Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-23
PROMOTED TO BE FOREMAN
John A. Walsh of No. Fire Engine Com
pany Advanced Step.
Com missiOners Ignore Rule of Senior
ity-CIaim Made in Behalf of As
sistnnt Foreman Martin.

Assistant Foreman John A. Walsh of
| No. l engine company has been promoted
by the District Commissioners to be fore
man, vice VIM. f. Robertson, foreman of
| No. 3 engine company, who will be retired
the 31st instant on a pension of So per
| MONTH the promotion of Walsh to take eff
| feet September l.
| The action of the Commissioners in
| this case has 1t is stated. been await
ed with much more than ordinary in
| terest by members of the fire depart
ment since it became known that Fore
| man Robertson would apply for re-
| tirement. While it was rumored that As
| sistant Foreman Walsh would be selected
| for promotion. although standing several
| numbers below the senior assistant fore
man on the list the hope was expressed by
members of the department that the rule
| of promotion by seniority would be follow
| ed in this instance, as it is said to have
| been followed with but one or two eXcep-
tons since Commissioner Wight assumed
immediate supervision of the fire depart
ment. 1t was announced by Mr.. Wight
however, that great care would be taken
to secure the selection of the best availa-
BILE man among the assistant foremen of
the department as Foreman Robertson's
successor. and that. although Chief Paris
had suggested Assistant Foreman Walsh
as a good man for the position, the men in
~
chance.
Mr.. Wight thereupon directed that AS
sistant Chiefs Belt and Kurtz and Foreman
John Sherman of No. chemical company
be directed to examine the records of the
various assistant foremen for the purpose
of determining and reporting the one best
qualified in their opinion to succeed Fore
man Robertson. This examining committee
reported that such an examination was
made. and that in the opinion of the ma
jority of the committee, Messrs. Belt and
Kurtz taking all things into considera-
ton. Assistant Foreman Walsh of No.
engine company, from his long experience
as a private, assistant foreman and fore
man, is the most competent to fill the po-
sition
Formerly of No. Company.
Mr.. Walsh was formerly foreman of
No. engine company, but, ac-
count OF alleged misconduct was re-
duced t. the position of private and
assigned to another company. Sub
sequently he was promoted to be assist
ant foreman. Messrs. Belt and Kurtz in
their report refer to this matter fol-
lows: 1T is true that his (Walsh's) record
has been very bad, but since his reduction
in 1896 he has conducted himself in
proper and efficient manner, except upon
one occasion We are of the opinion that
the best interests of the department will
be served by his promotion
Foreman sherman, VINO is also one Oh the
two acting assistant chiefs of the depart
ment, and one of its best known members,
favored the promotion of Assistant Fore
man F. d. Martin, the senior assistant
foreman of the department. and being re-
quested by Chief Paris to state why he
favored Mr.. Martin, reported that he had
rome to make further than that Mr.. Mar
tin, being the senior assistant foreman,
should be given the preference. Foreman
Sherman explained that while Mr.. Martin
has not had the experience others have
had in handling fires still he tSherman)
believes that if he had fires to fight he
would gIva Il good account of himself.
Foreman Sharm AL also cND,aineG that he
has no personal feeling il. the matter, and
that he is and always will be IN favor
of putting the very best man to tn front,
expressing the hope that this has been
done in the present instance.
Makes No Recommendations.
In forwarding the report of the majority
of the committee and Foreman Shermans
statement to the Commissioners, Chief
Paris. although he had suggested Assist
ant Foreman Walsh as a good man for
the place, made written recommended
ton, merely inviting the attention Of the
Commis sioners to the reports. In approx
Ing the recommendation of the majority
of the committee, Commissioner Wight ex-
planned his position as follows to his as
socates:
In approving the recommendation of the
committee, it should be stated that while
the record of Assistant Foreman Walsh
since his connection with the fire depart
Ilent has not always been entirely salts
factory, he has done well fire fighter,
and it is hoped that the mistakes he has
made in the past will enable him to avoid
trouble and to render valuable assistance
to the department.
The reference of the majority of the COM
mittee to the exception in Mr. Walshs
proper and efficient conduct since his re-
duction in 1896 is understood to be the
reprimand inflicted upon him last month
for alleged mismanagement,w when in charge
of No / company. Mr. Walsh resented
the action of Chief Paris in reprimanding
| him. and demanded a hearing. which was
given him, with the result that the Com
missoners approved the action of Chief
| Paris in the following order, dated the
| 22d of last month:
Ordered that the reprimand for mis-
management given to Assistant Foreman
John A. Walsh Of the District fire depart
| ment be allowed to stand, and that said
Walsh be warned that he must pay more
attention to his duties when in charge of a
| company, otherwise serious results may
| follow"
Assistant Foreman Martins Record.
The friends of Assistant Foreman Martin
| claim that he is not only the senior as
sistant foreman of the department, but
| that with the exception of the infiiction Of
| a small fine for trifing offense several
| years ago, his record is perfectly clean
! They also claim that his retention in a
| company which has little work to do is
| through no fault Of his own. as his re-
quest for assignment to a company more
busiiy engaged. made several months ago,
! was denied. They also profess their in
| ability to understand why the rule of Sc
| lection according to seniority should in the
present case be disregarded in favor of a
man standing s:veral numbers below the
| pf the list and whose record
stated by the majority of the examining
| committee, has been very bad"
$500 SeashOre Excursion via b. & O..
To Atlantic City by special train leaving
Washington 200 pm. Saturday, August
26.-Advt