The sun., 1901-04-04
COMBINE
MAKES REPLY
Willing to Meet Anti Combine in
Convention.
MUST ABIDE BY DECISION
Proposed Ordinance is Referred to
Law and Fire Committees and
the City Solicitor Many
Firemen Present.
MUST ABIDE BY DECISION

The Combine" fire companies present
cd their arguments before the Law and
Fire Committees of City Council in the
Civ Council chamber last evening, i'll
The matter OF the ordinance introduced
by tie "ant-combine companies, which
provides that the chief and assistants
shall be elected from all the companies
i'll rotation.
The "auti-combine'' had been heard
last Wednesday night, when the com
bine'' companies had asked for time
10 consider the matter. not having seen
Il copy of the ordinance
The first speaker was William Morgan
of the Friendship, II combine com
pany. lie gave history of the com
Dles in the department and said the first
combined companies Nos. l. 2, and 6,
The Delaware got chief, Reliance first
assistant and Friendship second assist
art. On one occasion through treachery
on the part of ono of the companies i'll
the Combine nominee OF the Friend
ship which was Ill the combine" was
defeated. He declared that this resulted
in the passage of Il law by the IegiSa-
tuIe, giving each company one vote at
an election. A combination was then
formed and the Friendship joined it but
not to permit anybody else. 1t had bcen
stated uGotlicially thar some of the com
panies in tie ''anti-combine" would moi
vote for some OF the combine" com
panies.
The Friendship is ready to cooperate
with companies in the 'anti-cumbine"
ut any time but not TO the detriment OF
any of the four companies that stood by
the Friendship. The ''anti-conbine'
companies claim to have more members
than the combine The combine
companies might then claim to do more
service, because they have more appara
tiis as follows: Fire engines. ANTI com
biLe" companies, 3;"eonbine' companies,
s; hose wagons, '.anti-combine," 2:
.'combinc," ); chemical engine and hose
wagon "anti-combine," /; combine, 0;
chemical engines, ''anti-combine," o.,
combine" p; hook and ladder, anti
combine" !; combine" / total pieces,
''anti-conlbine, 4 ''combine," 13, feet
of hose, "anti-combne, 5000; combine"
5000.
Mr.. Morgan declared that the 'com-
bine" was willing to meet the representa-
tives Of the .'anti-comline" companies
in convention, provided the "anti-com-
binc" companies agree TO abide 10y the
tesision Of a just conference if Il positive
guarantee is given that the ''anti-com-
bine" will do its share toward carrying
out the decision to the letter. The com
tpany is willing TO contribute lis share to-
ward securing harmony i'll the depart
ment.
George Patterson of the Phoenix. Il
''combine" company, said the company
went into the combine for protection and
felt justified in 50 doing. They We're
willing to go into a general convention
If the "anti-combne" goes bound TO
stand by the decision oi the convention.
John II. Shipley Of the Washington, a
combine company, thought it would be
well for the firemen to settle the matter
among themselves rather than TO bring
it where il might jeopardize the political
aspirations of the members of Council.
He thought Council could not legally
change the law.
Ex-thief Dennis $. Shields Of the
Weccacoe. Il combine" company, dis
p,ted the fact that the ordinance, if
passed, woulu produce harmony and de-
clnrcd that tile combine" companies
were living up to the law and it might
be well to lot well enough alone.
l.
.scombine'' company, said he thought
Council should let the matter alone, lie
acknowledged that the "anti-combine'
companies had made an effort to buy the
Liberty, offering TO place money in bank
Mt the rate of 5000 vote but the com
pany could not lie bought and the com
binc" could not be broken by the vote
OF the Liberty.
Replies were madA on behalf of the
.santi-combne'' companies by Frank ii
Brand Of the Fame and Edward r. Kane
of the Water Witch.
Mr. Brand said that if two of the
'.anti-corbine" companies did join the
..combine'' this would affect no remedy
MS combines were hound to exist under
The present system. The proposed ord
nance would prohibit combines. He saif
II. A. Robinson of the Fame was MOI
elected by the department but by Coun
ell At that time sealing for two wears
in advance WAS never thought Of Nov
that the .scomLine" had existed for tel
years and each Of the combine com
panies had gotten chief it was tim'
to make a change.
MIR. Kane said he had not heard on
reason brought forward to show why tn
ordinance should not pass. lie said n
had been president of his company TO
several terms and stated that he wa
asked some years ago If his compan,
would so into the "comhine' and h
asked if there was vacancy. lie wa
told there might be-. MS one OF tn
companies was little shaky. He hear
nothing more about 1t. but if he ha
been asked again. had vacency soc
cured, he would have said yes. MI
Oberly. chairman of the Law Committee
said il was unfortunate that the tireme
couE. NOT settle the matter among then
selves On motion of MIR. Smith. Tn
ordinance was referred to the Law an
Fire Committees and the city solicitor
A large number Of firemen were pleS
ent ;is iil4a3Sg