New-York tribune., 1908-01-23
LANTRY DOESN'T KNOW.
HE DEPENDS ON OTHERS.
Hose and Similar Details of Fire De-
partment Too Much for Him.

First IN fare examination by the Commissioners
OF Accounts in their attempt to place the respoh-
sbiIity for admittedly rotten condition OF the
hose of the Fire Department Commissioner Laitry
subjected to a nerciless fire of questions, Few
of which he was able to answer, by commissioner
Michel yesterday. The examination was helo III
the Mayors reception room in the City Hall ana
! the Commissioner the stand for three ana
half hours before he got respite and was re-
placed by Chief Croker.
Commissioner Lantry showed that he was COM
pletely ignorant Of many of the details OF his de-
partment- He said under oath that he knew moth
ing at all of the specifications under which hose is
bought. Commissioner Mitchell asked him if he had
heard OF the allegation of the Board OF FIRE Uhaer-
writer's that the specifications so drawn as to
exclude certain firms from bidding.
4 don't believe it, said Commissioner Lantry
You've got to show me-
The commissioner testified that he had made no
investigation of the allegations of the underwriters
because he had full faith in the committee ap-
pointed to pass all matters relative to hose and
supplies. This committee consists of Deputy Com
, missioner Bonner. Chief Croker and Deputy Chief
Binns, who is next to Croker in rank in the uni
formed force. Commissioner Lantry frequently
told Commissioner Mitchell what confidence he had
in this committee, and much of his ignorance of
the detail of the department he explained by say
ing that he paid attention at all to matters after
they intrusted this committee.
The Windsor Fire Appliance Company and its
amazingly bad hose, came in for notice Commits
soner Mitchell asked Commissioner Lantry If he
had ever heard of the concern and the witness
replied that he had. 1t took about half an hour
to find out that Commissioner LantTy knew that
lot of the hose had burst. that the company had
been ordered to replace it, and finally. that some
lengths had been replaced. But Commissioner Ian
try also thought that there had been default III
rep.acing hose, and that the Corporation Counsel
had been asked to proceed to recover from the
American Surety Company. which gave bonds for
the Windsor company Commissioner Mitchell tried
hard to find out about the method of enforcing
he SrIfie
times.
The facts about the Windsor company's supply
of hose were fully brought out, because the
company longer in existence 1t bought the
hose it sold the city from the United GLOBE ana
Rubber Company. of Trenton. n. j. and NJ F.
Loughman Deputy Water Commissioner, has Of
fered some sort of a statement seeking to explain
that the Trenton had arranged. by con-
sent of the fire department (John H o Brien, Com
missioner to replace any defective hose. Commits
soner Lantry was sure some hose had been re-
placed. but the underwriters report which is Ex-
hibt the investigation, disagrees with him. up
TO November /. 1907, at all events.
Commissioner Lantry, after luncheon, had most
unhappy time. He could answer scarcely single
question the conduct of fires, and had no
idea as the details of responsibility at fire he
added to the declarations OF his ignorance ABOUT
pressure conditions made in the morning, ana
looked extremely uncomfortable. Presently Com
missioner Mitchell, suave and smiling, asked sew
eral questions that seemed to indicate the spring
ing of a trap.
The questions related to appropriations for the
department in 1897 Commissioner Mitchell took up
the matter of the coal contract. He asked the
Commissioner why he didn't force the aldermen TO
give him money for hose in roundabout way
Couldn't you have let the coal contract for only
six rronths?' asked Mr.. Mitchell used the rest OF
the money for hose, and then have gone to the
aldermen and explained that you had to nave
money for coal? You would have created de-
fciency-'
I0pl Writ
and said he considered his course the only proper
one that could have been pursued. Commissioner
Mitchell smiled and repeated the question a mo-
rnent later in connection with the forage contract
The Fire Commissioner grew angry and said with
heat that he could not answer that question the
way Mr. Mitchell desired. He said he would stand
by all his acts and that the only answer
he would give. He repeated this in his answer to
almost every other question put to him.
Every one. including apparently the worried FIRE
Commissioner. expected Mr.. Mitchell to spring some
trap after these questions, but nothing happened
and if there is anything back OF them 1t is belng
held in
That was about all Commissioner Iantry had to
stand He had through his ordeal par
ticularly well. and had had 10 seek so much in
formation before answering questions that MI
Mitchell several times said: Yes but. Commits
sioner it is what you know that I want to find
out" The Commissioner looked relieved when he
left the witness chair, but he will be called again
Chief Croker followed his superior on the stand
He repeated under oath several Of the things he
has been quoted saying of the condition Of hose
In substance It was developed that in his opinion
2p1 o00 feet of hose needed to put the depart
rnent on a proper footing. The department is
1900 feet short and about 125,G0 feet would prob
ably burst if tested There have been tests since
1865 because Chief Croker has feared that he would
have no hose all left if tests were carried out
There is extreme danger 10 the city, in the
opinion of the chief and there need be no fear of
a general ccnfagration. but hose conditions are
bad.
Chief Croker answered many questions about the
Parker Building fire. He said the pressure was
poor and that the hose poor but as he was
tions as TO the share these elements in the ruin
Of the building. His reports showed that it had
been impossible to get water above the seventh
floor Chief Croker said that the average pressure
downtown was fifteen pounds at the
hvdrants, and that insufficient The Chief said
that hose more than six years old should be re-
tired and that with fresh start and a supply of
good hose the annual replacement of one-fourth of
the supply would keep things proper basis
The hearing will be resumed, with the Chief still
on the stand. at 1925 O'Clock to-day.
The New York Board of Fire Underwriters wrote
to Commissioner Lantry at length yesterday, urs-
ing him TO take Immediate steps to induce the
Board of Estimate and Apportonment to provide
ror,tbe installation of the fire alarm system
recommended by the board and approved by the
city engineers and experts.