Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-01-14
FIRE APPARATUS,
FIRED OFFICIAL
Council to Receive Bids For
Furnishing Paid Department
Equipment.
Investigating Committee Makes
unsatisfactory Report
on Cost.
Superintendent Mack's Suspen.
sion Made Permanent by
Vote of Six to Two.
Friends Forced an Open Fight
Mr.. Benson Explains His
Contract.

Contract.
There was merry time in the council
chamber Monday night. Several i'm
portant matters were up for considera-
ton and two momentous question:
were disposed of. One of these was &C.
ton on the report of the special com
mittee appointed to suggest plans fol
the organization and equipment of 9
paid fire department, and resulted in
favorable action being taken. Another
was the entering into contract with
Andrew Carnegie, in which it was
agreed to raise at least $500 per veal
for the maintenance of the public Ii
brary, in order to secure the Carnegie
building. The fight on Superintendent
Of Mains Z. q. Mack was also forced to
intendent lost out by vote of 6 to 2.
His opponents were willing to let the
action OF the committee of the whole
stand and not bring the matter into
open council again. allowing the action
suspendtng him to continue until the
close OF the fiscal year, when success
sor would have been elected, but Mr..
Kreutzer wanted to, fight it out in open
meeting and put the counclmen on
record, thus hoping some of the men,
bers who had voted for suspension in
committee would vote to reinstate. 1t
would have been better for Mr. Mack
future prospects had the matter been
allowed to remain as 1t was and the
suspension continued until the end Of
his year..
Mr. Kirby, who with Messrs. Fisher
and Henry was appointed on a special
committee to investigate the matter of
necessary equipment, number of men
and cost of maintenance of paid fire
department in Marshalltown. submitted
very complete report They visited
Ottumwa, where two companies are
maintained, six men at central station
and three at sub station and where
hose men are paid $50 per month and
drivers S55. the annual cost of mainte-
nance of the department being $1,000;
Z arlington, where seven companies, one
men are maintained; Davenport, where
Alillp S1It iiixtiuNaiHSd, l1dNSnpOil NuSic
the department numbers eight compa-
MES and thirty-fiye men: Rock Island,
which has three stations, one with nine
and the other with three men; Gales
burg, where two companies and eleven
men are employed at an annual cost OF
$1,000 per year; and Clinton, with two
companies and fifteen men. costing
$3.50 per year to maintain. From the
conditions prevailing in Marshalltown
and from Its observations in other
cities, the committee made the follow
ing recommendations: That two COM
panies be organized in this city; that
the department number eight men, in
Guiding a. chief; that four men he re-
tanned lat the uptown station and three
in the sub-station on the south side;
that the necessary teams and harness
be purchased and that bids be procured
for the construction of two wagons
capable OF carrying 1000 feet of hose
and the necessary extension ladders;
also that bids be received for a COM
bination wagon and chemical engine;
and that plans be procured for the erec-
ton of a station house on the city's
ground on the corner OF Center and
State street. The total cost of the en-
tire equipment Is estimated at $4,000,
and the committee says the department
can be maintained at an expense of S.
040 per year by paying the chief $50 per
month and the hose men and drivers
$45 each. A motion, presented by Mr.. |
Mcclure. was adopted that the report |
be received and that the city clerk be
instructed to procure bids on the APP
paratus. The bids will be considered at |
an adjourned meeting to be held in two /
weeks.
Prior to the meeting the council held |
q brief caucus and IN that caucus a ma
tority had expressedga willingness to al
low the suspension of Superintendent
Mack to continue until March, when his
term would have expired, without fur
Their action in open council. 1t was sup
posed this would be done and it was
not until late hour and the business
was almost entirely disposed of that
Mr.. Kreutzer of the water committee,
which had been standing by the super
arose and wanted to know If
the council did not propose to take fur
Their action relative to the work of the
committee of the whole. This started
4 discussion that grew acrimonious and
resulted in the forcing of the issue.
There was some surprise I'm the vote
that followed. Mayor Jores showed
that he was becoming good politician,
as, fearing the question would come be-
fore him on tie vote, he had fortified
himself with ordinances and rulings.
DR.. Harris and others maintained that
Mr.. Mack was not an officer of the city,
while the mayor held that he was. that
The only question: now before the coun-
ell was whether or not action of the
of the whole in voting to
make the suspension of the supernten-
lent permanent should be sustained,
Ind that 1T required two-thirds vote
If the council to suspend an officer of
he city. Under this ruling 1t appeared
is tho Mr.. Mack would have votes
enough to win. Mr.. Kreutzer made the !
necessary motion under the ruling, 4
ind the surprise came in the vote on
he question of making the suspension !;
Mr.. MCGUIRE who is I
member of the water committee and
las been supporter of Mack, had Sc i
ured the sentiment OF his constituents I
nd voted against Mack, IIs did Mr..
henry, who has been an uncertain
in this controversy. This left
~ rpapcon udf Mr. Kra,ltzor af the