The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-20
ONLY FIREMEN TO GET PLACES
NEW COMMISSIONERS WANT NONE
But EXPERIENCED MEN.

] but EAPERIENCEDM MEN
Messrs. Hull and CarOIan Qualified
as Members Of the Fire Commits
siOn-POlitics, They say, VIII BE
Discarded and Vacancies Will De
Filled on the Merit PIan-Chief
Mcguire Not Likely to BE Disturb
ed
What may open a new era in the Savan-
! nah fire department began yesterday when
Mayor Meldrim qualified ex-Alderman r.
NJ. Hull and J. J. Carolan as fire commits
sioners. Both were on hand promptly at
1 o'clock and in readiness 70 organize the
commission after being sworn in, had it
not been for the absence Of Commissioner
Cunningham from the city
Without fear, favor or affection, 1t seems
TO be the purpose OF the new commission
ers to bring the fire department to that
state of efficiency where 1t will be of fun
service to property owners and a pride to
the city. They assert that II changes are
necessary to accomplish this result. they
will be made fairly and imparually.
Knowing it to have been the earnest de-
sire of Council for many months TO get
control Of the fire department, and believ-
ing the policy in regard TO releasing some
members of the force would be followed
out TO the letter, 1t has naturally been of
great moment to the 1remen and their
friends as TO what would likely be done in
this respect by the new commissioners.
The general feeling among the aldermen,
as well as the commissioners who have
been spoken to on the subject, seems 10 be
that there shall be no removals on ac-
count of politics. In all probability The
policy of the commissioners will be to hold
on to the present organization in so far as
IL is compatible with the efforts they will
make to improve the service. There will
be no spells as a result of the change in
the commission, and from the sentiment
expressed, heelers and political bigots will
find little TO gain, unless there are Vacan-
cies and they are fremen.
Commissioner Hull stated to a Morning
News representative that 1t is his pur-
pose to strive for the betterment of the
department. believing that Is what the
taxpayers want He said the department.
should be so conducted In every way
that its efficiency will be up to what is
expected in view of what the city had
expended for equipment. In this Com
the personnel Of the force, to the rules
and other details governing it. He be
leves appointments should be made on the
merit system alone, and for himself, ne
said he would give no heed whatever to
an applicants politics or religion. The
only thing he wants TO know, he said
is whether the applicant is a fireman
who understands how to fight. Good men
will be given Places he said, and no 9TH
ers.
Long experience as an insurance agent
has acquainted Commissioner Hull with
the kind of men it takes TO fight fires
He has naturally given close attention to
the methods of extinguishing fires for
one reason, that it is something in which
he has been vitality interested for years.
Aside from this, he knows why the South
eastern Tariff Association raised the in
suranee rate here some time ago, and
what kind of a fire department will bring
about the abrogation of that rate. Having
an object toward which to work. and
Keeling his success as a commissioner de,
ponds on the future effectiveness of the
fire department, it Is safe to say he win
work as assiduously as his collea CUES
Commissioner Caroan was asked con-
corning the policy he would advocate, but
declined TO say anything He thinks It is
most too soon to map out a plan. Ella
ideas are understood to correspond to
those OF Commissioner Hull in regard TO
conducting the department free from poll
tics by selecting men to hl vacancies
whose qualifications are well known. He
has had considerable experience in munbc-
ipal affairs which will place him in posi-
ton to cope with the duties of com
missioner
There seems to be belief that the fire
men removed about Jan. by the former
commissioners viii be reinstated if they
desire. on account of number of fire
men going into the United States army
there are now eight vacancies, which il 10
believed will be filed by these men. among
whom are ex-Firemen Murphy, O'Leary.
Connaily, Doyle, and others. The belief
prevails among the aldermen that most of
these men were removed for political rea-
sons, and that they were competent in
every way to All their positions. 1t Tnay.be
there will be few changes, aside from I'LL
ing the present vacancies.
Even If it is desired to GUST Chief Ma
gulre. which does not now seem to be 1he
intention, the commission win find an OK
in the ditch to be pulled out. BY the law
creating the commission, no one can be
elected chief of the department. who has
not been a resident of Savannah at least
one year, and a qualified voter here. This
Will necessitate finding a skillful, expert
enced FIRE chief here, unless the law Is |
changed or the party to be appointed re-
sides in Savannah the required time For
these reasons ii is believed by many that
there win be no effort to remove the chief
as long as he co-operates with the COM |
mission i'm bringing about the conditions
desired in the department
--s-~o-S-