Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-20
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
CHANGES RECoMMENDED BY
CHIEF BELT.
New Titles Under Last Appropriation
Bill-Promotions to Be An
nounced Shortly.


department has formally recommended to
Commissioner Mcfarland that the titles of
officers in the department be changed. as
provided for in the last District appropria-
ton act. Under that law the position Of
deputy chief engineer is created, and the
titles of the three assistant chief engineers
will be changed to battalion chiefs. The
foremen will hereafter be designated as
ca plains and the assistant foremen as lieu
tenants. The title of flremen on engines
will also be changed to that of assistant
engineers.
1t is expected that Commissioner Macfar-
land will announce either tomorrow or next
day the promotions and appointments in the
fire department to be made under the last
approp ration act. The matter of the pro-
spective changes In the fire department has
developed great interest, not only among
the members OF the department, but
among the citizens of the District as well,
and the possible appointments are being
discussed quite generally.
1t is stated on authority that Assistant
Chief Frank ]. Wagner will be elevated TO
the position OF deputy chief engineer. The
promotion of Chief Wagner will leave a
vacancy in the list of battalion chief en-
gineers. Assistant Chiefs Keliher and Sui
Ivan will be appointed to two of the posi-
tiCns as battalion chief engineers, but the
! permanent appointment of the third bat
TALON chief engineer is still surrounded
with doubt. There is however, no limit to
the speculation as to the probable success
full candidate.
The appointment of the battalion chief
will be made from among the list of fore
men in the department 1t Is learned that
Foreman John Sherman, who has been
serving for some time acting assistant
chief, will be appointed to the position OF
battalion chief engineer for the period OF
one week, at the end of which time he will
be retired on a pension of $50 month.
N he a 1th n
regard to the appointment of Shermans
| successor as battalion chief. every one ap-
pears entitled to a few guesses, and, 1t may
be stated, a great many persons interested
in the appointment are taking advantage Of
the opportunity to become prognosticators.
The Eligible Foremen.
OF the foremen eligible to appointment TO
the position the names of Samuel r. Henry,
John w. Smith, P. D. Martin and C. B.
Proctor are among those most frequently
| mentioned In connection with the promotion.
In point of seniority of service Foreman
Henry, now stationed at Brookland, heads
the list The other foremen, in the order
of their standing on the seniority list are
as follows:
Luskey, Timothy Donohue, John w. Smith,
p. w. Nicholson. c. A. Kreamer, H w.
Wright, A. L. Grimm. c. B. Proctor, c. w.
Hopkins. John Darlington. w. A. Dixon. Z.
F. Beers, c. E. Harper, G. r. Kuhns, T. ].
Brown, w. F. Lanahan. P. r. Davis. A.
Buscher, P. Hollohan and T. D. McLane.
Foreman Henry was detailed as assistant
chief engineer in December, 1880, and
served continuously until January, 1902,
when, at his own request, he was trans
ferred to the Brookland company. In Au-
gust 1903, he was again detailed as as
sistant chief engineer, and has served until
the present. In point of seniority OF service
as assistant chief engineer, 1t is stated.
Forman Smith stands next to Henry, the
former having served from January, 1901,
to the present Foreman Proctor served as
assistant chief engineer from January, 1901,
until November, 1903, and Foreman Nichol-
son served from July l until September,
1903. Foreman Nicholson however, Is now
detailed assistant fire marshal. and 1t is
believed that on account of the special
training required for his present position no
will not be transferred.
Others Who Have Served
Other foremen have served as assistant
chief engineers as follows: Donohue, from
January, 1902 to November 1903, and from
April Is to date; Hooper, from July Z. 1902,
to April II. 1904; Wright. from July 30,
1903, to date; Darlington, from August,
1903, to date; Beers, from September IA,
1903, to date, and Martin from November
6, 1903. to date.
OF the men whose names are most promi-
nently mentioned In connection with the
promotion, 1t Is stated, Foreman Henry
is about fifty-eight years of age. while
Foremen Smith and Martin are younger
men
The fire department is under the super
vision of Commissioner Macfarland. no
will recommend the appointments and pro-
| motions. Ever since Mr.. Macfarland he
came Commissioner, four years ago, 1t has
been his policy to first consider the men
at the head of the seniority list in each
department, In connection with the pro-
motions. The men at the head of the list
have been promoted unless for some rca-
son they were not considered as qualified
for the higher position.
Mr.. Macfarland says that in the case of
the proposed appointments In the fire de-
partment he will follow his former policy
and he Is considering the men at the
head of the seniority list for the places
At present he is not prepared to announce
his salectinns he 1aaSitinnS