El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-08-04
ROBINSON TiLKsOF
FIRE MARSHALsHIP
Had Nothing to Do With Re
fusal to Appoint Kelly,
He Says.

Following on the heels of the appoint
ment of Henry F. Reynaud as fire mar
shall comes an explanation from mayor
w F. Robinson that he had nothing to
do with the refusal 20 name Dan Kelly
for the position after he had been pro-
posed by the fire commission, and which
action by the council resulted in the
resignation of four of the five mem
bers of the commission, judge Peyton
F. Edwards the fifth member, being
absent from the city at the time.
Mayor Robinson, when asked his
reason for refusing TO make the ap-
pointment, said: L did not refuse to
confirm the appointment; the council
did that. The name was proposed by
the commission and the council de-
clined to appoint him
Asked why he had appointed Reynaud
prior TO selecting a new fire commits
sion, the mayor said: We need fire
marshal badly now. as badly as we will
ever need him, and, therefore, l made
the appointment. 1 did this before Sc
lecting the new commission because 1
want 10 have some time TO think over
the names of those whom l shall ap-
point TO the commission; ii is an i'm
portant body and 1 cannot go out and
pick I'D men every day. 1 must think
the matter over, and while it is my in
tention 10 appoint a new commission. I
cannot say just when it will be done"
Nothing Against Kelly.
Alderman Walter 5. Clayton, referring
to the refusal of the council TO appoint
Kelly, said: I'VE had nothing against
Mr. KelIys politics, in fact, I myself
did not know what his politics was
until after I had read something of it
in the newspapers II was the general
understanding of the aldermen that Mr..
Kelly was an elderly man and, there
fore would not be able to hold the
place.
1T is required of fire marshal that
he be on duty at all times and that he
attend all fires, not the day after the
fire, but while il is in progress, and go
right along with the chief. In addition
to this we wanted a man that knew
something of the fire insurance bust
ness.
Mr.. Reynaud has been in the insur-
ance business ali his life and knows
considerable about fires. While 1 sug-
gested his name at the last meeting of
the city council, he had been suggested
by several insurance men, he had list,
but I do not remember the names now,
when the matter was first brought to
the attention of the council and prior
to the time it was presented to the COM
mission for its consideration.
Commissioners Surprise COuncilmen.
I'VE never had any idea that the fire
commission would resign. We supposed
that if the council would not approve
of the selection made by the commits
sion that body would then refer the
matter back to the council with the re-
quest that it choose man for the place.
The people would eventually hold
the council responsible for the appoint
ment and we did not feel that Mr.. Kelly
was the man for the place.
Did Not DScliDe.
Alderman San Blumenthal declined
TO discuss the matter, saying: No.
did not decline to appoint Mr.. Kelly: see
Mr.. Percy McGhee; he made the motion
before the council and can give enough
reasons
II made the motion before the coun-
Gil that the recommendations of the
fire commission be not carried out"
said alderman Percy McGhee. Il did
not think Kelly the right man for the
place, principally on account of his
age. l believed then. and still believe,
that we should have a younger and
more active man."
Alderman ]. 1. Hewitt is not in Ell
Paso at the present time and was not
here at the time action was taken by
the city council.