Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-17
is MUCH REGRETTED
Limiting Choice Of Fire De-
partment Head
IN DISTRICT BILL
COMMISSIONERS OPPOSED TO
COMMITTEES ACTION.
Mr.. Mcfarland Explains Why It is
Desired to Have Business Man
In Charge Of the Force.
IN DISTRICT BILL

In Charge Of the Force.
BY the terms of a new limitation in the
District of Columbia appropriation. bill the
head Of the FIRE department is required TO
"have had at least five years actual ex-.
perience as a member Of some organized
municipal FIRE department"
Nothing Personal Intended. -
When asked the meaning of this pro-
vision, Chairman McCleary said to Star
reporter today:
1.-The committee did not take this action
from any personal motives. The require
ment Of practical experience Is regarded as
highly essential and SO far as the commit
tee knows, the provision may mean no
change in the head OF that department.
Certainly, If the present chief has had that
experience, 1t will require no change as far
as this provision is concerned
THE Commissioners have advocated for
the past two years that provision be made
for dual management of the fire depart
ment an executive officer and a practical
engineer. In considering this, the commit
tee found that in other cities there was
generally one head. and that head a prac-
ticai fire fighter. The matter has been con-
sidered simply from the practical stand
point and not from personal one"
hegaToeo as hegrettaDle.
The provision of the District bill which
caused the greatest surprise at the District
building was that pertaining to the appro-
priation for a chief engineer for the fire
department. The Commissioners were as
much surprised as anyone Commissioner
Mcfarland, who has supervision Of the fire
department, when told Of the matter. said
he could say nothing In regard to It, Chief
Engineer Dutton. who will be virtually leg
islated out of office If the provision is al
lowed to remain in the bill on its final pas
sage by the House and Senate, said like
wise that he could express no opinion.
At the District building the provision is
generally regarded as most regrettable. If
there had been any criticism to offer OF
Chief buttons administration of the de-
partment 1t is felt that there might have
been reason which seemed to call for the
provision. On the contrary, however, there
has been nothing but praise for the upbuild-
ing Of the efficiency of the department since
Mr.. Dutton was placed In charge, about
two years ago.
The Commissioners hold that Chief Dut-
toms administration has been marked not
alone by efficiency. but he is exceedingly
popular with the men of the department,
and especially is this true Of the assistant
chiefs. who are in charge Of the 1re-fghting
branch. 1t is stated that Mr.. Dutton has
worked earnestly to build up the depart
ment and his efforts have met with un-
qualified success.
The Commissioners have congratula ted
themselves time and again. privately and
officially in their public utterances, on hav-
Ing named Mr.. Button as chief engineer.
That Congress should undertake to undo
their work and to take away from them
another administrative privilege is qui1e
generally regretted.
Insurance Men Praise Dutton
The insurance men OF the city, who ara
into cd lrnn af
other class of citizens in the efficiency Of
the department, have been loud in their
praise OF Chief buttons administration.
The last annual report Of Chief Dutton
showed that the fire losses in the District
had been less than for twelve years past.
Mr.. Dutton has introduced many new ap-
pliances in the department. as well as val
liable ideas which have proved their worth
by results obtained.
He has been thoroughly progressive in his
administration. the District officials be-
lieve. and were he to leave the service the
be a great injury to the District service ac-
cording to the opinions of his fellow-ofh-
Gals
A Business Head Needed.
The following is detailed report Of the
hearing before the appropriations commit
tee on the subject of the head of the fire
department Commissioner Macfarland was
before the committee. He said:
eat the opening 1 want to impress upon
you the extent of this department and the
extent Of its responsibilities. The property
Of the department, the stations and equip
ments, are valued at 81 100000. and you can
partment as that. to manage the men, the
stations, the apparatus, discipline, to see
that all the work Is done properly and
profitably and economically. requires
Tho fro fivht QPC hnc mon
who do the work at the fires. are at least
as competent and efficient as any in the
United States. and that means. OF course.
In the world. There is not a better body of
men anywhere. They have not been paid
in proportion to their services or in proper
ton to the pay given elsewhere, but they
have always rendered the most efficient
service. Until within the last two years
we have not had at the head of the whole
service a business man. an executive, an
administrative man. We have In the major
and superintendent of police, as Commits
sioner West said, probably the most eff
now at the head of the fire department., in
Mr.. button. man whom / believe to be
as able as Maj. Sylvester, and as efficient
and effective in his department.
Mr.. McCleary-"What was his previous
training?'
Mr.. Macfarland-.'He had had no training
in practice, except that he had taken fol-
years a very deep interest in the fire de-
partment and had studied 1t on his own ac-
count. He was very familiar with the
whole service with the men. giving his own
time to it, to very great extent, and with
business ability took the matter right up.
and in the past two years he has vely
greatly improved the management of It.
He has introduced all the modern equip
ment that the appropriations would admit.
The former chief was not business man.
The former chief was fire-fighter and
nothing else"
Mr.. McCleary-''was he a good fire.
fighter?'
Mr. Macfarland-"Yes, sir. He was very
good. indeed. when he got to a fire, but he
was not a business man or an educated
man, and he could not handle the business
OF administration. The need was SO great
that 1t was apparent to the Commissioners
when they got a new man that he must be
business man. an administrative man, an
executive. and I am sure that in these two
years Mr.. Dutton has amply justified the
choice which the Commissioners made.
That Is all want to say about the general
subject"
Mr.. Burkett-'How has he justified it?''
Chief buttons improvements.
Mr.. Macfarland-'In the first place, he
has organized the business OF the DEPART
ment and the correspondence OF the depart
ment and the discipline of the department.
SO that there is now system in all those
respects. He has his ONCE files, he has his