The sun., 1909-06-18
RlREMEN ASKED. TO CHIP IN
ABOUT $500 WANTED FOR TES-
TIMONfAL TO CHIEF CROKER.

Dr. Archer sends the Depu"- .hiefs q
Letter Signed "rhe Committec''
stating That Com missioner Hayes
Has Authorized solicitation Of Funds.
A letter which has been sent out within
the last few days to the general officers
of the Fire Department asking them
and the officers and men under them TO
contribute to a testimonial to be pre-
sented to Chief Croker on June 20 has
stirred up q good deal of talk in the de-
partment. The letter Ia signed The
Committee but the prime mover in the
affair is DR.. Harry NJ. Archer. to whom
the officers and men have been asked to
send subscriptions.
The occasion Of the. testimonial is the
completion by Chief Croker OF twenty
five years service in the department
on June g..
The letter asking the men OF the de-
partment to contribute has been sent
to the twelve deputy chiefs Of the force.
with the request that they call the atten-
tion Of those under them to the matter
Immediately, 1t is written on the letter
head of DR.. Archer and reads as follows:
DEAR SIR: Permission has been granted
by the Fire Commissioner to Officers and
members OF the department who volup-
tarily express a desire to participate In
the presentation Of a testimonial to Chief
OF the Department Edward F. Croker on
the completion Of his twenty-five years
Of active service. which occurs June 20.
1900. Will you kindly bring this to the
attention OF the chiefs OF your division.
asking them to bring It to the attention
OF their respective companies and request
them to forward on or before June 10. 1909,
such subscriptions as have been volun-
tarily given to DR.. Harry NJ. Archer. i?
West Eighty second street. who has been
selected to act as treasurer.
NJ subscriptions will be accepted from
a oAief officer for more than o.. from a
company officer for more than SO cents
or from a fireman for more than IS cents.
The presentation will take place at Fire
Headquari ctr, Manhattan, June -. 1900.
and members of the department are In
vited to be present.
Il is requested that no publicity be given
this matter 80 that the presentation will
be q surprise Respectfully,
THE COMMITTEE.
1t was computed yesterday that II
every one responded 10 this invitation
there would be raised a total Of $3.50. OF
which sum the firemen would give $500
and the officers about $780, II IL not at
all likely. however. that there will be q
unanimous ou tpouring OF subscriptions.
In fact there was Q report, yesterday
that soma Of the officers had refused
TO call the attention Of their men TO- the
matter. Said ono officer yesterday:
-whils W all know DR.. Archss. W do
mot know who tns oommittee b. Thsrv
is q rule of the department. absosatety
fofbiddihA sny n6esnbSr' Of the depart
rnent either TO receive Or to give . present
Of such nature. and We have only The
statement Of an unnamed oommittee
that this rule has been abroEated in this
instance by the Commissioner. There
is no doubt in my mind that the Com
missioner has consented TO the plan,
but 1t is decidedly strange that the com
nittee is not disclosed. a. It 10 on their
authority that we are asked TO disregard
one Of the strictest rules Of the Fire De-
partment."
DR.. Archer. whose name appears on
the, letters, holds the title Of honorary
surgeon of the department. which while
1t carries no pay is supposed to be equiva-
lent to the rank Of battalion chief. This
was accorded to him about two years
ago by the Fire Commissioner after he
had attended fires unoficially for many
years and had como to be generally recog-
nized as head OF the -buffaloes." as the
followers Of the fire fighters are called.
Before being officially recognized the
doctor alwsys used to bring his kit along
and volunteered his services. He is a
personal friend OF Chief Croker.
Chief Croker within the last year has
had his salary increased from $1,000 to
$4,000 a year. At the time this was
done there was a rumor 70 the effect
that 1t was to pave the way for his retire
ment by enabling him to draw a pension
OF 5000 a year. Chief Croker has in.
sisted several times that he wasn't think
ing OF retiring yet. He said 80 again last