The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1906-12-20
new RULES ADOPTED
The Fire Department Problem Is
Hard Nut to Crack

The fire department occupied the
greater part of the special session of
the city council Friday evening, and
out of the chaos that has reigned
during the past three or four years
begins to come the semblance OF. or
der. The department is at last to
have rules and regulations and the
chances are that after the first of the
city year,--that is, following the cleo
ton in March, a chief viii be chosen
with sufficient salary added to make
him paid fireman in constant au
thority and attendance at the fire de-
partment headquarters.
The rules presented by Chairman
Laffollett of the fire committee for
the consideration were taken up and
discussed, pulled to pieces, amended
and turned over until there was lit
tie remaining of the original fabric OF
the articles.
Considerable feeling was exhibited
at one time between member of the
council and one of the committee who
had been. engaged in the drafting of
the rules. The words that flew back
and forth would not look well in type
Chief Gochee came forward with a
statement of his position on the
question and said that he coulu write
his resignation in five minutes. But
such shoals were easily avoided by
the council and she soon drifteu into
Quieter water. Councilman Glaze
was called for on the problem and his
presence was demanded instanter,
with the injunction that any delay
would result in an officer being sent
for In. Mr.. Glaze, who had been
the only absentee from the session,
entered appearance forthwith and
partook of the discussion and the ar.
guments. The old council ship next
came near striking a rock ana was in
Imminent danger when Councilman
Tad Shipley of the Third ward came
to the rescue and taking the helm of
discussion, made a proposition that
saved the whole problem from anoth.
er wrecking. ...
The rules as presented by the com.
mittee made some radical changes in
the department. Chief Gochee was
left out in the cold with no more job
than a rabbit" Truckman Erve
McCracken was made chief, that he
might be at the department all Of the
time and be in absolute authority.
Wages were raised and another paid
fireman was added to the force May
or Williams was not in sympathy
with the new rules as presented
Neither was Councilman Christie of
the Fourth. The mayor said he did
not tell the committee to spend any
city money.
The mayor offered a number of sug-
gestions for amendments to the
rules and these were taken up and
discussed pro and con, taken from
and added to. Then came Mr.. Ship
ley with his proposition to get the
craft on the right drift again. But
Councilman Ralston of the Fifth and
Augustine of the Fourth took the
wind out of his sails and the question
went to drifting again.
The new rules created a new sort
Of chief who had absolute authority,
and an assistant chief, in authority
during the absence of the chief. The
matter finally ended in the digging
up Of a set of rules that had been
made for the government of the as
sistant chief or captain" as he was
termed.
Under Mayor Williams amend
ments, the mayor of the city is TO be
the head of the fire department and
have absolute control of the same, as
he mas of tn police department. The
chief is to be in authority over his
men in the same manner in which the
chief of police is at the head of his
force OF officers. The mayor has
power to appoint, suspend or dis.
charge men from the force. The
chief also has the power to discharge
men for infringements or other
causes. The mayor and the council
become sort of supreme court, and
grievances of men may be carried to
them. Appointments and dismissions
are to be subject to the approval of
the council. So that in reality the
fire department is governed by the
council.
And so, with the sentiment of the
several members of the council final
ly understood, the old barque that
had been so long out at sea was final.
ly headed for port by the motion of
Councilman O'Hearn, who moved that
the rules be returned to the fire COM
mittee to take the rules, the sugges.
lions OF the mayor and the senti-
ments expressed in the council by the
several members and revise them. Itl
was now clearly agreed that was the
best thing to do for the remainder of
the year, and this will be put into
shape by the committee and reported
to the meeting of Monday night for
adoption.
MR.. DoWNEY CHOSEN.