New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-20
AIMED AT CHIEF BONNER.
A SCHEME TO GET HIM OUT OF THE COM
MAND OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT

MAND OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
On March a bill entitled "An act in relation
10 the age Of officers Of the uniformed force OF
Police and Fire departments in cities OF the hrst
and second class" was introduced into the AS
sembly by Mr.. Murphy. Of Montgomery County
and referred to the Committee on Cities. The
bill is characterized by one familiar with 'he
inside workings OF the Fire Department as "a
veiled and lnsidious attempt to oust Chief BON
ner from Office This man. because OF his po-
siton. refused to allow his name to be used put
to a Tribune reporter yesterday he gave the
details Of the scheme
"To understand the attack" he said. 'it is
only necessary to read the bill and consider VINO
introduced it, The bill refers to cities Of the
first and second class only yet it was intro
duced by an Assembyman from Montgomery
County. This was done however. at the insti-
CATION Of subordinate Of the Chief, who has
long itched TO occupy Bonner's place and VINO
at the time Of the formation OF the enlarged city
attempted to get the appointment OF Chief.
am familiar with the fire departments of all the
great cities both Of Europe and America, and
can say that in none Of them IS there chlet
who az all compares with Hugh Bonner IN
qualities necessary to make a successful chlet.
His power Of command and accurate Judgment
are wonderful Just to Illustrate the latter AT
the Windsor fire he ordered two engine COM
panes to leave their positions in front Of the
portico over the main entrance just before the
immense tank directly above the roof fell,
CARRYING with it into the street the front wall.
Remember that those men could not have left
their perilous positions without the order Of
superior And I have seen the Chief display
that same rare judgment time and time again.
Here is a memorial that was drawn up and
directed to Fire Commissioner Scannell shortly
after his appointment by Mayor Van Wyck. In
January. 1898, petitoning Bonner's retention
It was a free and spontaneous tribute to the
worth Of the man. These signatures. repre-
senting all the professional, business ana prop
erty interests Of New-York, have been esti-
mated To represent 5000 100000 Of the wealth
of the city. Just think of it. And here among
the hotels YOU see is the signature, The Wind
sor Warren F Leland Looks pathetic, doesn't
1t?
AT the same time when this very man was
before attempting to get Bonner out the Boaro
Of Fire Underwriters drew up a declaration III
which they said that II Chief Bonner was de-
posed the rates OF insurance would be increased.
And now Just because the Chief is almost
sixty (he will be sixty in June), IT is proposed
by an upstate legislator, who can nave no
nossible interest in the matter that sixty shall
be the retiring age Bonner is in full posses
sion OF all his faculties physical and mental.
Were II otherwise. II wouldn't take long TO re-
tire him.
The politician in this city who is really the
father Of the bill is none other than Timothy
Dry Dollar Sullivan. 1t only needs that the
facts be laid bare to rouse the public TO such
mitch Of indignation as shall make Impossible
the success Of this nicely laid-out scheme. The
only danger is that it might be slipped through
il looks 80 innocent - Y-,.
Chief Bonner has been member or the flIe
Department for thirty two years, ana Tot zen
Yea rs its Chief The only other cities aItec'eu
bv the bill are Buffalo, OF the first claSs'
Rochester Syracuse. Troy and Albany, Oh tne
second class The only city In Montgomery
county from which county AssemDlyman MuI
nhv comes. is Amsterdam. a city or the tniru
class and Of about twenty thousand lhhaoi-
tants. ,,
The text Of the bill IS as follows:
Section I IN every city OF the first class and N
o,er,, civ Of the second class no person sha nolu
tho office OF chief of police OF the UNI
~ ~ H. o0cs of chief OF depart ment or the UNI
srued force Of the Fire Department longer than
untU and including the last day or December 1eAs
after ne shall be sixty years or age. 20 TneL oi
nolice or chief of department OF rlre DepeIt. peIo
rnent shall he entitled 10 receive any
after the last day II December next atter ne sai.
30 axtv wears Of age except such compensation as
scb of{4cers now are or may be entitled 10 receive
upon retiremen from said offices ,,.,
Sec This act shall take effect Immediately