The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-23
MAY MAKE HIM FIRE MARSHAL.
CHIEF MAGUIRE MAY BE CARED
FOR IN THAT WAY.

Insurance Men Could Then Name
Their Chief-The Insurance Rates
would BE Lowered and Everybody
Made Happy-An Insurance Agent
Suggests Board of Arbitration
Composed of B. 4. Denmark, II. ID.
Kline and David Wells to Whom
Shall lie Left the Settlement of All
Differences.
The quiet conference at the city ex-
change night before last, between several
members of Council and two of the fire
commissioners, mention of which was
made in yesterdays Morning News, has
aroused considerable curiosity in the minds
Of the public TO know just what is in the
wind. All who participated in the confer
ence declare themselves bound TO secrecy,
and were as uncommuncative as they
were the day before. At the same time 1t
was evident the conference was in rela-
ton TO the recent increase IN insurance
rates, charged TO be due to the ineffective
work of the fire department, and the nat
ural conclusion was that whatever was
the result would affect Fire Chief Ma
guire. The supposition is not likely to be
far wrong.
In this connection there Is an interest
ing bit of gossip. II is to the effect that
the purpose of the conference was to bring
about an amicable compromise between
Council and the Fire Commission, which
would at the same time be acceptable to
the insurance agents This is evidently a
difficult problem, but somebody has hit
upon a solution. 1t is to create the office
of fire marshal at the same salary as that
received by the fire chief, elect Chief Ma
guire fire marshal and let the insurance
men name their chief; then remove the
increased rate and let everybody be hap
Ply. The fire marshal would look after the
business end of the department and gem
orally perform the duties now performed
by the fire chief, with the exception of
managing the department at fires, which
duty would be performed by the new fire
chief
There are only two stumbling blocks in
the way of this plan. One is that the city
would have to make an appropriation 10
the fire department for the salary of the
extra official, and the other is that Chief
Maguires consent would have to be OBJ
tanned to such an arrangement. One
might be as easy to accomplish as the
other.
| Chief Mcguire, when asked about the
matter. said he preferred to say nothing
whatever about it at present.
| The insurance agents evidently do not
! like the situation any better than does
| the public, and they are anxious to bring
about the change. One of the agents is
| sued a circular letter in the shape of a
| set of resolutions to his brother agents
| yesterday, urging that these resolutions
be adopted at a meeting of agents. The
| resolutions recite the existing condition al
affairs. unsatisfactory both to the agents
| and the public, and suggests that a joint
| request be made by the Mayor and alder
| men and the Fire Commissioners and the
| insurance agents to Messrs. B. A. Den.
mark, II. d. Kline and David Wells. tc
act as a board of arbitra ton to settle
the existing differences. A tribute is paid
to these gentlemen for their mpartiality
and well-known capability. For such q
| board to be able to accomplish any good
it must be clothed with the fullest con.
tidence and extraordinary power" the cir
| cular states The Council and the Fire
| Commission are to be urged to agree tC
| abide the recommended tons of this board
whether ii requires an appropriation fol
increased water supply and equipment oil
| a change in the personnel of the fire de
partment, the agents agreeing on theh
| part to do all in their power to secure q
| reduction In rates.
Several agents who We're seen said thai
| they had not received copies of the cir
| cular letter, which probably reached them
by mail later and We're not prepared tc
discuss the matter. In the meantime, the
| Fire Commissioners and Council may
have plan 10 present as the result of the
| recent conference.