The morning news., 1897-07-28
WILL RECOMMEND DISMISSAL.
INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE TO RE
port TODAY.

Fire Commission to Begin Its own
Investigation Tuesdny-Wil BE
Some Rich Evidence, Chief Ma
guire Says-AssiStant Chief MOuro
Not Ordered to select Five IncOm-
petcnt Firemen For Dismissal.
The investigating committee will pre-
sent its report Of the Investigation of The
charges against Fire Chief Mcguire at the
meeting of council this afternoon. The
report will be unfavorable to the chief
and the committee viii recommend that
council demand his dismissal OF the COM
mission.
This much is known but to what extent
the committee will report that it finds
that the charges against Chief Mcguire
are sustained by the evidence is uncer-
tain, but the probabilities are that it viii
report that the charges of incompetency,
drunkenness and using his position for
political purposes are wen founded.
There was ample evidence to this effect
before the committee, which was uncon-
tradicted, the defense making no appear
ance and the investigation being entirely
a one-sided affair
committee, was seen at his office yester-
day afternoon by a Morning News report
er Mr.. Charlton was engaged in prepar-
ing the report Of the committee, and so
stated. He declined, of course. to make
the report public untf1sft had been submit
ted to council. Neither would he give any
intimation as 10 what the report would
contain. Mr. Charlton said that the re-
port would be somewhat lengthy, as it
would review the evidence in the investi-
cation, as well as present the conclusions
of the committee. The report will be- sub
mitted to the other members of the com
mittee for their approval before being laid
before council
Mr.. Charlton was asked whether the
committee would recommend that inn
peachment proceedings be begun against
Chairman Grayson or any of the members
of the commission on account of evidence
before the investigation affecting the COM
missioners, but declined TO say if sucn
were the case.
The readers Of the Morning News will be
furnished next week with the other side
of the story. The fire commissioners in
vestigation Of the charges against Chief
Mcguire will begin next Tuesday afternoon
and viii continue daily until concluded.
The indications are that il will be equally
interesting, If not more so, with the inves-
tgation by the committee. Chief Mcguire
says that he has some rich evidence TO
submit
You can state that the investigation win
begin next Tuesday afternoon" said
Chairman Grayson to a Morning News re-
porter. Chief Mcguire has already given
notice that he will demand an investiga-
ha inc
statements made by witnesses before the
investigating committee of council so that
IT is not left with the commission to decide
whether or not II is necessary to investl-
gate these charges"
The evidence before the investigating
committee was taken stenographically for
the FIRE chief and the different charges
made viii be taken up IN order and evil
dence offered in contradiction.
Chief Mcguire was reported to have
played a rather cruel joke upon Assistant
Chief MQuro a few days ago. Ii was stated
that when the assistant chief called on
him with request for some supplies he
told him that the most extreme economy
must be exercised during the balance of
the year as the fire commission was de-
Vermined not to overrun its budget With
the same object in view he said that It
would probably be necessary to reduce
the force by FIVE men and as the assistant
chief had testified before the investigating
committee that he considered that there
were only fifty good men on the force
Chairman Grayson had decided that he
should pick out five OF the incompetent
men TO be dropped from the roll. 1t could
not have been possible to name any duty
that would be more distasteful to Mr.
Mouro who Is one of the kindest hearted
men In the world and who would be the
last man to make another man lose his
sob without specific cause and Il was
said that he had worried himself almost
sick about IL. The report got out and
worried some OF the fireman no little
Chairman GraysOn was seen about the
matter and said that he had given Chief
Mcguire no such instructions, and knew
nothing about it. There, was no proba-
bihty OF the force being reduced at pres
cnt he said
Assistant Chief Mouro, when spoken to
about the matter, said that the report was
false. Chief Mcguire had met him on the
street, he said, and told him that he had
instructions from Chairman Grayson 10
pick out five men TO be dropped from the
department, and has asked him to select
the men 20 be dropped in the southern Sec
tion. He replied, he said, that the south
ern section Is running with as few men
now as could be gotten along With and
he did not see how any could be dropped
This was all he knew OF the matter, Mr..
Mouro said, and he had not worried him
self about Il in the least.
In my testimony before the commit
Zee" said Mr.. Mouro. Il did not say that
there were any Incompetent men on the
force. ] used the word inexperienced,
which Is a good deal different"
There Is no foundation for this talk
about the department. being filled with in
experienced men," said Chief Mcguire
There are more experienced men on the
force now than when Mr. Puder was IN
charge. one reason for this Is. Of course.
that we have a larger force. We have not
put out any more men or put IN any more
new men than was done under former adj
ministratlons when the fire committee Of
council was IN charge. A reference TO the
Morning News files Of three or four
years ago will show that there was con-
siderable complaint OF politics In the de-
partmont and men being appointed for
political reasons"
The Morning News received letter yes
terday from A. l.. Pitts. the ex-hreman.
who IL now serving a term Of fifteen years
Tor killing Adam Thornburg last Christ
mas Although In the pen. Pitts reads the
Morning News. II seems. and he takes ex-
enUfinnn "a nru4f ~ fH. afafsra.ufr ....s,