Evening star., 1914-02-26
The Fire Department Findings.

| The outcome of the special board in
| quiry into the circumstances attending
| the Tth street fire of the morning OF
| December "A, in which five tiremen were
! entrapped for seve:a al hours, is generally
\ in accordance with expectation, oased
upon the evidence presented. Deputy
Chief Sullivan is fully exonerated, and
responsibility for the prolonged endan-
| gering Of the firemen is laid on other
shoulders while the board administers a
severe rebuke to third officer for IN
subordinate conduct in general. 1t is to
be regretted that blame for the unfortu-
| nate situation should have to be laid
upon any one, and especially that
the findings cast reflections upon so
competent and trusted an official as Chief
Wagner. whose long service in the de-
partment has been marked by unfaillng
fidelity to duty and increasing usefulness
as a fl. eman and executive.
OF chief Importance in this connection is
the finding of the board with particular
reference to the matter of pension,ng
fremen. The Star has for a long time
been endeavoring, through the publica-
ton of the i'll effects Of the present made
quate pension system, to bring about a
reform in this particular. but the condi-
tions lemain unimproved and the fire
department, together with the police de-
partment is left unprovided with an as
| sured retirement system 1t may be that
the findings of this present board will
bring the matter specifically to legislative
notice so that some new provision may
be made to insure the maintenance of a
sufficient pension fund to enable the Com
mis- 70 rnfi rot, fra lob farS
without exposing them to the danger of
a failure Of income through the made
quacy of the fund itself The findings of
the trial board in this particular should
be brought squarely to the attention of
every member of Congress:
In this connection the board is strongly
impressed with the necessity Of having
p: ovision for an adequate pension fund
for the fire department. Under the pres
ent state of the law when man. after
years of faithful and efficient service,
reaches an age at which he should retire
from active duty, the Commissioners are
under the necessity of either forcing him
to reti:e with uncertain and inadequate
provision for his livelihood, or continuing
him in the service with responsibilities
and duties calling for the exercise Of
with his age and physical and mental
condition. The detrimental effect upon
the service Of such condition OF affairs
is obvious"
Every citizen of the District will ac-
quiesce heartily in this recommendation.
and 1t is to be hoped that the Commits
sioners will take this report as the text
and basis of a strong representation to
Congress in favor of the immediate re-
vision of the police and firemep's pension
system to insure sufficient means at all
times to enable them to retire men who
are no longer physically capable of with
standing the serious strain of continuous
fire-fighting duty. No more effective
object lesson could be found than the
present unfortunate affair. which has
deeply stirred the community.
There is general and sincere sympathy
for Chief Wagner in his present situation,
felt as we'll by those who are at the same
time disposed to congratulate his deputy
upon an acquittal which clears his record.
Once more it becomes evident that in the
handling of matters of this sort open
public procedure is infinitely to be pre-
ferred to private inquiry, when an official
life is at stake.