The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1903-07-25

! As was expected the charges Of in
! son were in none of the courts sus-
/ tanned. Nearly all of the evidence
! offered was of "A hearsay nature, and
whan those who were ciiticising the
/ Chief learned the facts in the case,
acknowledged that they had been
misinformed or were mistaken in jud
ment.
| The commissioners after using ev
cry endeavor TO learn the facts, com
pletely exonerate the Chief. The
evidence produced showed conclus-
lively that Chief Johnson is not only
Well qualified and competent in every
particular but is one of the best chiefs
the city has ever had, and during the
the Fire Department has made many
improvements in the matter of econ
omy and efficiency of the department.
As the report of the commissioners
has only been published in part by the
other papers in the city, we take
pleasure in giving to our readers the
report complete, that all may read
and draw their own conclusion.
July Is, 1903.
To the Hon. Charles N. O'Hare,
Mayor of the City OF Superior,
Wisconsin.
SIR
In the Evening Telegram news,
paper of June 25th, 1903, there appear
ed an editorial headed "The Fire
Chief" in which it was stated that
there were complaints throughout the
city because of the alleged inetficiency
OF Olaf Johnson, chief of the fire dc
partment; that it was reported that
his lack efficiency was particularly ap-
parent at the Scotleid mill fire and
that at recent fire at +. 5. Rolls
some stranger in the city had been
unable TO identity the chief; that the
business men Of the city particularly
the insurance men-did not believe
the chief competent The article
furthur said:
"Now as to these matters the Eve
| ming Telegram knows nothing except
the fact that there are these com
plants and charges and that they are
currently made on the street, by both
tremen and others"
''The commission should at once
take cognizance of tins complaint and
make thorough investigation and If it
is found that the complaints are true
and the present chief is entirely incom
petent, a change should be made"
The editorial, clipped from the
newspaper, is attached to this report
Prior to the publication Of the above
editorial no member of the police and
fire commission had heard of the com
After reading the article the mem
bers of the board Individually but not
collectively determined that there
ought to be an investigation touching
the matters thus brought to their
notice. On account OF the absence
from the city of certain members Of
the board it proved impossible to
have meeting until July 7th, on
which day meeting of the board was
held. all members of the board being
present, and the above matter was
taken up lnasmuch IA 30 much time
had elapsed since the appearance OF
the Telegram = article the members OF
the board were anxious TO begin IN
quiry with as little delay az possible
and they therefore resolved to meet
on the following day and passed re
solution to that effect and called upon
manager of the Telegram and all
others having information as to the
subject to appear before them. The
course adopted apparently gave
offence to the Evening Telegram as we
gathered from the editorial Of the fol
lowing day, July sth. We regretted the
Telegram's disapproVal, not only be-
calise we were saddened to be held in
the light estimate by that journal, but
obi
torial would tend TO raise new issue
at this time an immaterial one thus
likely to throw in the background the
real issue before IA.
However, prior to the appearance
of this latter article we had already
adopted the course recommended
therein, for at our meeting held at 4
O'Clock July sth, no one appearing IN
response to our invitation OF the day
before, we resolved TO subpoena such
persons as we could learn by report
had information and bring them be.
fore us at an adjourned meeting on
Saturday, July IL. At the meeting OF
! July :, all members Of the board were
present At the subsequent meetings
oaly the undersigned were present,
Mr.. Commissioner DeGroat being
necessarily absent on account Of busi
ness outside OF the city and and he
accordingly does not join with us in
making this report. We who do make
this report may be allowed 10 say in