The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-09-29
0HILD'S PLAY IN H0B0K On.
Fire Commissioners Disntss Charges.
on Fltmsy Pretext.

There was some excitement ait the meet
ing of the Hobelxen Board of Fire Com
missioners last night when Commissioner
r. w. Bender learned tina he had again
been frozen out by his fellow members.
Since he has been a member of the Board
Mr.. Bender has invariably stood alone in
hts opinions. Whatever the other Com
missioners suggested he opposed and
whatever he introduced before the Board
they objected to. The ascension usually
resulted in a wrangle at each meeting.
A few weeks ago Mr.. Bender preferred
charges before the Board against Captain
Soffel. of Engine Company No. !, on a
charge of neglecting his duty. Mr.. Bender
said that he went to a fire in Simon's drug
store at Ninth and Washington streets.
Two hours after the firemen left the
place he stated that he and Druggist
Simon discovered the flames Still raging
in the cellar and had considerable trouble
in e~xtinguishing them. He declared that
Captain Soffel, who was then acting chief,
was negligent and should have remained
at the fire until it was entirely ex-
tinguished. Captain Soffel was ordered
to appear before the Board for trial, but
each time he presented himself Mr.. Ben
der's enemies in the Board moved that
the trial be postponed. 1t was laid over
for three successive meetings.
Last night when the case came up Conn.
missioner Bender was absent, SO the other
members took advantage of the eppor-
tunityA and dismissed the charges. Cap
tain Soffel, who was waiting in the ante
room. was told to return to his duty. A
few minutes later MI. Bender came in and
Immediately asked
whats the matter with the charges I
preferred against Captain Soffel? Has the
captain been here?"
HE has, answered Commissioner Fen
ton, calmly. captain Soffel has been
here on three different meeting nights.
We got tired waiting for you SO we dis
missed his case"
do understand tina you haye dis
missed the case without putting him on
the stand?' inquired Mr.. Bende "Kindly
explain matters"
President Kuper again informed Mr..
Bender that the trial had been dismissed
by a majority vote of the Board.
"a mistake has been made retorted
Mr.. Bender. apparently angry. Il hin
the least you could have done would be
to reprimand him for his negligence. l
am very sorry that the case ever came up.
The officers and member of this Board
do just asSthey please. They pay no at
tention to discipline whatever. | have no
aniInosity against Captain Soffel. but 1
do think that there should be discipline IN
the department.
Commissioners Bruning said that Drug
gist Simon was in a hurry to return 70
his store and could not wait. for the trial.
That all very WE'LL continued COM
missioner Bender you can take care OF
Druggist Simon, but you are not the whole
Board. l think you took good care OF
this case" -
argument was dropped. The remainder
of the meeting, however, was far from
being quiet. MIR. Bender objected to sew
eral other things, but the opposition was
too strong for him..
Contracts were awarded to the Columpla
Rubber Company and the William Z.
Brandt Company for LOCO feet OF RUBBER
hose each.