Evening star., 1901-04-29
FIRE CHIEF NAMED
Mr.. Robert W. Dutton Placed at
Head of District Department.,
APPOINTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY
Statement by Commissioner Mac
far'and in Support Of Selection.
MR.. TTON'S CAREER

The District Commissioners today ap-
pointed Mr.. Robert William Dutton chief
of the District fire department. The ap-
pointment has met with universal COM
mendation and is the result of determi-
nation on the part Of the Commissioners to
make the office executive one. This de-
termination was due to the growth of the
fire department, which has now come to
be one of the most important and extensive
branches OF the District government. The
department, in short, has grown to that
prominence where it's interests are to be
best conserved by placing man at it's
head who has marked ability in executive
work while the active fire fighting duties
may be reposed in the assistant chiefs.
who will continue to be men who have
received a practical education in the de-
partment.
Mr. Dutton is at present member of the
staff of The Evening Star. having had a
lCng connection with the paper. For the
past few years he has been assigned to the
municipal building and has therefore been
thrown into close contact with the District
authorities. He has long been student of
fire department matters and has always
taken a lively and practical interest in the
workings of the fire systems in this and
other cities. His thorough knowledge of
the department affairs and his excellent
views on matters connected with that
branch of the District government soon i'm
pressed itself on the commissioners, with
the result that when the present chief Jo
seph Paris announced his intention to re-
tire. the question of changing the depart
ment head into an executive office and
placing Mr. Dutton in charge a once pre-
sented itself 10 Mr. II. r. F. Macfarland
president of the board of District Commits
sioners, who has active supervision Of the
fire department..
The COn,missiOner's View.
Mr.. Macfarlands idea was to make the
office an executive one, and in his position
on the subject, it is stated, he had the
unanimous support of the other Commits
sioners. the board of fire underwriters, the
committee on public order of the board of
trade and a majority of the citizens at
large. In making the important change in
the department Mr.. Macfarland stated to-
day that he feels the District is to be con-
graduated upon having at such time a
man of Mr.. buttons ability and knowledge
of department affairs to take hold and
carry to success the inauguration of new
order of things. The commissioners Mr.
Macfarland stated are particularly pleased
that Mr.. Dutton has siguified his willing
ness to accept the appointment as all re-
pose the utmost confidence in him. Mr.
Dutton will assume the duties of his new
position day after tomorrow. May l. He
was at no time a candidate for the place
Mr.. Macfarland said today. bat the Com
than Mr.. Dutton in View, in case the posi-
ton was made executive one as has
been done.
Mr.. Macfarland this morning recommend
cd TO his associates the placing Of an ex-
ecutive man Of marked ability in charge of
the department, and nominated Mr.. Dutton
Tor the position. The recommendation was
Immediately approved by commissioners
Ross and Beach. both of whom are person
ally acquainted with Mr.. Dutton, and whom
they both esteem very highly
In support of the Nomination.
In making the recommendation Mr. Mac
farland said
The chief engineer of the fire depart-
nent, Mr.. Joseph Paris, will retire next
Wednesday, May l. on his own application
which has been approved by the Commits
sioners. The vacancy thus created should
De filed with respect primarily TO the ad-
rhnistratfon Of what has grown to be one
or the importan departments of the Dis
trlct government Gradually it has devel-
oped until it is now "a great business eS-
t3hllShment, with a very valuable plant
ana constantly increasing duties
1t covers in its opera ions almost the en-
tire District of Columbia 1t has TWENTY
one fire protection stations, and two more
Will soon be opened, while another has been
authorized by Congress, and at least three
more are needed. At these stations are all
the various forms of fre-fghting appara-