The evening times., 1901-04-29
A new FIRE CHIEF NAMED
r. W DuttOn Appointed Today to
Succeed Joseph Paris.
Commissioner MacfarIaud 0utIia@s
His Views Concerning Reforms in
the Observation-Disclosures in Sal
aries and Additional Funds.

His Views COuCerniHG Reforms in
the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS in Sal
aries and Additional Funds.
Commissioner Macfarland. who has ST
pervision over the Fire Department, to-
day. recommended to his associates, and
they approved. the appointment Of r W
Dutton. as Chief Engineer Of the Fire De
partment, to succeed Joseph Paris re
tired.
The appointment of Mr. Dutton came to
/ him lr1sOuEht as he was in TO sense a
candidate for the position When the
matter was first broached to him. Mr.
DuttOn said that he could not afford to
| take it, owing 10 the q zIJJ Mt Of the salary
| attached 1t is understood that he takes
| the place at the earnest solicitation OF
! Commissioner Macfarland. and with the
1 understanding that an effort to have the
/ salary increased by Congress at the next
| session will be made
! The appointment of Mr. Dttton to the
/ head Of the Fire Department marks a de
| Darture in its control by giving it an ex-
! ecutIve rather than specifically a fire
| fighting chief engineer The matter has
/ been very carefully considered by Com
! missioner lIacfariand. The impression
/ has grown that the department needed
! man of executive ability and education to
/ conduct its affairs It was considered that
/ the appointment of civilian to the posi-
! ton might remove one incentive to the
members Of the department. in that they
could not hope to gain the highest place
/ in it
! Mr. MacfarIand covers The matter quite
thoroughly IN his letter recommending
Mr. Dvtton for the position. In this MI
Z 8IacfarIand says:
! r-r-- & IF l1Fa
! partnent. Joseph Paris, viii retire next
/ Wednesday. May /. on his own apps g.
/ ton which has been approved by sil
/ Commissioners The vacancy thus cr"-
I 7ted should be filled with respect priT-
/ riIy to the administration of what va
( grown to be one Of the important depart
! raents Of the District Government Grad
uaIIy it has developed Until it is now a
: great business establishment, with a very
valuable plant and constantly increasing
I duties. 1t covers N its operations almost
I the entire District of Columbia. It has
I twentv-one fire-protection stations and
/ Two more win soon be opened, while an
/ other has been authorized by Congress,
3 ard at least three more are needed At
/ these stations are all the various forms Of
f7rs-fEghting apparatus, including some Of
the latest and best although there IS
/ much that ought to be replaced with later
ard more powerful or more convenient
Lnyenticns.
..On Hle Ist of July there viii be about
/ 80 men in the Department We ought to
{ have and doubtless viii have soon, a
( much larger number to increase the eff
cheney Of the Department and give the
/ men more freedom.
AT this important Juncture in the his
tory Of the Fire Department think We
T ought to have at the head Of it a man
( who is not only familiar with il, its per
. sonnet apparatus. work, and needs. but
one who has marked executive ability, and
superior intelligence and education He
( ought TO be man v no can grasp all the
interests OF the Fire department plan
broadly and wisely for its future, procure
and adapt the successful plans Of other
communities. and when necessary repre-
sent the department creditably in writing
or in speech. as for example, at the an
nual convention of fire department CE eCs-
The salary Of the office, which Is only
$2,0g1. ought to be increased, SO as TO be
{ equal to that Of the Major and SUpeTiu-
teHdent Of Police, which is $500. At the
same time the salaries of the Assistant
F Chief Engineers who should he the i'm
mediate directors Of fire-hghting opera
tioHS, under the superintendent OF the
Chief should be increased from $500 TO
$3.50, the same as that OF the Captain
or Police, and the number Of Assistant
Chief Engineers should be increased from
{ three 20 four five. The office of Fire
[ Marshal should be made more useful, as
IL those States where il is regarded as Of
great Importance in IRE Insurance settle
ments. as well in preventive E-e in
spections- The salary ought TO be in
creased from 81. .001 to at least Sl.SJ0- The
salaries Of the foremen Of companies,
I which are now OHIy Sl,DO0 each, Should
be increased to s. $50 each, and CORE
spending increases should be made in the
salaries Of the other members Of the
department
Congress. at the last session. adopted
the recommendation OF the Commission
eTs that the salaries should be increased
although the increase given was compare
lively small. and in the lower salaries
But 1 believe that at the next session Con
gTess viii be willing to do much more for
the Fire Department / shall recommend
when the Commissioners make up their
estimates for the next fiscal year. that
provision be made for all the improve
n1ents have suggested in this memOran-
dunn
IF Congress would grant all that have
suggested in increases of men and sala-
ries, in new buildings and apparatus-sour
Fire Department whose members are 50
jealous and skiIlfuI would have in
creased efficiency.
IN view Of what ] have said about the
vacancy now to be flied. I move that
: Robert w DuttOn be appointed Chief En-
gineer Of the Fire Department. TO take ef-
feet May l next
Mr. Dttton is specially wen equipped for
tie place, from the fact that since boy
[ hOd lie has been personally very much in
tereSted IN the Fire Department He is
thoroughly familiar with itS workings
has an acquaintance with the men, and is
well versed in the management Of its af-
fairs II was the custom Of Commissioner
F Wight and since his appointment. of
. Commissioner MaCfaTland 10 consult Mr.
DUttCn every time any important action
{ was taken. owing to his intimate knOwI-
I edge % everything connected Herewith
| Mr. Dutton- in his capacity of reporter.
! has been able to give valuable advice to
I the Commissioners and II was this which
first suggested his appointment.
Mr. DUttou is WaShingtOrian- He
was born here and educated IN the city
schools He has filed several positions
Of responsibility and always with credit
For several wears he has been a reporter
for the 'Evening Star first at the City
/ Hall and afterwacd at the District Build
/ ing