The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-03-03
CAPTAIN O'NEILL'S BUTTONS
IS HE ENTITLED TO WEAR THOSE OF
 IN ASSISTANT FIRE ENGINEER?

TS AA s< s%-' T AL IT IT iO b f.f iG lHOoE UT
 IN ASSISTANT FIRE ENGINEER? Fire Commissioners Debate the Subject at Length-Discussion a Little Accrimoni- ous-o'Neill Must Remove the New But tons and Put On Those Indicating His Rank as Captain-Other Matters.
 The full board was present at the meeting of the fire commissioners last evening, and Commissioner Morgan presided.
 The petition of William P. Miller of engine No. 1 to be appointed stoker for the new engine company of the Tenth ward was, at the suggestion of Presi- dent Morgan, referred to the chief. The petition of the Winchester Re- beating Arms company to have alarm box 543, at Whitneyville, reconnected and allow the company to have fire pro- tection, was received. The company stated that it was willing to pay for the service.
 After some discussion the board voted to adhere to it's former rule and not fur nish outside service.
 4 communication from the chief rec ommending that Captain Hurley of steamer No. } be placed in charge of the East Pearl street engine house in place of Captain Moves of truck No. 3, for the good of the service, was receiv- ed and the recommendation was adopted
 n a tiOn from the chief, that Ii. P. Bishop of steamer and Philip Fiske of steamer be retired on account of their being unfitted for duty because of ill-health, was received. The usual rule was followed and the men were ordered to appear before the surgeon for physical examination
 Another recommendation from the chief, that Captain w. B. Perkins of No. ', Captain J. c. Gladwin of truck No. and Captain w. F. Daley of No. 4 be raised from fourth to third-grade captains was adopted.
 A lively debate next ensued as to whether Captain ONeill of steamer No. should be allowed to wear the buttons and insignia of an assistant engineer. Commissioner Sanborn started the dis cussion by asking if the regulations as to the wearing of the proper uniform and insignia were adhered to by the captains in the department.
 Chief Kennedy said that he supposed they were
 ~ Commissioner Sanborn next asked if they were in the case of Captain O'Neill of steamer 2.
 Chief Kennedy-"No; I told him to put on the buttons when detailed as assistant engineer, and he has done good work
 Commissioner Wall1er-"He is not de- tailed assistant engineer. He is as- sistant engineer by the vote of this board"
 Commissioner McDonald-"If you take them off will find some means of putting them on again"
 Commissioner Sanborn-"I have no objections to Captain O'Neill, but | move that he be instructed to wear the buttons of his proper otfice.'
 Commissioner Walker-"The board has voted to appoint him assistant en- gineer, and now you vote to reduce him.
 Commissioner McDonald-"It is plain as A B c that he was elected assistant engineer"
 After further discussion Commits sioner Sanborn made the motion that Captain O'Neill should be instructed to wear the buttons of a captain and not those of an assistant engineer.
 Commissioner Mcdonald moved to re- fer the matter to the corporation coun- sell.
 The amendment was lost, Walker and Mcdonald voting yea, Sanborn, Hugo and Ames nay.
 The original motion was then carried, Sanborn, Hugo and Ames voting yea, Walker and Mcdonald nay.
 In answer to the inquiry of Commits sioner Mcdonald as to what the vote meant, President Morgan said: 'It means that Captain O'Neill will wear the captains buttons until elected as- sistant engineer"
 President Morgan called to the at tention of the board to the fact that there would be a national convention of fire chiefs here in August and suggested that the board make some arrange ments looking to the appointment of a committee to look out for the arrange 1nentS.
 A committee was accordingly ap- pointed, consisting of President Nor gan, Chief Kennedy and Commissioner Walker to make up a committee of citizens, ex-fire commissioners and oth- CTS and report back to the board.