Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-11-20
HOW BLOSS WAS
CHOSEN DRIVER
Doremus Recommended Him to
Summit Council, Thinking
He Was Sanctioned.
Special to the Evening star.

SUMMIT, Nov. 20.-That the ap-
pomtment Of Robert w. Bloss to
drive the new automobile fire ap-
paratus for Hose Company No. 2
was recommended to Common Coun-
ell by Councilman Frederick II. Do
femus in the belief that Bloss had
been agreed upon for the position by
the board Of fire chiefs, was learned
yesterday.
Councilman Doremus, who is chair
man of the fire and police commit
tee, stated to the Evening Star re-
porter that the appointments of Mr..
Bloss was made in the usual way.
The boards of fire chiefs recommend
ed Mr.. Bloss and Fire Chief Scott
brought the recommendation TO me.
I'VE decided some time ago." said
the fire and police committee chair
man, Ito employ a driver steadily, as
we believed that would be the better
plan because of the large amount of
money the city has invested in the
new apparatus for Hose Company
No. O."
AS related in this paper yesterday,
none of his colleagues in the board of
fire chiefs had been informed of the
candidacy of Bloss by Chief Scott.
While some of the hose company
members who were wrought up over
the treatment accorded their COM
pany in the matter of the appoint
ment are inclined to let the matter
drop there are others who declare
that there will be a meeting of the
company called soon, at which action
will be taken protesting against the
methods followed by Fire Chief
Scott in bringing about the appoint
ment of Bloss. 1t is the opinion of
some of the members of the hose
company now that Councilman Do
remus believed fully that the ma
jority of the members of the COM
pany favored the selection of Bloss
because of a statement made by the
ire and police committee chairman
when he recommended Bloss's ap-
pointment to council Tuesday night
In moving the appointment Mr.. Do
remus said that while Boss is not a
member of Hose Company No. the
members of that company will elect
him to membership. That Bloss Will
be taken into the company Is not
now at all certain, a -hough even
should his application for member
ship be rejected by the hos company
members he could still hold the po-
sition.
a few years ago the hose company
members refused to admit to MEM
bership a driver who had been ap-
pointed by council in opposition to
the wishes of the firemen. The driver
made several attempts to become a
member of the company, but each
time he was rejected He held the
position for a few years, but under
conditions decidedly unpleasant.
According to Fire Chief Scott, BlosE
is to engage in the automobile repair
ing business near the East Summit
frehouse in connection with his job
as driver for the Hose Company. He
is also to have charge of the repair
ing of the Chemical Engine Com
pany and Union Hose Company S
machines, although it is understood
the drivers of these machines would
prefer to look after their own APP
paratus as at present.
The term of Chief Scott expires
January /. and except in the past few
years it has been the custom on the
expiration of the prescribed term OF
Office of a chief to have him retire
and advance the assistant chiefs. 1t Is
understood Scott will be a candidate
for appointment by Common Council
10 succeed himself January l. While
the firemen have no voice in the APP
pointment, it is generally understood
that the members of at least two OF
the four fire companies Which com
pose the local department are opposed
TO the reappointment of Scott. 1t is said
the Hook and Ladder Company mas
had many grievances due to the al
legged inattention given that company
by Scott Some members or the HOOK
and Ladder Company declare that
IN q n
rubber boots for the company, and
were therefore obliged to fight fires
with wet feet until the condition was
brought to the attention of Council
man Doremus at fire in New Eng
land avenue a few months ago.
In the recent baby parade here there
was much talk among the firemen in
the different companies over the way
in which the chief notified the dif-
ferent companies of the desire of the
Board Of Trade committee to have
the companies represented in the hoat
division of the parade. In consequence
eff the feelings of the hremen oniy
one company, the chemical, OF which
scott is a member, was represented
in the parade.
For nearly two years there has been
open friction between Hose Company
No. 2 and the Common Council, due
to the locating of the machine for
merly used by the Chemical Company
in the quarters of the Hose Company
The machine was rebuilt, but soon
after being placed in the East sum
init firehouse was out of commission
The apparatus was always referred To
by the East Summit firemen as a
"bunch of secondhand junk WIN
the purchase of the new apparatus
AT a cost representing $500 the coun-
ell believed the trouble with the Hose
Company would be eliminated, but
The selection of the driver for the new
Machine has now nnparentlY created