The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-29
ALL VACANCIES NOW FILLED.
SEVERAL OLD FIREMEN REINsTAT-
ED by THE COMMISSION.


Reinstated-Heduction of Wages
Does Not Meet Approval of All Al
dermeD, and There May BE Pro-
tests.
The Fire Commission met last night and
made a number of appointments. All
the places made vacant by recent resig-
nations have now been filed. The com
mission also reinstated Fireman Wall, who
was given notice Thursday of his dis
charge.
Chief Mcguire was seen shortly after the
meeting ana had just prepared notices of
the appointment of ]. J. Connolly TO be
foreman at engine house No. T. on Bar
nard street, and ]. J. Hearn, assistant
foreman at the same station. Former
Foreman J. NJ. Doyle has been appointed
and VIII be assigned to that station also.
c. J. Flynn, John p. Duffy, jeremiah
OLeary and Aaron Adams the first three
of whom were dismissed some time ago
by the former commissioners, were reap
pointed. The appointments will take .ef-
feet at once
A plain, unvarnished declaration of what
would be expected Of the new men was
made by Chairman Cunningham when
they were lined up and noh-
fled of their appointment They
were told they were being employed
as hremen, not as politicians, and politi-
cal arguments around the station houses
mean dismissal. They were given to un,
derstand that Chief Mcguire was in
charge aud that they would be expected
to respect his orders. For some time there
was considerable bad feeling among the
men, which impaired the service greatly,
but the commissioners stated that here
after this would not be allowed The de-
partment cannot be properly run unless
there is harmony. Nothing I'm the shape
OF good advice was left unsaid, the whole
charge summing UP into the one fact that
each was to attend to his own bust
ness, and not purchase stock in that OF
diners. After the commissioners finished
with The appolntees they were notified to
report tomorrow to Chief Mcguire
The commissioners further decided that
hereafter no one under q nor over 40 years
OF age would be appointed in the fire ser
vice Their view of the physical efficien-
cy or men is that it comes within these
years. The great eXertion of the service
Is such, they consider, that there is in
sufhclent development under q years to
mt man for the position, while over 40 is
when the strength begins 10 wane The
order, OF course, affects none now in the
departmeut-only those to be appointed.
There seems to be no explanation for
the discharge of Fireman Wall Thursday
and his reinstatement. Chief Mcguire
waseasked concerning 1t, but said he was
authorized to give nothing further for pub
lication than the appointments Some
fuN
bear, or that deal was made by which
Chief Mcguire changed his mind about
recommending ex-F'ireman Jerry Murphy
who he declared some days ago he would
not recommend.
We desire Mr.. Jeremiah Murphy rein
stated In the department." the chairman
of the commission Is understood to have
said to the chief who was as usual, act
ing as secretary for the board at the
Friday night meeting.
Il must decline to recommend him q"
was the prompt reply from the chief.
The entire board desire Mr. Murphy
reinstated," the chairman is then reported
to have said, as he and the other commits
sloners looked steadfastly a the chief
Il must decline TO recommend him." re-
peated Mr.. Mcguire.
We will hold another meeting Satur-
day" the chairman is said to have next
remarked to the chief. you will have an
fun consideration. Think over it in the
meantime"
The matter of Mr.. Murphy's reappoint-
ment was then temporarily dropped
Chief Mcguire is said to have consulted
two or three close friends Yesterday
morning and after securing their advice
decided to confine his opposition to ex-
Foreman Murphy's reinstatement to a re-
| fusal to recommend him. Subsequently,
| he reached the conclusion that inasmuch
| as the entire board desired Mr. Murphy
TO return to the department the best course
| to pursue was to act with It, rather than
! oppose its wishes. Where Mr.. Murphy is
! to be placed is not known as vet Fore
man Steinberg of the Henry street stat
| ion, had his eyes examined yesterday as
| ordered by the commission He received
| certificate from the oculist stating that
/ his eye sight was all right. He is lot
! color blind and has no other defects. The
! impression is that if Foreman Steinberg' S
| eye sight had proved defective Mr.. Muir
| ply would soon have been in charge of
| that station
IL is rumored that the number of fore
men at the old Oglethorpe avenue head
/ quarters is to be reduced and other
| changes made there. Foreman w. S. Nell
! of No. 4 Engine, resigned yesterday. He
| had a position as painter offered him and
took it at once.
| The action Of the commissioners in re-
/ hutulB iut sdldTlSS OF engineers 1883 on
/ the month does not meet with approval
! apparently. Several members of Council
! expressed disappointment at the reduction,
| and some went so far as TO intimate that
/ the matter would he reconsdered. The en-
! gineers were considered as receiving little
enough at the beginning, while a reduction
may lessen the Importance of the position
! Alderman Smith was pretty plain in his
statement to a Morning News representa-
| tive. Il am forced TO say l think The COM
| missioners have made mistake in cut
ting wages. Firemen sell themselves to
the city, in one sense of the word. not
even having a chance to eat a meal with
out the fear they will be called out. They
are in service twenty-four hours each day
and l do not consider they are paid any
TOO much. No, sir, 1 believe men viii
take less pains IN their work, and that
the high standard Of the department can
not be maintained by hiring cheap men. i"
| Il do not care 10 unnecessarily criticise
| the Fire Commission" said Alderman
| Krouskoff, "but 1 cannot approve the
course they have pursued. I think il would
have been more conservative, more advis-
able, for them TO have waited until they
| We're longer I'm Office before making
! chances or al