The morning news., 1897-08-06
rhc Fire chief Investigation.

The New York Journal Of Commerce
referring TO the aldermanc investigation
Of Savannah's fire chief, after copying ihe
summing up of the committee, says. The
report Of the committee on the Savannah
fire chief amply sustains the contention
Of the executive committee Of the South
eastern Tariff Association that change
was needed. What Will be done is not
known but the city cannot well afford 70
let the politicians continue to run this
important branch Of the local government.
It IS doing the commerce and business Of
.Savapnah a positive injury to have its
FIRE record and the incompeteney OF the
head OF the fire department discussed, as
theysmust be, with no improvement every
year"
The Journal Of Commerce is doubtless
correct in its views as to the effect which
the discussion Of the incompetency Of the
fire chief will have on the commerce and
business Of the city. The Savannah fire de-
partment, however and also the Savan-
nah water supply have been discussed and
disputed over by insurance people in and
out Of the city for years. The city has
spent hundreds Of thousands of dollars to
satisfy he demands of the underwriters
IN order to bring these safeguards against
fire losses up to their highest standard
and it was supposed that this much de-
sired condition had been reached when
the apparatus and appliances of the fire
department, and its expenses also were
quadrupled, and a new water supply pro
vided
In days gone by it was often asserted
that politics and politicians seriously i'll
terfercd with the efficiency of the fire de-
partment. So much was said about the
general corruption in local politics. that a
certain faction used the assumption that
what was said was true for the purpose
of putting itself in power. These reform
ers. with the aid Of the legislature. took
the government of the city away from its
people and put It into the hands Of
number Of long term commissions and it
is there that the power now lies. The
commissions have their own laws; they
make and break things pretty much as
suits their fancy.
These commissions were to take the
management of city affairs out of he
hands of politicians. Save the mark! The
taxpayers now see the result. Fire Chief
Mcguire was one of these political re-
formers. He was one of the half dozen
of the inner circle who controlled his fac
ton and its patronage. He was rewarded
just as others Of that faction We're, and
he is just as much entitled to his o.fice
and just as competent to fill the position
as are some others who hold responsible
commissionershps and well paid offices.
The fire department ana possibly other
departments are in their present cOndi-
ton, not because of politicians, since
those who got up the commissions de-
clared they purposed abol!shing politics
from the city government 1t can hardly
be possible that the honorable gentlemen
who organized and supported the reform
party could have made such a mistake as
to put politicians in officel The Journal
of Commerce must have been misinform-
ed There can be no politics in the pres
ent fire department, for it is managed by
a commission. The mayor and the board
of aldermen are the politicians, but they
have been shorn of their power Their
duties are limited; they can only raise the
money. The several commissions do the
resi- +"