The Washington herald., 1908-03-15
RISE OF SIDNEY BLEBER.
The Man Senator Carter Excoriated.

tion-houSe or school building Was
wanted. Sidney Bieber. at an opportme
time would get Uncle Joe" Cannon or a
member OF the Appropri atoms Commit
tee. og Of the Public Buildings Commit
tee, 10 take ride. and in 'identally would
point out the proposed site. Thus he was
enabled TO render the District sone real
service along proper lines
He Interested himself in parking propo-
sitions, too. and il was common report.
/ though possibly untrue that he wss for
a ;ime on the pay roll Of q prominent
citizen who was interested in a particu-
lar parking project.
But to get back 70 Sidney Bieber's first
appearance in the limelight. or 20 tie be-
ginning Of his real career Il was as a
member OF the FIRE department. that he
came into conspicuous notice. He was
fire marshal, and a good one. too. from
al accounts. Next to Chief Belt him
self. this young man. Sidney Bieber. was
the best known member OF the fire 0r-
partment- He went TO fires-usually got
there first-and II he was not a FIRE
fighter he. at any rate, was resourceful
IN emergencies, and gave a good account
Of himself II was while he was fire
marshal that he first began 10 mix with
Congressmen-take them around 10 visit
the engine houses. point out TO them the
fire departments needs. and discuss with
them the water supply and kindred sub
jects- He was not aiming SO high then.
but apparently content with his place as
FIRE marshal
The great Baltimore fire proved 10 be
the turning point in Sidney Bieber's ca
reer- With the enthusiasm characteristic
of the young man. ne was no less prompt
than Chief Belt himself IN getting over to
the scene Of the conhagration with fire
apparatus from Washington. and pro-
ceeded TO perform a duty that was 70
gsrded as little short Of heroic. He
worked without sleep. stood in water an
kle-deep, and generously gave 70 a suffer
ing sister city the best service that was
I'm him. When Il was all over. sidney
was ILL., Cold and exposure had affected
his health. He had contracted n cold
that promised to develop into something
decidedly more serious. The newspapers
Of Washington had a good deal 10 say
about his heroism. All the newspaper
men liked Sidney
Baltimore recognized the duty he had
performed, and. il is said. appropriated
500. which. under pressing need. he re-
luctantIy accepted. simultaneously he re-
signed his position as fire marshal Then.
permanently incapacitated. as il was
thought. be became beneficiary under the
pension system to the amount OF 500 per
month. He still draws such a pension.
Out of the fire department. with health
impaired. he went off 10 the Southwest.
TO Arizona or New Mexico. or possibly to
that haven Of cOnsumptives. Fort Davis.
Tex. and Washington saw no more OF
him for months
When he returned he was not so robust
as formerly. and friends were solicitous
whether he could stand the Washington
climate. He began to improve With i'm
provement he again took active interest
in affairs-nOt as fire marshal now. but
as a well-known man about town. It was
a rms JUii~'uAc Ntal bie WATERFRONT leg
islation, Of which Senator Carter has so
abundantly enlightened the country. be-
gan TO be enacted quietly in Congress on
his behalf. The public knew little, If any
thing. about this. It was no secret that
his father, Samuel Bieber. had set claim
to certain lands down near the navy yard.
and was seeking 10 obtain or prove A
title, but Sidney was not known to be
figuring in it. Recent disclosures go to
show that the father transferred his in
terest to the son. and Sidney appeared
before the committee of the House as
heir TO the property, although his faith