Bisbee daily review., 1904-04-01

Last night the Bisbee Fire Depart ment held a regular meeting al the Fire House. Those present were l.. c. Shattuck, E. G. Ord, Geo. Dunn, Geo. Buxton. J. B. Buxton. J. B. An gius, Geo. McGraw. s. w. Clawson, J. s. Taylor, J. O. Kreigbaum. Sam Franhe1burg. Ben lFrankenburg, C.. M Henkel and Charlie Thomas. Thir- teen members present out of a depart ment of over fifty.
 As soon as the meeting was called to order a discussion took place re- garding the blaze in the rear of the Annex saloon night before last It was claimed by many of the firemen that the fire started by spontaneous combustion in some oil soaked cotton rags. Others said they believed that a carelessly thrown match or cigar caused the fire.
 While the little fire itself did no harm, the possibilit es of what might have happened, brought on a general discussion, as it was made known that in the room where the fire started there was over sixty gallons Of gaso- line in cans and tanks. Had the fire burned, without discovery, two minutes longer, one of the greatest fires Bisbee has even known would have resulted It was thought wise to have a committee request the al dermen to frame and pass an ordi- nance dealing with the keeping of explosives and gasoline within the city limits.
 One of the most important questions to come before the meeting was the enc which dealt with the political sit nation. Some of the members of the department had suggested that the fire department, as a whole, endorse certain candidates for the position of alderman in the coming election. It was considered good policy to favor and recommend to the voters candl- dates who are in favor of better fire matter before the members and a general argument took place in which no names of candidates were used. By some 1t was thought best to come out flat-footed for the candidates whom it was thought would favor the de partment; by others it was thought 10 be very bad policy for the department to dabble in politics and force the members to pledge their votes. Some of the arguments put forward by the fremen bristled with remarks on the | present very unsatisfactory condition of the fire protection system. When the question came to a vote it was de- cided not to enter into the coming fight as body. but to let each man decide in his own mind as to who would be the best man for the office. During his remarks MT. Henkel call ed attention to the fact that the fire men were not taking proper interest in the department and were not at tending meetings or fires as they | should He said that the fines for absent members would be increased
 until it was possible to get a crowd out. or the department would have to 1 go to pieces
 The resignations of the members or the chemical company were accepted, and the general department assumed
 the management of the machine. Lat
 CT another chemical company will be formed, either from the members of
 the general department or or new
 members taken in purposely for such
 a company.
 I It was decided to ask the aldermen to hire one fireman to sleep in the fire house and to take care of the hose
 carts, etc. The meeting then ad' journed. It was an enthusiastic
 meeting, and shows the people of this
 city that the fremen are doing their
 best to g.ve the city all the prote,tio
 in their power.