The herald., 1898-06-09

him to pass an examination before his name
is even sent before this board. Pull has
nothing to do with his appointment
1.-THE way it is now reiterated Wells.
pull counts for everything. You know it
Go Mayor Snyder) and | know it. If we are
going to have civil service let us have it,
Mayor Snyder disclaimed any knowledge
of pulls or push" in appointing fremen.
He said he did not see how man could be
selected merely because he was tall enough
and had an education. Firemen needed
something else.
Kuhrts and Mayor Snyder agreed with
Chief Moore that wide open examination
was mpracticable, while Commissioner Sin
sabaugh sided with Wells.
Chief Moore said he was ready to enforce
the rules if the board wanted it done. He
called attention to the fact that the forth
coming examination was for promotion in
the department. In all such cases the civil
service rule was strictly enforced, because
the men had been tried by actual work and
were in the department. The men on proba-
ton, who were learning and had not been
accepted had no part in the coming exam
nation.
With this understanding Wells and Sin
sabaugh voted for the examination, but
Wells served notice that he would bring the
civil service matter up again. II want to
drive the political pull out of the fire de-
partment," he said, land you can only do it
by making selections through an eXamina-
ton
The petition of Mrs. Mccormick to be al
lowed to bore for oil at Soto and Yuma
streets was allowed.
Thu acquisitions for supplies were then
presented. Il am in favor of passing these
bills providing the rules have been complied
with and bids were obtained on the goods
and work. "How is this, chief?" Wells
asked taking up bill for two new wheels
supplied for piece of apparatus. did you
get bids on this work?'
mo, SIR promptly answered Chief
Moore. The apparatus broke down at
o'clock one morning on the way home from
a fire. 1 had no time to advertise for bids.
[ got the wheels replaced as speedily as pos
sible.''
When did you buy whips last?" asked
the determined Mr.. Wells. Seems to me we
paid bill for whips not long ago"
1.-The last whips we bought were in Feb
ruary last" answered the chief.
well, these are high-priced whips-S9
dozen. Seems to me you use up whips pretty
fast" said Wells.
Mayor Snyder ventured the opinion that
six-bit whip wasn't very high-priced, and
the discussion ended.
Here is bill for $3.50 for a team of
horses" said Wells DO you advertise for
bids for horses?
mo" said Kuhrts. Heretofore Assist
ant Chief Smith has always hunted around
until he found suitable team and then 1
have gone with him and looked at the horses
and we gnerally bought them at very close
figure"
Wells insisted that horses should be adj
vertised for and that $3.50 was high price
for a team when horses are being given
away because it don't pay to feed them"
Then came out the facts as to the deplora-
BILE condition of the department I'M the mat
ter of extra horses. 1T is not every horse
you can use in the fire department" said
Chief Moore Their work is very heavy
and they must be trained We are very
short of horses. l don't know what we
would do in an emergency right now
Hire horse" insisted Wells, and the
commission couldn't restrain smile at the
novel idea of hiring an unframed horse for
a fire engine, when II takes months 10 leacn
horse to respond to an alarm, jump under
the harness and get away on a run.
Commissioner Kuhrts was nettled at the
criticisms of Wells, and he moved that the
bill for $3.50 for a team be rejected and that
instead the chief advertise for horses, noti-
flying people that have horses to sell to
bring their animals to the front of the city
hall at $3.50 Wednesday morning next.
How are the horses to be seected?" was
asked.
Nobody seemed to know how the selection
was to be made and a suggestion that the
animals be made to pass a civil service ex-
animation was received with scorn. The
matter was left just there and the commits
sion adjourned. On Wednesday those who
visit the city hall will undoubtedly see an
aggregation of horsefiesh such as has not
graced the city's streets in years, but who
is to go among the quadrupeds and select
the good from the bad Is still undecided, eX-
cept that Kuhrts insists that Wells should
be judge of kickers, and therefore fit for
| the purchasing committee.