Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1912-11-30
STIPEND MAY Be
DENIED F|REMEN
BellevilIe "Vamps" Hear They
Will Lose Yearly Allow
ance of $12.
BREACH BETWEEN COUNCIL
AND FIRE BOARD WIDENS
Periious Situation Threatened
as Result of Dispute Over
Control of Department.

Belleviile iremen are up in arms
over a rumor current throughout the
town that, unless official recognition
be given the fire committee appointed
by the Town Council in preference to
the old Board of Fire Commissioners,
their annual stipend of s12 will not be
forthcoming. This alleged attempt to
force the firenen to take the initia,
step In a pending legal battle over the
control of the fire department mas
aroused the ''vamps."
Though the fire board ana the Town
Council have been at odds since the
town form of government was intro
du. ed, on January 1. neither side
seems anxious to begin court pro-
ceedings. That the Town Council does
not contemplate taking immediate
steps in this line is apparent from
the action at the last meeting, when
Town Attorney John De Graw re-
marked that, although the papers In
the case were ready. he Was acting
under the advice of the committee.
The only inference to be drawn from
this, those who are supposed to know
say, is that the councilmen have
Something up their sleeves"
Some peoples ideas fit too loosely
about them,' remarked a member of
the Board of Fire Commissioners,
land the re fact of the Council
intending to purchase a chemical en-
CINE, and manning II themselves, will
not settle the question of control.
We will settle hat question when the
fire committee shows its hand" APP
parently, however, the fire committee
will not show its hand for some tint
TO come.
In the meanwhile, however. the
members of the fire department are
made the innocent sufferers. they
say. Accustomed, under the old
township laws, to make their requests
to the Board of Fire Commissioners,
and knowing no a why they
should do differently now, they are at
a loss to whom to appeal. That the
fire board still has control is the opin-
ion of most of the firemen.
That the firemen are not present
ing a solid front in this opinion. how
ever, is shown from the action of
Valley Hose Company no. 2, which
sent a communication to the Town
Council congratulating the new FIRE
committee on taking control of the
department. I'VE will now get our
reasonable demands" the letter read.
This communication, though signed
by William Fl. Mccormack, acting
secretary of Valley Hose Company,
was not sanctioned by all the MEM
bers of that company, however. H.
feeling against the old board was re-
sponsible for 1t, it is claimed.
valley is sore because one Of
their members was not selected
Chief said William Gilmore, OF
Eastwood Hose and Truck Company.
''They are also sore,'' he said, he
cause the badge and key of one Of
their members was demanded by the
Board of Fire Commissioners for in
subordination at the Somehow oil
factory fire."
To substantiate his statement, Gil
more pointed to that part of the let
ter from the Valley company read
ing: I'VE will now get our reason
able demands" There said Gil
more, that shows something wal
up"
1t is common gossip IN the town
that the Town Council intends to
establish a new fire department, in
an attempt to evade q legal battle.
That the Council in general. however,
IL not responsible for the delay.
is evidenced from the resolu-
ton introduced by Councilman Henry
Mccormack, requesting the Board of
Fire Commissioners to show cause
why, according to an act Of the Leg
islature of 1907, they have o filed
a statement of their receipts and ex.
penditures before the proper officials.
This resolution was introduced, the
councilman said, in an effort to bring
matters to some kind or an Issue.
In reply to a query from Council
ma George 1. Byron as to whether
this issue would be brought up this
year. Town Attorney Decfraw said
that. although the necessary papers
were already drawn up. he was act
ing under the advice of the fire com
mittee.
In the event Of the Town Council re-
fus'ng to allow the customary stipend
of $12 to the firemen, the taxpayers.