The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-09-07
TUESDAY MORNING
Saul Ordinance Occasions
Stormy Scene in Council

bate was shut on Alderman MOTIVE,
who was chairman Of the meetings
| adoption of the ordinance. and that de-
bate could not be shut on. Alderman
Virgin appealed from the ruling of the
chair. and q compromise was made
whereby Alderman NORTH was allowed
| to speak against the ordinance on the
floor 0f the Council. Alderman Saul be-
ing called to the chair.
Alderman Moritz said:
81 am sorry that the question has
taken the course that It has, and the
| only reason I have heard for this out
| rageous proposition 10 that II Is desir-
| cd to take the ONCE of Chief of the
Fire Department out Of politics. Do
| you mean. to say that you're going to
| take this ONCE out Of politics? Ger
tainly there IL something back of this
| They want to put the once in poll
tics. You force the fire chief back in
| to politics by this ordinance. II II IL
the purpose Of this measure to get the
present incumbent out of the ONCE.
why don't you go about II in a differ
ent way? Why don't you 20 to the
Mayor. advise with MIN. and tell him
that the reappointmsnt Of the present
incumbent Is not desired.
| i say that you're building up po-
litical machine. You'll soon be trading
with aldermen for ONCE. We haven't
had this for ten. years. why do you
| want 1t now7 II this Is a question Of
men have nothing to say, but II It's
| q question Of measures, I'm against
It. But there's no Disgusting this.
Let's don't do 1t.
IT you have pique. or spite against
any person don't let's parade it here
Don't wash your dirty linen In this
city laundry"
At thks point Alderman Toole inter-
rupted with a motion to put the pre-
vtous question. but aldermen called to
him to withdraw the motion. and let
| the minority talk. Alderman Toole did
withdraw MS motion, and Alderman
Moritz continued.
II see that you don't want to hear
| me, and I'll be brief. I'll close by In
PRODUCING the following substitute or
dinance:
"'Whereas, Section 263 of the City
Code prescribes: That the Mayor of
the city OF Montgomery shall appoint
| the Chief and the officers and members
Of each company, composing the fire
department He shall also have the
right to remove any Ger or member
| for any tnfraction Of the provisions OF
this ordinance. the rules OF the Depart
ment. 40 promulgated by the chief,
with his approval. or from any other
cause satisfactory to him. The off.
| GERS and employees of the Fire Depart
ment shall have been residents Of the
city of Montgomery for at least twelva
months next preceding the time OF
their appointment
sand whereas. Section SO Of he Mu-
nicipal Code enacted by the Legislature
of Alabama and approved August Is.
1907, prescribes: Cities and towns shall
have full power to maintain and oper.
ate a volunteer or paid fire depart
| ment. and may do any and all things
| necessary to secure efficient service
The Council may delegate to commits
sioners by ordinance the power to con-
troll and manage such Fire Department
| under such rules and regulations as the
commissioners or the council may pre-
SCRIBE therefore be 1t ordained by the
| City Council of Montgomery:
| Section /. That the entire fire de-
partment of the city of Montgomery
shall be placed under the management
and control OF the Police Commission
ers who shall appoint a chief. the Of
| hcers and members of the fire Depart
ment. prescribing laws and regulations
for the management, government ana
control of the FIRE department. and who
shall also have the right to remove any
| ofiicer or member for violation OF the
laws OF the department or for any 9TH
er cause satisfactory to said Police
Commission.
Sec. 2. That the Police Commission
and Fire Commission be consolidated
as one and that they be suDservient to
| the same laws as govern the election
OF the Police Commission.
Sec. 3. This ordinance is to take ef-
feet on January 1. 1910.
| Sec. 4. All laws or parts of laws
IN conflict with the above be, and they
are hereby repealed.
Alderman Virgin moved that the SUBJ
stitute be referred to the committee
on fire and police, ana the substitute
took that course.
It was at this point that Alderman
Virgin turned to Alderman Moritz.
saying: "The alderman from Ward 8
has sa:d things that don't go well with
me. He has used the phrases 'politi-
cal machine personal Spite 'pique.'
ana washing dirty linen Does the
alderman refer to me? I'll say that
no brave man will stand such words"
Alderman NORTH here interrupted in
dress their remarks to the chair. and
Alderman Virgin, in taking his seat.
said: well. Til continue my discus
sion on the sidewalk after the meet
Ing. the alderman can address his re-
marks to me down stairs"
The question Of the passage of the
ordinance was then called for, and II
was passed by the vote OF TO 3. AL
dermen Moritz. Parrish and Thomp-
son voting against the measure.
Alderman Virgin moved adjournment
but Alderman Johnson Jumped to his
feet. saying that no such machine
could be run over the council, that 9TH
err business must be attended to. Chair
man Saul raped for order. sharply
calling Alderman johnson to take his
seat.
Alderman Kennedy. who sat between
Alderman Virgin and Alderman Moritz.
near the conclusion of the meeting.
said that ne would like 20 pour oil on
the troubled waters, and would there
fore suggest that Alderman Morits
explain ms remarks.
| Replying Alderman Moritz stated
that he had. not meant anything per-
sonal IN his debate. and as the chair
had not called HIS attention to the fact
that ne was overstepping the bounds
OF propriety, he thought that his re-
marks were understood as applying to
the council in general, and to no par
ticular person.
Alderman Virgin stated that ne
would accept the explanation in the
same spirit in which 1t was offered.
and the council was adjourned.