Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1912-12-17
WILL FIGHT FOR
CH|EFTA|NSH|P
Chief Patrick McCahery Would
Again Head South Orange
Fire Department.

Having gained last night the mrs
point in his fight to retain office, Fire
Chief Patrick McCahery, of South Or
ange, said today that he will fight t.
the end, in an effort to defeat his
rivals. William NJ. Ash and Harry ]
Becker. While not appointed to the
executive Office by the Village Board
of Trustees, McCahery was named as
acting head of the department. Ash
was made second man and Becker
was left out entirely in the selections
The outcome of a comparative civil
service examination will determine
who is to be the permanent chief. a
salary is to be attached to the office
in the future.
Spirited Session of Board.
The session OF the board last night
was tho most spirited in years, and
Village President Francis Speir was
compelled for the first time since his
election, almost three years ago, to
rap the gavel in order to restore or
der. Action taken by the trustees has
resulted in steps having been already
taken toward the organization of a
new party to oppose the Citizens at
the village election next spring.
1t was the adoption of an ordinance
providing for the reorganization of
the fire department and appoint
ments which followed that resulted in
the demonstration. Some of the vol
unteers were dropped from the mem
bership rolls. The new department is
to consist of a chief, who Is to be a
resident of the firehouse and receive a
salary Of 800 per month; first and sec
ond assistants. foreman and two call
men, all of whom will receive Sl2 per
year for their services.
McCahery First Assistant.
The office of chief was left vacant
and McCahery was named to the Of
flee Of first assistant, Ash, who has
been first assistant, reduced to second
assistant, and Daniel l.. Noonan, who
has been second assistant, made fore
man. The latter resigned immediate
ly after his appointment. He created
a sensation by arising in the midst
of proceedings and shouting from the
rear of the chamber: "I resign!"
Those appointed callmen are:
Thomas Fitzsimmons, Joseph Tracey,
Alfred r. Allen, George Kline, John
f. Preston, Edward j. Price, Fred
G. Mayer, Joseph Ash, Harry Doe,
William Herman, Michael j. Ryan and
Cornelius P. Nolan.
Surprises We're expressed at the APP
pointments and the rival factions in
the department. both of whom were
well represented at the meeting dis
played their bitterness. McCahery,
though named the active head, arose
and shouting at the top of his voice
from a rear seat, accused the mem
bers of the board of having been
guided into their acts by his enemies
in the department. Less than half of
those who were retained as callmen
were members of the McCahery fac
ton. The acting chief told the trus-
tees that only members of the depart
ment will be eligible to compete in
the examination for chief, while it is
the contention of the board that any
citizen of the village may undergo
the test. McCahery also claimed hat
there are flaws in the new ordinance.
The chief was wildly applauded fol-
his remarks. and President
Speir brought about order with the
use of his gavel.
Oppose Chiefs Contentious.
Mr.. Speir and w. Arthur Babson,
chairman of the fire committee, took
exception to the chiefs contentious.
The men dropped from the fire de-
partment are c. Frederick Parry,
Stephen Loughran, Francis A. Rhati-
can. Charles j. O'Brien, jr., and Henry
J. S. Ball, of the McCahery faction,
and John c. Bewley and Charles
Birney, said to be Ash followers.
McCahery today said that the only
three men in the department who he
could rely upon to ascend a fifty
foot ladder at tile Independence Day
drill. Loughran, Perry and O'Brien,
were dropped because of their afilia-
ton with his faction. He claims that
the action of the board in making
the office Of chief a salaried one was
brought about by his enemies in the
department. in order to have him re-
moved. McCahery is in business in
South Orange, and It is said he will
not compete in the civil service test
for the office OF chief because of the
fact that in the future the chief will
be required to reside at r head
quarters. William P. Kane, Charles
searles, Thomas Foran and George
Vanderhoof were reappointed paid
firemen.
Congregating about the village hall
after the meeting the ousted iremen,
all with the exception of one, MEM
bers of the Citizens party, and their
friends decided to start at once the
organization of a political party to
oppose the dominant faction at the
polls next spring.