The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-11-21
SUSTAINED THE CHIEF
City Council Upholds the Sus-
pension Of a Fireman.
VOTED SEVEN TO THREE
George Lancaster Suspended Perman.
entity From the Department-Council
Examines Several Witnesses.
Sewer Distr.cs Created,

Last evening the city council investi-
gated the recent suspension of Driver
George Lancaster by Chief r. S. Men
trum of the fire department and sustain
ed the chiefs action by vote of to g.
The charges against Lancaster were
those of INSTRUMENTATION and ineff1ciency
Mayor Madden presided at the meeting.
Aldermen Collins, Dolan. Davidson, Dunn,
Fitzpatrick, Kelly. Murphy. Mcdonnell
Sadich and Stephens were present.
City Attorney J. R. Boardman appeared
for Chief Mentrum and Attorneys Duffy
and Casey for Mr.. Lancaster. ."
Chief Mentrum was the first witness
Lancaster and I had not been on
speaking terms for some time, said the
chief. land at the Hoagland fire, on
Sept. T. he asked for orders from the
assistant chief while was on the ground.
which was contrary to the instructions
given to the men. At that fire he asked
Assistant Myers where he would place a
ladder and put in a stream of hose. The
day after the fire reprimanded Lancas-
ter and told him 1 had no use for him.
whereupon Lancaster told me that he
had d. less use for me. AS result
of Lancaster's INSTRUMENTATION there was
discord in the department. No i'll feeling
existed between us in Missoula. I did
not bring the matter up before the coun-
Gil sooner because / expected that Lam
caster would resign. Lancaster was in
efficient because he was too slow in get
ting out of the station, and instead of De
ing good man he was always in the way
of other firemen."
George Lancaster. the suspended fire.
man, testified as follows
Mr.. Mentrum never complained to me
of my being too slow or inefficient There
has been trouble between the chief and
me ever since last January, when the
| appointments of officers were made by the
council. AT that time he complained that
was trying to get his job from him,
| which I never did. The chief did tell me
that wasn't fast enough to be driver.
| He said all / could drive was a stage
| coach. He told me he had no use for me
| and 1 told him / had d. less use for
him. There was no discord whatever in
the department l asked Myers twice for
orders because l couldn't see the chief.
| he appointed me assistant chief but app
pointed Myers afterwards. / don't know
| the reason why he did this
M. {. Myers, the assistant chief of the
| tlre department, was the last witness His
| testimony was as follows:
Il have been q member of the fire de-
| partment for two years. and during that
| time ! never noticed that Mr. Lancaster
tried to make any discord among the
boys. didn't notice that he was a slow
| man. ] heard the chief and Mr. Lancas.
ter saying they had no use for one an
other. The chief didn't appear angry at
the time. Lancaster was treated the
same as the other men," A. Ett d.
AT the close of the evidences there was
some discussion among the aldermen on
the subject of the orders which were
given to the firemen to receive their in
structions from the chief. After the dis.
cussion Mayor Madden told the aldermen
that they would have to decide whethe,
or not the charges would be sustained.
The result of the vote was as follows:
Ayes--Collins, Davidson, Fitzpatrick,
Kelly, Murphy, Sladch and Stephens.
Nays-Dolan, Dunn and Mcdonnell
The above vote also prevailed in the
matter of suspending Lancaster perma-
nently.
A protest, signed by DR.. Lesser and 9TH
ers, against the construction of sewer in
Improvement district No. IA. was read
and ordered laid on the table by a unani-
nous vote.
petition requesting that sidewalks be
built on each side of Jefferson stree,
from Sixth street south to the Butte. An
aconda & Pacific track on the north, and
also on Fourth street from Adams street
to Madison street, was granted and the
street commissioner was instructed to
proceed with the work
Ordinance No. 1884,, establishing special
improvement district No. IA. comprising
blocks 81 % % and "a and the depot and
grounds owned by the Butte, Anaconda n
Pacific. for sewer purposes, was passed.
Bids for the construction of the sewer
will be advertised for at once.
City Attorney Boarman was empowered
to appoint an associate counsel for the
cases of the city of Anaconda, which will
come up within a short time before the
supreme court. The fee is not to exceed
$780,.