Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-01-26
CHARGE
AGAINST F|REMEN
UNFAIR, SAY BOARD
Commissioners, Deciding to
Probe High Street Fire, Crit
icise Grand Jury's Accusation.

The last of the High street fire has
not been heard yet. The fire board has
decided to probe the recent disaster
and find out If the department Is right
or wrong. AT yesterdays meeting of
the board Commissioner Burke spoke at
length on the presentment of the grand
jury In which fault was found with
the department and some of the indi-
viduals connected with 1t.
I'VE want to restore public conf
dence," said Mr.. Burke. I'VE want to
show the citizens that We are an eff
Client body and will not tolerate care
lessness or neglect. We now want a
copy of the coroner's jury testimony,
which in addition to the evidence we
now have will enable us to make a
thorough investigation and find out for
ourselves why this department has been
criticised lately. After we finish with
the High school affair we can go into
the Knickerbocker matter and then into
the Clinton ayenu fire"
The board unanimously voted 10
make a formal probe. No attempt was
made on the part of the commissioners
to say whether the charges made
against the department were justified
or not. They said that their investi-
cation will show the public just where
the department stands.
AS to the charges OF cowardice made
against one of the fremen, the heads
of the departments and the commits
sioners have said hat this man la
always been considered a brave man
and that the accusation made by the
grand jury against him was not Just.
To Retire Lieutenant at His Request.
On his own request Lieutenant
Andrew G.. Stiff. Of Engine Company
No, Q, will be retired on pension the
first Of February.
Charles Angerstein, of Engine Com
pany No. 10, was charged with intoxi-
cation by Captain William Cory. He
was suspended until the next meeting,
when he will be tried. William f.
Garland, of Hook and Ladder Com
pany No. 3, is also charged with intoxi-
cation inc carelessness In keeping the
journal by Captain j. A. Johnson. He,
too. was suspended until next week.
Captain George c. Lacey, of Truck
No. 8, charged James J.. McGrath with
neglect of duty for failing to respond
to an alarm. His Ease win be tried
next Wednesday.
Commissioner Stratton reported that
he II Commissioner Lagay had made
a tour Of the moving picture theatres
and found them satisfactory. He said
that the proprietors were adhering TO
the rules, and that none of the places
was overcrowded. The commissioner
added that an informal inspection of
these places was made by him every
now and then, as he considered this an
important matter. President Weber
thanked both the commissioners for
their work.
The annual report of the Newark
Paid Firemen's Pension Fund was re
ceived and read and shows the affairs
of the institution in good and prosper
GUS shape. The report was as follows:
Receipts and Expenditures.
Receiptg-Balance from 1909, 81, LOG. 9S;
city bonds. $45, 600: theatre nickelodeon
licenses, SIG, 205.17; 1 per cent. insurance
tax. SIS, 723. 73; l per cent. salaries,
$4,9sS.7 3 mortgage paid. $4,000; interest,
s., 221. 81; sale horses and old materials,
1866. rs; interest on city bonds, 5000; fees
from bureau of combustibles, 1854; in
terest on bank deposits, $2O9.14 dona-
tons, SIS; fines. $77.94: sale of fire line
badges, $68; total, $101, 228. rs.
Expenditures-City bonds. $50 900;
pensions, $27,O 80; bond n mort
cages, So, ZOO; salary secretary, 500;
handling l per cent. insurance tax.
s15.0S: surety bonds, s14.5O; official seal,
81; balance in bank, $15, S22.14; total,
S101, 212.04.
Assets of F~und-Bonds and mort
cages, s51, 7b0; city bonds, $25. 900; office
safe, $50; balance in bank, SIS, s22.14.
The report is submitted through Chief
w. c. Ashley. who Is chairman, and
Secretary r. w. Sullivan.