The Washington herald., 1907-10-10
TIFF IN CONVENTION
Politics Declared to Handi-
cap Fire Service.
DELEGATE STARTS THE DEBATE
Second Days Session Devoted to
miscellaneous DiscussiOns-Add 14O
Names 10 Rolls - Last Business
Meeting TO-nIGht-SeveraI Cities In
Contest for Next Years Convention.

After witnessing d drill by the Wash
ington fire department. taking a look at
the wares exhibited by many fire APP
paratus concerns. and looking overe the
| city generally. the delegates 10 the Thir-
/ ty-afth convention of the International
Association of Fire Engineers wound ur
the second day by mixing a discussion OF
fire fighting with a few side remarks on
politics.
PoIitics in Fire Fighting.
| The politics came out unexpectedly. but
/ strong while the discussion lasted. W.
/ G. Henley. chief inspector of the fire
prevention bureau. OF ST. Louis ad-
dressed the meeting, dealing with faulty
/ construction as one Of tie great causes
Of fire. and expressing a belief that more
/ thorough inspection is needed for pre-
vention of fires.
/ William II. Johnson. ex-chief Of Phila-
/ Idelphia's fire fighters. rose shortly after
! this address was ended and asserted that
/ politics In many instances hampered the
workings Of fire departments more than
faulty construction.
Asked TO Retract.
! George A Wallace. chief of the Clevc-
land (Ohio) Gre department, took excep-
/ ton 20 this assertion, and called upon
Mr.. Johnson To reuact. Mr. Wallace said
| that he believed few members of the as
/ sociation were susceptible 70 political in
( fluence When MIR. Wallace concluded.
several members tried 10 get recognition
I D.. IA.
/ succeed in so doing
When they finished. however. Mr. John
/ son again brought attention 20 mis- first
/ assertion by coming forward and saying
/ that he knew Of many specific instances
| OF politics mixed with fire protection. He
said that in fifty per cent of the cities
/ Of the country politics is mixed with
/ fire protection. to the deuiment Of the
/ latter Mr.. Wallace laughingly suggest
/ ed that I'm Ohio where T0m L. reigus Il
/ is not SO. Thomas W. Hauey, OF Jack
sonville, Fla. brought the meeting back
/ to order by a motion that il was all out
/ OF order. anyway.
Not on Programme.
/ Last nights meeting began with an
/ address, impromptu, and not down on
/ the programme, by Mrs. Jennie Smith
/ who said that she represented the ". c.
/ It. L. Mrs. Smith gave a hearty God
Bless You to the delegates, and left as
! "a remembrance OF her visit some flowers,
some notices from the Bible, printed on
lin discs. and some little cards with
pretty birds and well-known legends on
/ them.
Invitations Were Received.
with the roll can Of the members, the
meeting began It's series work. Old
members We're checked OF frst. then
about ln new names were considered
by the convention and approved. An in-
vitation from the Chamberiin Club 10
| the delegates 70 make use Of the club S
quarters during their stay was read and
approved.
An invitation from Chief Edward F.
| Croker. of New York. 10 attend the
/ ceremonies fin connection with the award
/ ing of medals Of honor 10 fremen in
that city, on October 12 was read and
received with applause.
Many communications.
Communications from Galesburg, IL,
and Niagara Falls, \. Y, requesting
that the next convention be held in
those cities. We're read and laid on the
table for consideration when this matter
is ln order Several other COmmunica-
/ tions were read and approved.
Privileges of Firemen.
Chief Charles F. Mcneil, of Fayette-
vile. y. c.. made the first address. His
speech. dealing with the need for legis-
lation IN many States for the betterment
Of the condition of firemen, was not one
Of those regularly upon the programme.
Mr.. Mcneil told of the several States in
which tiremen are not afforded many
privileges which are given 10 soldiers or
sailors or 20 others who render like serv-
ices.
COnhugratiOn Hazards.
Chief Thomas w Haney. Of Jackson
vile, Fla. spoke on Are shingle roofs
in cities couaagration hazards?' Chief
Haney told OF two large fires in South
ern cities in which the cause had been
shingIe roofs. He told Of one instance
in which a building with a slate roof had
been left standing, while others sur
rounding 1t were burned TO the ground.
He said that some step 20 prevent the
shingle roof was needed
Herbert Heston, fire marshal Of the
Pennsylvania Railroad at Philadelphia,
spoke on Fire protection for private cor
porations.' Mr.. Heston said private fire
companies must be drilled regularly. They
must be kept alert at all times. They
must not hesitate to call in the services
of the city departments. They must be
provided with suitable equipment of mod
ern make.
Prevention and Extinction.
II. G. Henley, whose paper on rs fire
prevention Of more Importance than fire
extinction" called forth so much COM
ment, came next. Mr. Henley said that
fires which are not accidental are pre-