The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-12-04

Councilman Conneliau tutru1uceu an
order declaring the action Of the fire com
mittse in dischsrgfng engineers French
and wiegip null end void. and instruct
ing the chief engineer to reinstats them
in the department.. In support OF his
order Mr.. Comedian stated that he had
looked the matter up AMI he did not be-
Iieve that the FIRE COMMITTEES had the right
to discharge these men. He went ON
10 argue that 1t was only right and just
that these men be given hearing, He
said that IL was establishing bad preos-
dent 10 discharge these men without CIV
ing them a chance 70 present their side
OF the case. These men have had good
records and have served the city faith
fully for more than 20 years. There is
no doubt but what these men have
right to fair opportunity TO give their
side OF the case.
MIR. woodside said ne also had grave
doubts as TO the right OF the committee to
discharge these men. The committee has
the right to suspend these men but not
to remove them. He suggested an amend
ment to the order striking out that ~por-
ton OF the order instruoting the chief to
reinstats the men and thus leaving them
In suspension while their hearing IL
pending.
Mr.. Comedian said he believed that
these men should be re-instated and then
suspended by the chief and given q
hearing on charges properly preferred.
Mr.. woodside proposed q further
amendment declaring the action OF the
com mittee null and void pending a
hearing before the council and Mr.. Con-
neiian acc opted the amendment
MIR. Phinney said he spoke for himself
only when ne said he had no objection 10
a rubIlc hearing he would make no
attempt TO difeuss the legal points In
VOWED. 1t may be a mistaken kindness
to grant them a public hearing ana hs
didn't want to vote for a public hearing
unless the men should asa for it. Before
the council voted Mr.. Phinney wanted
the council to consider the matter well.
Mr. Bowers asked If the committee on
tire department was prepared to make a
report on this matter.
MIR. Phinney said that Alderman
Thomas was prepared to make repord
IL the board of aldermen ask for 1t. In
reply TO MIR. Phinney MIR. Comedian SAID
his order did not contemplate forcing
these men TO a hearing unless they want
it, but 1t gives them chance for a hear
ing II they want It, MIR. Wiggin asks for
the hearing but Mr.. French does not'
Mr.. Comedian says to disc barge pub
lie servant, puts a taint Of criminaiity
on him and before he ia discharged ne
should be given chance to prove mis-
innocence.
MIR. Woodside said hs would not endorse
all MIR. Comedian said but he Thought
the only thing to do was to pass the order.
Mr.. Hunt counseled delay and further
consideration. He said he did not be-
lieve In rebuking the committee until he
had q chanc9 of learning more about this
matter. He moved to lay the matter on
the table. The motion was lost by .
vote OF Is to IL.
Mr.. Comedian then asked for permits
sion for MIR. MILFORD g. Chapman. coun-
sci for MIR. Wiggin, to speak.
Mir Woodside objeotsd and Mr.. Chap
man did not speak.
Mr.. True said he could not see why
the committe on lire department hadn't
the power to remove the chief engineer II
they had the power to remove these two
men.
Mr.. Mclaughlin also spoke In favor
of the passage OF the order.
linn
NAYS, The order passed. by a vote OF 10
to IL.
Those who votsd for the passage of the
order were Messrs. Connellanb Monroe,
Mclaughlin, Landers, Sloman, Tfus,
Dow, Roberts, Jose, Marston, SHAW,
flowers, Woodside, kavanaugh anu rloA-
EFT.
When the order came up In the uppei
board Alderman Drifcol suggested that
MIR. MILFORD Il. Chapman, cOunsei Tor
MIR. Miggin, be heard.
81 objtc 20 any lawyer addressing tins
board on this question:, said Alderman
Thomas.
should be legally investigated. He moved
that the order ba laid on the table ana II
was SO voted 1ive to four.
10 REoRGANIZE FIRE DEPART
MENT.
Mr. Fox introduced the following order
last night In tina Common council, which
was laid on the table:
Ordered, that tine representatives OF THU
city in the Legislature are requested to use
ali proper means TO sse cure the passage
and enrichment OF the following bill:
A bill to Reorgsnize the Fire Depart
ment OF the City of Portland.
Section 1.-The chief engineer OF the
fire department shall hereafter be known
as the chief OF the ire department. Ills
shall have charge of the fire department
under such rules and regulations as the
city Council may by ordinances determine
All present officers and members OF the
fire department shall continue to hold
oiiica for the full terms for which they
were elected or appointed unless sooner
removed as herein provided, and all flu
| ture appoin sments OF members or the firs
department, the number of whom shall
be determined by the city council except
as herein otherwise provide shall be mads
| by the chief of the fire department. AL
officers and members of the fire depart
msnt appointed by the chief under THU
act shall hold the office to which they
were appointed during the pleasure OF