The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-26
A curinus stnte of Arnir..

A Curious State of Affairs.
This proposition which members of the
City Council have made TO the Fire Com
mission presents a curious state of af-
fairs. The proposition, as we understand
1t, is that the fire chief shall be made
fire marshal an Office to be created, at
salary as large as that which he is now
receiving, and the Office of fire chief shall
be filed by some one satisfactory 10 the
Council and the insurance people. The
chairman of the Fire Commission is IN
derstood to be willing TO let the fire chief
decide whether or not the proposition chall
be accepted.
What is the Fire Commission for, except
10 decide such matters? What has the
fire~chief to do with deciding whether or
not the proposition of the members of the
Council shall be accepted? Has it rested
with him all along whether or not there
shall be a change in the head of the fire
department? 1t would seem so from the
fact that this proposition has been re-
ferred to him for his decision. The inter
ests Of the public have not been regarded
as being, of as much importance as the
wishes of the fire chief-at least that is
the way it looks from the latest develop
rnent.
Not long ago the-chairman of the Fire
Commission was quoted as saying that he
intended to do what he thought was for
the best interests of the taxpayers. 1t is
understood that if this proposition of the
members of the Council is accepted the
| 10 per cent. increase in the insurance
rates will be removed. This increased rate
will take out of the pocket of taxpayers
| between $4,000 and $4,000 a year. The
new office of fire marshal will cost the
taxpayers 5000 a year. If, therefore,
! Chairman Grayson is standing up for the
| interests of the tax payers, on what
| ground does ne hesitate to accept the
proposition that the present fire chief shall
| be made fire marshal? Why does he per
nit that proposition to be referred TO the
| fire chief. with the understanding that it
! will be accepted provided it is satisfactory
to that official? Cannot he act for the
taxpayers--saving them anywhere between
$23 900 and $4,000 a year-wlthout consult
ing the wishes of the fire chief?
The chairman of the Fire Commission is
estopped from saying that he does not ac.
cept the proposition because he thinks the
fire chief is an entirely satisfactory man
for the head of the fire department He has
virtually admitted that he is willing to
accept 1t if the fire chief is. The fire
chiefs wishes, therefore, are all powerful
with the chairman of the Fire Commission
What then becomes of the chairman's
declaration that he proposes to be gov
erned by the interests of the taxpayers?
Is not the situation a curious and inter.
esting one? A city Is taxed from S25 900
to $4,000 a year because 1t cannot put at
J the head of the fire department a man
satisfactory to the insurance companies
and it cannot do 1t because a Fire Com
mission refuses to make change in the
fire chiefs office-not because it thinks the
fire chief the best chief fireman it can
get, but because the fire chief doesn't
want to give up his office
A word about the fire chief: Few blame
him, probably, for holding on to his place.
He no doubt thinks he is fully qualified for
it. He may be a man of excellent ability.
but the fire record shows that he has NOT
been successful in preventing fire losses.
But it is not expected that he will admit
that he is not successful as chief fireman.
1t is the duty of the Fire Commission to
make changes in the fire department I'M
til it gets an organization that is success
full in keeping down fire losses so that the
| CITY can GET a low Insurance ratio Cipca
the commission has had charge of the
fire department the insurance rate has
been, increased. For this condition of af-
fairs the people blame the Fire Commits
sion, not the fire chief.