The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-01-21
TOWER BELL
 NOT TO TOLL Fire Board Favors Abolish ment At Early Date. RETIRES FIREMAN
 THOMAS WHALEN, Reviews Claim For Damage by Collision With Chiefs
 Car.

Included in the routine business transacted by the fire board at last nights session was the a.ppointm ent of Captain George F. Beardsley to be an acting deputy chief in the absence of Deputy Chiefs Jacob Horkheirner or D. B. Johnson. Commissioner Tague made the motion and President Baxter explained that this action Is along the line of making it unneces- sary for Chief Mooney to respond to minor b1azess giving him s1eeway and only making it compulsory to com mand at factory and other large fires.
 According to Limitations expressed by Commissioners Tague, there. is a likelihood that the old hre-tower bells will be limited as far as announcing every alarm is concerned. He said the bells were established years ago for the benefit Of the ca1Imen, that these have been abolished while the bells now are of practically no, use and cost the department from $1,000s to $1,500 a year.
 He believed that any objections would be simply for sentimental req sons and in this President Baxter agreed. It was considered that the traffic warming horns and apparatus signals are sufficient.
 Chief Mooney stated the bells are of use to school children but this ben eft was offset by factory whistles and bells which answer the purpose. A report was made that tower 3 has not been in use for about two months and the proposition was put to permanent ly abolish it. After considerable dis clIssion, on account of the absence of Commissioner Confeld in the south, definite action was deferred until the flrstsmeeting that he attends
 c. J. Cross of the Cross Front Drive o1f< (tfsA Tar md Stewart of the American & British Co.,, Bridgeport and Providence, ap- peared and talked for over an hour concerning the apparatus made by their concerns. The board has in-s c1uded i'm it's requisition $12,0O0 for tractors to haul hooks and ladder trucks, now horse drawn Specifica- tions will be submitted and consider ed.
 A communication was received from Peter J. DooIan asking $38.65 for damages to his wagon. and eight days pay to the driver who was hurt as a result of collision with Chief. Moneys car at Pembroke street and East Washington avenue January 8. Chief Mooney explained that the horn on his car was sounded, that the driver of his car turned but the auto struck the tail of the wagon.
 Upon recommehdation lof Comnis- sioners Tagua7 the bill was sent to the common c6dncif claims committee, the board having no fund to meet such emergencies. and because aSdriver who does not get out of the way Of fire apparatus has no redress at law
 Miss A. c. Kelley sent in a bill for s25, claimed to have been incurred by her late father, Architeet T. F. Kelley in examining and furnishing concerning the condition of fire escapes in the city scho1s. It was ordered sent to the city auditor, similar action having been taken con- corning another like bill.
 Drs. Eli B. Ives, department sur geon, and A. R. Diefendorf sent in a report to the effect that Fireman Thomas Whalen, of Engine Go. 2. is permanently capacitated. A resolu- tfon was passed retiring him and put ting him on the pension fund at half pay.