Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-19
Recommendation Of Appro-
priations Committee
FOR FIRE DEPARTMENT
CHIEF IN OTHER CITIES Is AN
EXECUTIVE OFFICER.
Performing Practically the Same
Duties as Those Of Mr..
Dutton Here.


priation BILL as reported to the House Sat
urday afternoon by the subcommittee on
appropriations. to the effect that the head
Of the District fire department shall be a
man who has had at least I'VE years ex-
perience as fire fighter in some regularly
organized municipal department, continues
to be the topic OF interest in District cir
Giles.
The talk on the subject has brought out
the fact that. In practically every large city
of the country, the head of the fire depart
ment is either an executive officer, or a
board Of commissioners has control of the
executive work.
I 1t is pointed out, in view of this fact, that
the action Of the Commissioners in appoint
ing Mr.. Dutton, a man OF acknowledged
executive ability, was simply bringing the
department into the up-to-date lines fol-
lowed in other cities
An Interesting Fact.
1t is an interesting fact In connection with
the position Of the House subcommittee that
an active fire fighter should be the sole head
Of the District fire department that the local
department, from the time of its organiza-
ton in 1854 paid department and up to
and including the year 1883, was presided
over By board of fire commissioners.
During the time OF the territorial form OF
government this board of commissioners
consisted of no less than seven men, who
were paid each an annual salary of $aN.
When the department was first organized
the ordinance provided for the appointment
by the mayor of four members of board Of
fire commissioners. These men took charge
Of the executive work OF the department
the work Mr.. Dutton has been called upon
to do since he was appointed, nearly two.
years ago.
Then came the board OF seven commits
-lz1
later, under the temporary form of govern
ment in the District. the board was again
reduced to four. The District Commission,
ers, under the permanent form of govern
ment, continued to appoint fire commission
ers from 1878 to lSS:s. when the board was
abolished because of a lack of provision
the part of Congress for their continuance
New York's Commissioner.
In the city Of New York there is a fire
commissioner, who assumes the duties Mr..
Dutton has been performing, and there is
also chief engineer. who takes charge Of
the fire-fighting force, as Chief Belt has
been doing in this city. The fire commits
sioner is a lawyer by profession. He at
tends to all the executive work of the de-
partment under direction Of the councils
and the mayor.
In Boston the conditions as to the gov
eminent Of the fire department are pre-
cisely the same as have existed here since
the Commissioners appointed the present
chief and declared their intention of max
ing an executive head to the department.
The Boston superintendent of the fire de-
partment, or fire commissioner, is
wealthy lawyer. He devotes his time and
attention to the department indefatigably.
and vet turns his entire salary over to
charities each month. The chief engineer
of the Boston department looks after the
fire-fghting branch
In Other Cities.
In Philadelphia there is also an executive
head of the fire department who directs its
executive business. His title is director OF
public safety.
In Baltimore there is board of fire COM
missioners consisting of three or five mem
bers, who take care of the executive work.
In Detroit there is fire commissioner. Ahe
same conditions prevail in practically every
large city.
The business Of large fire department is
such that an executive head has come to
be absolutely needed. as the conditions in
other cities indicate more clearly than any
argument the local officials can bring to
bear.
The direction and management of a body
of several hundred men who are confined
to quarters most of the time forms a very
intricate problem. Some means must be
devised of giving these men rest from
their duties and some recreation.
The whole plan of keeping them interest
ed in their work and upbuilding a pride in
their department must be constantly At
tended to. The apparatus in a metropolitan
fire department is worth thousands upon
thousands of dollars.
Another Cause for Regret.
Another feature Of the District appropria-
ton bill which is causing much regret in
District circles Is that limiting the appro-
priation for street improvements to $4,000.
The appropriations for this work have
heretofore reached as high 100000. and
never before has the figure been so low
as that proposed for the coming fiscal year.
For the current year the estimates Of the
Commissioners were cut down to $150,OO0,
and it was thought this was the lowest
amount that could consistently be appro-
priated. The provision for only $50, 600
however. means that street Improvement
work next year will practically be at a
standstill
Many working people under the Districts
street contractors will naturally be thrown
out of employment next year unless the
amount for this branch Of municipal bet
terment should be raised before the appro-
priation bill becomes a law.
Slight Blaze.
Policeman Short was summoned to the
house of Israel Raft 3l4O p street George