The Portland daily press., 1901-02-08

bsrs Of the department who should be rs
moved, but through political Influences
they can retain their places. Asa result
thsrs is great difficulty in Keeping the
department up to high standard.
Mr.. Wilson called attention 10 the fact
that 50 of oi fire Insurance. companies
doing business In Portland are represent
ed on the petitions In favor Of the bill
and the petitions have been signed By
large property owners. MIR. Wilson said
that the bill was favored by the chief
and he thought he was authorized to say
| by the mayor, also. The great objection
urged against the bill has been the
tenure Of ofiioe of the chief II that was
made five years It would not be obiec-
tionable to tbs friends OF the measure.
In answer to questions, Mr.. Wilson said
he did not know Of any other city which
had chisf appointed for an indefinite
term. The unique fire department of the
country was that of Savannah. Ca,
where q man runs the department on
contract, hiring the men and conduct
ing 1t In his own way. The system has
been in use fifteen years and the city
claims to have the crack department OF
the South.
Mr.. Chase asked II Mr.. Wilson could
tell the committee whsther there wss a
general septiment in favor of the bill
among the citlzsns OF Portland.
Mr.. Wilson said he knew there was
strong sentiment that the department
should be re-organized IN some manner.
Senator Virgin asked II an amend
ment which had been submitted to him
providing that appointments be made
from list Of applicants certified by the
polics examining board would be acoep-
table.
MIR. Wilson replied that 1t might seem
SO on first sight. but In practice he had
been told by the chief that 1t Is almost
impossible to tell In advance who will
make a good fireman. 1t is not always
case of mental and physical DEVELOPMENT
as Is the case in the appointments to the
police department..
Alderman Moulton was the next
speaker. He said he had given attention
TO bhe matter and knew that the bill
had been carefully considered from the
outset. 1t had bsen unanimously report.
ed by the fire committee including mem
bers OF both parties. Inc COMMITTEES ex-
amined the fIre department systems Of
many cities and the bill was drafted af-
ter this examination. The bill was en-
dorsed by the aldermen. bat It was not
submitted to the common council for
lack OF tims. The question reised as TO
the power OF the chief has been carefully
considerad The chief has no right to
remove q single man without the con-
sent of the mayor and the chief may be
removed by the mayor for cause. I'M
dsrstand that removal for cause means
removal for what the courts would con-
slider substantial cause. Let us see what
happened few years ago. Portland Is
a STEADY going city, but now and then
accidents happen. A few years ago, the
city government was Democratic and
the eatlre department was changed Tbs
same thing would happen now under the
existing law. The bill provides that the
mayor may only remove for cause ana
that means not whimsical cause OF a
political one, but q cause which the
mayor can sustain.
MIR. Moulton told the story OF the
French and Wiggin case. Now that, he
said, is an Absurdity. II the msu were
innocent they should have had ths bens-
ut OF that fact. II guilty they should
have been removed Mr.. Moulton said
he had been impressed with the amend
ment to the bill as quoted by Senator
An f, ta
of the qualities required of u fireman Is
that OF sand, qualification which can
be determined by no examination. A
few years ago at n fire in the Deering
district, 1t was necessary for the fireUen
to go to the top of the house and nine
Of them had their coats burned OF their
backs. The courage of those men could
not have been revealed by any examina-
tion. Referring again to the question
nf removal for cause, MIR. Moulton said
that he was satisfied upon the point
that the courts would review a case and
pass upon the Adequacy of the causa OF
removal,
Chief Eldridge in reply to a question
by Senator Virgin, said that the captains
under the bill would be given the pow
ers OF the assistant engineers so that there
would be no harm done by reason OF
lack OF authority In the absence of the
chief.
Chief Eldridge said in reference to the
civil service amendment, that he could
not conceive OF an examination which
would determine whether a man would
make good fireman. Experience aIon
would tell Under rules formulated un-
der the bill, members would be taken
from the substitute list as they are now.
Mr.. Eldredge said that he found few
people who did not agree that som sthing
should be done. OF course a bill could
not be drafted that would suit every
body. The people Of the city,if they read
the pspers must know ths main feat
ures of the bill, although Mr.. Eldridge
would not say that all the people were
familiar with 1t, he knew OF no orga-
nized opposition to the bill II 1t did