presumably discussing the
heir
report. At about o'clock the doors were
thrown open and Chief Mcguire was in
formed of the decision. Naturally he was
considerably relieved. though he had nev-
err felt that he was in serious danger of
losing his position at the hands Of the
commission.
A messenger was at once dispatched to
Mayor Meldrim with an official copy of
the report, accompanied by letter from
Chairman Grayson. The papers were
placed in the mayors hands at his prl-
vate Office.
The letter of Chairman Grayson to the
mayor is of especial interest, and is likely
TO cause some discussion, as it deals
freely with the subject of the investiga-
ton and criticises the attitude of council
in the premises. The letter is as follows:
Savannah, Ca, Sept. Ii, 1ss7.-Hon. p. w.
Meldrim, Mayor, City of Savannah: Dear
Slr-We send you herewith a copy of the
order we have passed acquitting Fire
Chief Mcguire of charges formulated
from statements made by persons who
appeared before the committee of council.
You VIII observe that this trial has not
only resulted in proving the charges to
be false and unfounded. but revealed the
fact that they originated in the minds of
malevolent persons, who were actuated
in seeking Mr.. Maguire's dismissal from
political motives and from motives per-
sonal to themselves, and not from any
sense of public duty or desire to subserve
the public good.
The evidence has, In our judgment.
shown that unfair means were used to
procure disconnected and discharged fire.
men to air their grievances against
their superior officers, and we
do not understand how men,
bers of council could permit
their partisan colleagues to influence
them to disregard the sacred duties of
their trust by usurping jurisdiction of
matters. which they did not, and knew
they did not have, thus converting their
conventions into school for scandal to
which the idle, vicious and ill-dIsposed
might go to calumniate trusted officials OF
the city government.
Still less can we understand how men,
bers of council, knowing the organization
of this commission, and that it occupies
a position In the city government co-or-
dlnate with that of their own body, could
be parties to an undignihed attempt to
influence the action of this body by
threats and menaces. Surely, sir, pol
itics has crept into the deliberations of
council, and partisanship controlled its
action.
Thanking you for your kind co-opera lion
IN aiding us to arrive at the truth we are,
respectfully William L. Grayson,
Chairman Savannah Board Fire Commits
sioners.
The report of the fire commissions fol-
lows:
Headquarters Savannah Fire Depart
ment, Sept. II, 1S97.-In re-investigation
of charges against Fire Chief Mcguire:
The above matter having come before
this body upon the demand of Fire Chief
Mcguire for an investigation of charges
made against him In the public gazettes
of this city, and in the report of a commit
tee of council VIGOROUSLY circulated, this
board of fire commissioners convened Aug
5, 1887, for the purpose Of trying charges
formulated from the material contained In
the etenogTaphlc report of the evidence
introduced before said committee. the city
council and Fire Chief Mcguire being each
represented by counsel
Fully sensible of the importance OF the
Office of fire chief to the usefulness ana
integrity of his department, as well as
the enormity of the charges made against
the incumbent, we determined 10 aseer-
tain the exact truth Of the matter, and
dismiss or exonerate the fire chief accord
Ing as his guilt or innocence should ap-
pear. Looking to this end. we did NOT
conflne ourselves to the charges originally
preferred, but permitted counsel for the
city to amend the record by Inserting,
during the course of the trial. every cir
cumstance developed, touching the
grounds of which we had jurisdiction.
After close attention to the evidence,
during the progress of the trial. aud care
ful consideration of the stenosraphic re-
port thereof, we have reached the follow
ing conclusions:
The first general charge was iucompe-
tence, and we consider 1t under its several
specifications.
SAVANNAH GROCERY COMPANY
FIRE.
The criticisms made of the MANAGEMENT
of this fire we're that streams has been
shut off. and that certain firemen. VIII
Jams and Grady abandoned their posts at