The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-07-10
BARNES SURPRISED
 Al HIS RETIREMENT 1
Says He Didn't Request Com missioner Tague to
 Apply For It.
Fire Board Pensions Veteran Head of System on Ground That Younger Man Is Re- quired For the Work.

t.I did not ask Commissioner Tague to request my retirement by the Fire board. The matter was. preached to me by MT. Tague, but was dropped did not know such action was con ternplated until told of it by Farmer representative and it comes as a com plete surprise to me-.
 These were the words of William A. Barnes, superintendent of the local fire alarm system, when he was ap- prised this morning of his retirement by the fire conn nnnissioners at a special meeting held last night. In placing the motion before the board, Commis-s sioner Tague stated that he did so in accord with the wishes of MT. Barnes. as he 1Mr. Barnes krealized he was becoming too old for the position.
 The other members of the board as he (N1r. Barnes) realized he was speaking highly of his work in the past.
 Arthur B. P1att, assistant to MT. Barnes was named to fill the vacancy The members favor giving the post to MT Platt as soon as MT Barnes re- tirement is effective onN September Ist.. Mir. Barnes was given a leave of abs sence on full pay from July Is to. September 1st.
 E Mir. Barnes has been connected with the local departnent. for sthirty-ffve years He was appointed a fireman on June 8, 1879 and has served con tinuously except during illness. When MT. Barnes was appointed superill- tendent of the system. His work has been commended by his superiors.
 In proposing the retirement, Com
 missioner Tague stated it was in ac- | cord with MT Barnes wishes. MT. Barnes, he declared. told him that l he was becoming too old for the posi- ton He said that no fault could be found with his work in the past. He suggested that MT Barnes be given a
 leave of absence from July 15 until | September I After that time he will one half of his present salary of S1,- ls700. Commissiol1er Tague stated that I in justice to the department it. would
 be necessary to have a younger and
 more active man in the position. Commissioner 1T. O. Garfield stated 1 this morning: MT. Tague talked with
 MT. Barnes about his retirement two [ days ago. and apprised him. of the 1 action to be taken by the board. I do not believe that he wanted to re-
 retirement was due entirely to his in
 ability to perform the duties Of the department z a.
 1 President Baxter stated that: "The
 retirement was for the good of the de- partnerlt Mr. Barnes has done the | 1 but he is becoming old We thought I it best to bring sup the retirernent at l the present time because of the new
 fire alarm headquart srs. When the underground system was installed it was necessary toAbring an outside man in, and Bridgeport is large enough to produce men capable of doing this work alone, so we thought best to give MT. Platt an opportunity.
 Commissions Cassidy refused to talk upon the matter.
 Comn1issioner Tague said in regard to the retirement of MT. Barnes: T l,spoke with MT Barnes on the subject of his retirement last Wednesday even ing told him that the matter would be taken up by the board in the near future. He appeared to be satisfied, but he did not ask that he be given a Hear leave of absence on full pay. While MT. Barnes has discharged his duties satisfactorily in the past, we re garded it necessary to get a younger man in the office, as he was getting well along in years Further than this I have nothing to say