Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-17


and keeps abreast Of whatever is going on.
He has. I think. very greatly improved the
siicaency OF his department; there is no
Mr.. Burkett-"IIas the rate of insurance
gone dewng'
Mr. mcfarland do not think you
would expect to have any effect of that
sort. no matter how good business ad-
minfstration yen might have"
Mr.. Burkett-"Is there any better fire pro-
tection?"
Mr. Macfariand-'I think there is. but L
do not think you would see 1t in the fnsur-
ance rates. As q matter of fact. all the In
surance rates have been raised since the
Paterson nre.''
Mr.. Burkett-"Are the firemen. in general,
IN sympathy with this head. who Is not
fighting head?"
Mr.. Mcfarland: II think so: at least the
most OF them
Management Of Fires.
Mr.. Burkett: who is the man who as
sumes control at a firc?''
Mr. Macfarland: I'm the case of a large
fire the senior assistant CHIEF engineer, who
Is fire fighter"
Mr.. McCeary: tThat is Mr.. Belt?"
Mr.. Mcfarland: YES sir: but he is not a
man who could be made superintendent Of
Mr.. Burkett: docs he go to every fire."
Mr.. mcfarland: 1-He only goes to the
more important fires. but some assistant
CHIEF goes to every Ere"
MI. McCleary: How many assistants are
there?"
Mr.. Macfarland: Three Mr.. Belt only
goes to the more important fires.
think we have the department now
organized In the most efficient manner, and
the only thing is to have It strengthened in
the way l have suggested. We ask for the
superintendent salary of $500. Major
Sylvester, the superintendent of police
md vryicf hot
ask that the assistant chief engineers, each
chief engineers first assistant. Then we
ask thatthe assistant chief engineers each
OF whom has the primary responsibility Of
a section-the District Is divided into sec
tfons,. and each Of these men has one Sec
tion-should have 81, 500.
They only get 81, 200, which Is certainly
Inadequate. Their salary ought to be
brought to that Of captain Of the police
force"
Mr.. McCleary: Referring to Mr. Bur-
kett's question, does that division OF the
District indicate who would be at the fire ~
Mr.. Mcfarland: Yes. sir. On all second
alarms the senior assistant chief would go
to the fire and take command, but in the
first place one Of the assistant chiefs would
CO."
The New Office Proposed.
Mr. Burkett: Are you creating a new
Office by this changer
Mr. Mcfarland: Eyes. sir; the Office Of
superintendent"
Mr.. Burkett: Mr.. Dutton is now called
chief engineer
Mr.. Mcfarland: Yes, sir; that was the
only way we could appoint him. The prac-
tical effect is to add $500 to his salary
Mr.. McCleary: ''The superintendent never
goes to q fire?'
Mr. mcfarland: Eyes. sir; but only to the
large ones"
Mr. McCleary: st mean Mr. Dutton."
Mr. Mcfarland: Yes: he goes"
Mr.. McCleary: HE goes to observer
Mr. Macfarland-"Yes. sir: but he does
rot take charge Of the fire-fghting service"
. Mr. McCleary-"He is an Observer
Mr.. Macfarland-'Yes. sir: and as ad-
wiser. and, Of course. he has a fire alarm
in his house. and all the alarms are regis
tered there, and he is kept In constant
touch with the operations Of the depart
ment. OF course. there is another thing to
be considered about the firemen. In all
cases the officials and privates are subject
to call at all hours OF the day and night
The police serve their tusns and then they
are of. but these men. except when they
have their day off-one day I'M six-they
have to be there. The superintendent. the
engineer and the assistants are subject to
calls at all hours of the day and night
Mr.. McCleary-"They only have one day
off in Skip
Mr.. Mactarland-"Yes, sir. The privates
have a day of II it is possible to arrange it
and the other men are not sick. If men are
sick they are not able to get off,
AeaO Oh G1IS-CiSut1uS GorcS.
Mr.. Burkett-"You recognize what have
been trying to recognize, that there should
be head Of the fire-fghting force?''
Mr.. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES have him.
Mr.. Burkett: You have him now as one
of the three assistants is on par with
two other menu"
Mr. Macfarland: 'eYes, sir"
Mr.. Burkett: '.And they all get the same
saIary?"
Mr.. Macfarland: Eyes, SIR"
Mr.. Burkett: You really have no chief of
the fire-fighting force, except as he is desig-
nated?" .s.5a--a
Mr. mcfarland: ''That is ALL
Mr.. Burkett: I'm short, you have taken
a business man and put him into this
placer" sT
Mr. Macfarland: Eyes, SIR"
Mr. Burkett: "And now You want to Gre
ate new Office for your business man, so
you can really have a fire-fighting chef?'
Mr.. Macfarland: mo, sir; so we can real
ly have an administrator of the fire depart
mert, which Is a great business organiza-
ton. We can go on as we are going, but it
would be unjust to the department and bad
administration, think"