The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-06-28

Chief John II. Walker of the fire
department, in an interview given a
Tribune man last night, admitted that
a permanent man, when reprimanded,
had told him not to "get gay" or he'd
get his shield taken away from him,
as reported by Councilman Joseph Oil
yer in yesterdays Tribune.
The chief refused to give the name
of the permanent man or the company
of which he is "A member. 1t is a CEN
trail city company, however, that much
Is certain.
"The statement made by Mr.. oliver
was entirely correct" said the chief.
'The incident happened about a week
ago. 1 was out of the city for day
and left things in charge of District
Chief Slowe during my absence. While
1 was away this permanent man be-
came intoxicated and was noticed in
that condition by Slowe,who said moth
ing to him, but reported the matter to
me when l returned.
II Immediately went around to the
engine house and without further ado
suspended the man without pay for ten
days. At this he became angry and
told me not to get gay or he'd see that
my shield was taken away from me. 1
promptly demonstrated with him for
his language; told him that the ten
days suspension would stand, and left
him. 1 have since learned that he
went around to Slowe, whom he blamed
for telling me, and informed him that
he'd have both of us removed"
Don't you think this mans name
should be made public?" asked the re-
porter.
IT don't know about that" replied
the chief, but I know that I won't
tell it to YOU
When told that 1t was common gos-
sip that the discipline in the fire de-
partment is very poor and when asked
what he was doing to enforce the rules
and regulations prescribed by councils,
the chief said:
ABOUT DISCIPLINE.
Tin doing all I can or all any man
could do to enforce discipline under
existing conditions" he said. II have
relegated the power Of suspension un-
to myself and have on various occa-
sions suspended men for periods of
five, ten or fifteen days without pay
for dereliction of duty. I don't know
whether 1 have this power or not, but
I've taken it upon myself.
"These suspensions don't have much
effect. however, and I'll tell you why.
The permanent men OF the depart
ment under present arrangements, are
appointed by the mayor, after having
been elected by the members of the
company. IC J. suspend one of these
men, the rest of the company take
cila nd it'G hard 70 opt
any kind of satisfactory work from
them at tne next two or three fires
they attend.
There are now three houses out of
the sixteen in the city that l have to
keep continual watch over to see that
things are all right. I'm doing the
best / can, but with my office and sall
the other intricate detail work of the
department l can't spend all my time
supervising the conduct of the men.
Here only this afternoon 1 had to go
away up to the Cumberland hose house
in the Notch after a horse which was
to be taken down to the central city.
II didn't have an extra man to as
sign to the work, SO 1 had to do it my
self. That's just a sample of the
things 1 have to do and then people
want to know why l don't maintain
better discipline.
II think that the ordinance recently
introduced by Mr.. Oliver in select
council will. if passed provide a remedy
for these things. That ordinance was
drawn up by Mr.. Oliver and myself
and is the only practicable one to pass.
Mr.. Chittendens measure would put
the department back twenty years, if
passed, instead Of increasing it's gen.
eral efficiency.
"Mr. Chittenden says he knows a
lot of things about the fire department
and that he's investigated conditions.
You can say for me that all the in
vestigating he's done has been done in
his drug store and further that he does
not know any more about the fire de-
partment than a child.
THE OLIVER MEASURE.
'In the first place, Mr. divers. Or
dinance provides for a rational num-
Der of peramcnL men for each COM
pany, whereas Mr.. Chittendens meas
ures leaves the number the same as
at present. Now, if we disbanded all
the volunteers, as both ordinance pro
vide for, this would leave in some
cases only one man in a company.
daily avoCation when an alarm was
turned in and to expect that one man
TO drive, line out the hose. connect it
with the hydrant and then play it
upon the flames while waiting for the
call men TO arrive upon the scene
would be manifestly absurd.
"Mr. divers ordinance, / say, pro-
vides for a proper apportionment OF
permanent men. One of these is to be
appointed captain and is to have
charge of all the men in his company
and be responsible to the chief for any
dereliction in duty. The only one in
charge at the various houses now is
the foreman of the company, who is
always a volunteer fireman. He may
be in the house once a day and may be
only once a month and when he's not
around there's nobody In cnarge.
I'm Mr., divers ordinance provision
is made for four district chiefs, who
are to have charge Of all houses, ap-
paratus and men in a certain district
l think that this plan would also tend
to greatly improve the discipline OF
the department. i think both ordin-
ances are right in giving the chief
more power and discretion in the mat
ter of purchasing than he has at pres
ent.
"Why should the chief be Obliged tc
knuckle under and to obey the whims
and caprices OF forty-two councilmen
as he has to do at present? One OF
the greatest faults of the volunteer
system is that the permanent mer
have many strong friends in council.