New-York tribune., 1908-07-13
SHOW FRAUD In HOSE
INQUIRY BOARDS REPORT-
Only CirH Suits Recommended by
Commissioners of accounts.

in the Fire Department are made by the COM
rnissoners Of Accounts in their report OF the m
vestigation of that department. which Mayor NC
ClelIan has Just received
The investigation grew out Of the charges made
as a result of the fatal fire in the Parker Build
ing in Fourth avenue. on January 10 IL was
found that the fire got beyond the control Of the
depar:unent on account of the ineficiency OF the
hose a large quantity of which burst
That fraud was committed the city in the
sale 10 II Of hose by the Windsor Fire Appliance
Company is one of the findings of the commission
/ ers No stronger recommendation Is made regard
ing It, however. than that the Corporation Coun-
sci take action against the responsible parties TO
-scovar whatever damages the city has sustained
II also recommends improvements In the hose
specifications.
II is also suggested that suits be brought
against the makers of such brands Of hose re-
ceived since January I. 1904, as DO not conform
to specifications
Another finding is that the fire alarm telegraph
system of Manhattan is hopelessly inadequate to
afford reasonably efficient service and proper pro-
lection for three reasons-(1) original faulty de-
sign. 90 a condition of advanced decay, CD ex-
posure 10 innumerabIe grave risks. rendering IL
liable 20 total destruction at any time
BY reason of the hodge-podse method Of wiring
at headquarters, in East 67th street. 1t is stated
that the building itself is fire risk Of the first
magnitude In this connection the 1oIIo"ins feS-
concentrations made;
That the present inadequate fire alarm system be
entirely replaced as possible by modern
snd seRt cae Baeed andgrognd IN sbways OBJ
increased number of new and approved teT1lIa! INA
shall be confined to limited areas ana ,,C co. osd a S
exclusively TO the use Of the hre alarm te4esEaph
bureau
RICH GRANTS To PRIVATE ALARM FIRM
Considerable attention is given TO the relations
with the department Of the various private fire
alarm companies, particularly the Manhattan Fire
Alarm Company, which has the exclusive privi-
lege of connecting its boxes with the citys wires
The findings Of the report here are:
The relations of that company with the Fire De
partment such to afford the opportunity for
the exercise of harmful influence over the de-
be found permitting the company to connect
Its devices with street alarm boxes The conpdny @
chise and relieved Of the basic charge Of estao-
g~nIn55 zfTas mis- wftfout anv remuneration 70
the city The serni-ocia position occupied by the
impression that the company has behind II some
influence which other fire alarm compares mi i% so 20
pany in making connections are unlawful ana
dangerous 10 the city fire alarm system
The recommendations in this case are that the
city buy. at cost. the plant Of the company and
operate It as part of the citys own fire alarm sys-
tenn or else require substantial consideration for
the privilege. The former is strongly urged 1t Is
suggested also that the Fire Commissioner report
on the advisability Of purchasing and operating
other private alarm systems
LARGER MAINS ARE NEEDED
Regarding the water supply the commissioners
express the opinion that many Of the charges that
the Fire Department has been Handicapped by the
tneficiency Of the supply have been unfounded. or
at least exaggerated. The report says:
There is no doub, that parts Of the Borough l, OF
and more serviceabie hydrants; still we are con
the pas can be largely traced the fact that the
minor officials OF the Ere pa m faciIitias at
hand
In the sections where majority OF the lateral
pipes are only six Inches the supply is undoubtedly
insufficient the report says. but nothing IN the
condition of service so radically inadequate exists
as TO give cause FOR alarm" 1t is recommended
that all such lateral pipes De replaced by Pinch
mains and all obsolete hydrauts be replaced with
those Of modern design, non-freezing, as soon as
practicable It is also suggested that there be some
indication on the hydrants as 10 the size OF the
main with which they connected
Other recommendations are that a training school
he established and that the term of training OF
new men be extended to sixty days and the pro-
bationarv period be heightened from thirty to
sixty days.
The rules now provide fer leaves OF absence for
members OF the uniformed force OF one day IN
every five and twelve hours four times month
The commissioners recommend that the twelve
hour periods be cut off. They also recommend
that ordinary clerks replace uniformed men de-
tailed for clerical work. and that special utl-
formed force similar 70 the special police. be or
ganized TO take the place Of the regular men de-
tailed to theatres and other public halls, and that
the salaries of these men be charged TO pro-
prietors of the halls. 1t is also recommended that
only half pay be allowed in cases OF leave on ac-
count of sickness. unless the man is seriously III
or is suffering from injuries received In the dis
charge of his duty
BLAME FOR PARKER FIRE DEATHS.
There was some conflict in the testimony taken
bv the commissioners in effort 10 determine re-
sponsbility for the loss OF life IN the Parker
Building fire The report does not attempt to de-
terrntne this point but recommends that the Fire
Commissioner proceed 70 bring charges against the
officers whom he may consider to have been re-
sponsibIe
II is recommended that trial board OF three
officers Of the uniformed force be appointed oy the
commissioners and that the decisions or this board
be final except in the case of dismissal in which
case the recommendation made shall be reviewed
by the Commissioner.
In discussing the relation with the city OF the
Windsor Fire Appliance Company. which sold 250S0
feet of rubber hose TO the department in 1$O4. the
commissioners saw that the clause requiring the
test Of duck used in the hose usually contained in
+ba sneci6cstfons was omitted from those under
which This hose was bought They say they we're
unable TO fix the responsibility for this change
The specifications. however. did call for Sea
r.Ia,d cotron duck but duck greatly inferior
used and the specifications violated in ether
particulars. The report says;
The responsibility for defrauding the city rests
upon either Michael F. LOughman. formerly presi-
now Deputy COMMISSIONS Of the Department Of
Water supply br Ss an onpanies OF n Of
Trenton. y :. the makers OF the Windsor hose. or
mon both Grave responsibility also rests upon
those who accepted the hose for the city
II is stated that unsuccessful efforts were made
20 get officials Of the United and Globe Rubber