The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-23
FIRE COMMISSIONS REPORT.
HARMONY WITH CITY COUNCIL DE-
SIRED BY THE DEPARTMENT.

OhieI MaSulfe ana his AcuUlitil J.
Commission Does Not Approve
Councils Action in Charging De-
partment with Expense of Improv-
ing Engine Station No. 2-RepOrt
Goes to Mayor MeIdrim TO-mor-
row.
The Fire Commissions report for the
past year will be handed Mayor Meldrim
tomorrow, with the report of Fire Chief
Mcguire, the substance of which has been
given in the Morning News. The report
is rather voluminous.
Owing to the differences between the
City Council and the commission, it has
been expected the report would include
some salty illusions While reference is
made to the trouble which existed, 1t is not
such as would stimulate further discord,
or impair the harmony partially restored.
The object, however, seems more TO re-
view the trouble with the idea of showing
the harm that unpleasant relations bring
TO the service and the Importance of
guarding against future discord.
The commissions report comes largely
from that of Fire Chief Mcguire, which
took up matters of detail concerning the
fire department and ats conduct for the
past year. Considerable of the first part
of the commissions report, therefore, con
sists of a resume of that of Chief Ma
guire, the substances of which appears in
generalized statements. The comments
contained throughout the report at once
disclose the satisfaction the commission
feel in the work of the department and the
manner in which fires have been handled
during the past twelve months. The dis
cipline among the men and the care which
has been given the stock, is among the
matters to which the commission express
especial pleasure.
The supernumerary force has been abol-
ished, and the cadet force substituted
The services of eight supernumeraries
were dispensed with in making this
change, and the cadets occupy the same
positions as regular hremen These cadets
are divided into two classes, four Of whom
receive $40 per month and the other four
receive $50 per month. Appointments in
the regular force are made from the first
class of cadets, and these vacancies are
then filled by promoting men in the second
class. Promotions are made by recon-
mendation of the foreman under whom the
cadet serves subject, however, to the ap-
proval of the chief. 1t is asserted in the
report that this change has made It pos
eible to secure the most efficient men for
the department by making merit the sole
standard of appointment and promotion
In the service.
Reference is next made to the chiefs re-
port and to the fire loss for the year,
as compared with that of previous years.
The commission speaks highly of the serv-
tees of the chief in the work he has done
to promote the efficiency of the depart
ment by the selection of good men ard
the constant attention he has given to
his duties. The notable fires handled dur
ing the year are spoken of and reference
made to the damage sustained in each
case.
Following this appears a detailed reiter-
alton of the charges against Chief Ma
guire and the result of the investigation
which led to his complete vim
dication with regard to all the charges.
All correspondence passed between Coun>
ell and the commission is given and the
action of the commission noted The trial
of the chief required eight afternoons and
consisted of a close review of the chiefs
conduct during the time it was alleged he
was drunk, had proven incompetent, and
other things with which all are familiar.
In the investigation the chief was ably
represented by Mr.. A. A. Lawrence and
the city by Mr.. S. =. Adams.
Before concluding" the report says,
1--WE feel il due ourselves to at least mem
tion the lack of harmony that has ap-
parently existed between Council and this
board. The numerous discourtesies shown
the commission during the past twelve
months, all of which must affect and i'm
pair the efficiency and discipline of the
We have endeavored in every way to
faithfully perform our duties, and regret
that Council, whether intentional or not
has seen fit to put so many obstacles in
our way, the result of which has been
the retarding of much needed improve
ments and causing you, as well as our
selves, considerable unnecessary work and
expense.
The commission is not pleased with the
recent action of Council in charging the de-
partment for the money expended in COM
pkting Station. No. ?, instead of charging
same to special appropriation for public
property" In regard to Councils action in
this regard the report says:
Entrusted, as we are, with the care of
an important municipal service we think
We are worthy at least of proper and due
consideration when we desire to be heard
from, and il is with considerable regret
that we note the recent action of Council
an the matter OF charges for completing
new station No. 2 Prior to the election of
the present board of aldermen this mat
ter had been properly and amicabIy adj
justed, it being understood that the first
installment of the purchase money
should be paid from special appropriation
entitled public Property and that all
subsequent expenditures, in the compile
ton of Fire Station No. 2 should be
charged to the same account.
THE appropriation of $1,000 for public
property was made for the specific purpose
of defraying the expenses incidental to the
purchase of Colonial Park and station No
2 of the Savannah fire department. and
in support of this assertion we beg TO quote
the following extract from letter from
Col. William Garrard, who was chairman
of the finance committee under the former
administration. This letter is dated June
10, 1897, and says among other things, "Up
TO the time of the reception of your let
ter, 1 had not been approached by any
member of the present board of aldermen
on this subject; though when l went out
of Office, / wrote a letter to Mr. Hamilton
chairman of the committee on finance. Of
fering to give any information in nv pow
er at any time in regard to the clty's af-
fairs, which might be Of use to the mu-
nicipal government. Some time ago was
telephoned by Mr.. Bailey, clerk of Coun-
Gil, who asked me what this $1,000 item