Waterbury Democrat., 1901-05-15
BOARD OF PUBLIC SAFETY

Award Contract for Coal for Fire and
 Police Departments to John Byron.
 For the interest that is manifested sn the average meeting or tae board of pnblic safety that of last evening was very cold. The discussion of coal took mp the great part of the meeting. All of the members of the board excepting Commissioner E. l.. Foley were present and Mayor Kilduff presided. At 8 o'clock sharp the board settled down to business.
 The usual preliminaries being gone through with sealed bids to supply the fire and police department with 21O tons of coal to be delivered before the first of June, were opened. The bids were as follows: John Byron $6.29 per ton, Frank Miller & Co S623 and forty cents for labor, City Lumber and Coal company S6.25 for present bin capacity which is about 121 tons, forty-fve cents extra for the remainder. John McElli- gott S5.79 net, S6.27 gross per ton, Brass City Coal company S634. After some discussion and it being repeatedly stat cd that each bidder had the same speci- hcations and all were expected to bid on the gross ton it was voted to give the contract to MT Byron.
 An application for extension of time to hold a boxing exhibition was re; ceiged from the Waterbury Athletic club per James Carroll, manager. Com missioner Hall moved that the exten- sion of time be not granted. Com missioner Kleinecke said that he had washed his hands of such affairs. He does not attend them and he would have no more to do with them. He understood that the last one, held last week, was fizzle. Still he would not object to granting an extension of time to this club. Commissioners Knox dis agreed with his colleague. He thought that all those who attended the last ex- hfbition had good run for their mon ey. He moved that permission be granted. Commissioned D. Foley sec onded the motion and it was carried Commissioned Hall voting only in the negative.
 Applications were received from Fred B. Moon and Morris Griffin call men, 10 be appointed to the regular fire force. and from James O'Neill and Christopher Dunn to be appointed on the callmen force. All were placed on file.
 Commissioner Knox and Hall as a committee with Chief Snagg to inquire into the spat between Fireman George Reid and Captain Moore of the Burton street engine house reported that they had carried out the requirements of the vote and found matters to be as pre- viously stated by the chief. That is, that Reid. one morning rendered his badge to the captain after he had been refused permission to leave the engine house. The captain refused to accept the badge but reported the matter to the chief. Later Reid reported for duty but the captain advised him to re- port to the chief as the matter was then in his hands. This Reid did not do. This matter used considerable discussion. Commissioner Kleinecke understood that the difficulty was brought about by Reid having illness at home which greatly disturbed him. He thought the matter could be ad- 5usted by imposing a fine. Commis- siouer Knox thought it rather hard to expect a man in Reid's place to report a private matter to his captain and thereby make a delicate affair public snbfect. He thought the man had been already severely punished by the loss of time. He ascertained that Reid was n first class man. Had he been charged with cowardice, neglect of duty or intoxfcation, it would be wholly a dlr- ferent matter. Furthermore Captain Moore spoke highly of Reid. The con- missioner moved that Reid be fined fen days pay exclusive of what he had already lost Commissioner D. Foley seconded the motion and 1t was car ried. :.
 At the suggestion of the mayor 1t was then voted that hereafter when captain is rendered a badge by any fireman in his company he shall ac- cent if. By refusing to accept the capfains throw the burden of acting on the matter on the board. A ire mans work is not boys play and the sooner the firemen should understand this the better for them. There are numbers of young men anxious to get on the fire force. The city pays the fremen good wages and good system of discipline ought to prevail. So that hereafter, all captains must report all acts of violations of the rules and in- subordfnation and the proffer of a badge to any captain shall be consid- cred the resignation of the owner or the badge
 The pay rolls were then approved The fire department pay roll was s74s.14 and the police $1,529.6S. The board then adjourned.