The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1906-09-25
THREE HEADS
IN BASKET
Three Official Lives End at
Montpelier
INCLUDING CHIEF PECK
With Him Go Assistants Whittier and
Cashen OF the Montpelier Fire De
partment City Council De-
posed Them Last Night.

After heated discussion and A the
elimination of long embroglio, the
city council of Montpelier last night dis-
missed Chief John M Peck of tie Mont.
pelier fire department, and his assist
ants, Clarence /. Whittier and Henry
casben, and appointed John NahIen AL
temporary chief The latter has acs
cepted his commission. IIe II master
mechanic fol- The Montpelier II Wells
River railroad
The meeting WIS called especially for
the purpose N taking III the fire de-
partment tange, and Chief Peek and
bis Two assistants were present during
The greater part III the evening. Mes.
Peek and Whittier participated quite
freely III the discussion, having i sharp
tilt with City Attorney Fred II. Garlic
ton oyer the right 70 purchase supplies
fir The fire department The fire en-
gineers had purchased boxes for the fire
alarm system, and had not consulted
the city council. For their authority
Ito a. 20 they referred to an opinion
which they said City Attorney Carleton
had made To them, that the engineers
could buy supplies without approval of
the council, but could not buy appa-
ratus.
This statement brought out vigorous
denial from City Attorney Carleton, who
declared that he had never rendered
such opinion, that II was against his
opinion that the fire engineers could
make purchases without first getting
the consent of the council He declared
that his law partner, M. A. Lord, dis
agreed with him on that point.
Alderman Emmons expressed the view
that the fire engineers were trying to
ret around the council in every way
possible. Alderman Rroadfoot asked of
Chief Peck why he dismissed the hook
and ladder company recently, and the
latter replied that he did IL for the
good Of the service, that the discipline
had been poor.
Alderman Fmmons asked "Why
then did yun commend the men III your
letter dismissing the company
Chief Peck Because some of them
were good men"
In reply to further question, Chief
poek said he thought he had treated tile
men All right. After many more qnes.
tions as "a The reason why the pav bills
Of the hook and ladder company had
not been approved by the chief. one of
the aldermen expressed the opinion that
such men were not it to serve at the
head of the department Things were
working up to q climax about this
time.
Mayor Haley put in word here and
said the whole trouble arose over the
renting Of the Chinese laundry on Kim
street as hook and ladder headquhl-
ters. Chief Peck was asked if be ex-
pected his reoreanized company 70 oc-
cupx the h<nndry building and he said
he didn't know, but he would be will
ing they should do so If the men wished
and woaid behave Chief Peek and A..
sistants Whittier and Cashen then left
the council room.
The council continued tire discussion
until Alderman Emmons moved and was
second by Alderman Hroadfoot that the
three men be removed from their po-
sitions. The motion was carried with
only one dissenting vote. that Of Alder
man It. j. fiuteheIl, and tho clerk was
instructed TO notify the deposed men.
The election of John Wahlen as tempo
rary chief Immediately followed and
the latter accepted.
All three nf the men who were dis
missed have been with the Montpelier
fire department for wears. and Chief
Peck has been at The head for a dozen
years,