Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1915-06-30
FIRE PAY ROLL
TO Be subject
J. OF CONFERENCE
Question of Certifying Denoted
Chiefs as Captains Cause
b of Mix-Up.
JUSTICE PARKER HAD
SUGGESTED PROCEDURE
But Civil Service and Fire
Boards Have Delayed Ac-
ton in Case.

The pay roll of the fire department
has not been certified in full by Alex
ander H. Fordyce, jr., president of the
Civil Service Commission, who has
charge of the Essex county district,
and for that reason, it was explained
today. the flremen may not receive
their salaries as early as is the Gus
tom on the first of the month. 1t is
said, however, that the delay will be
only one of a few hours.
There appears to be hitch over
the status OF the five denoted bat
talon chiefs, whom the Civil Service
Commission decided, on the basis of
an opinion from the attorney gen
eral, were illegally reduced to cap
taincies, and were entitled to rein
statement as battalion chiefs, with
pay
The case has been hanging fire for
some time. The fire commissioners
are delaying action, as If waiting, it
is thought, to force the chiefs to take
the initiative in court proceedings. In
the meantime the Civil Service Com
mission, after directing that the
chiefs be reinstated, have been certi-
Tying the department payroll with
the battalion chiefs rated as captains
with captains pay. This is considered
as inconsistent on the part of the GER
tifying officials.
Supreme Court Justice Charles
Parker, before whom the matter was
brought few weeks ago, commented
upon this phase of the situation and
suggested that proper steps be taken
to have the case adjudicated. The
civil service commissioners were then
told what course to pursue. They
were told to issue a direct order on
the Fire Board to reinstate the chiefs,
and If the order was ignored, the
case could be Immediately brought
into court. 1t does not seem that
Justice Parkers suggestion has been
followed out, and the payroll feature
is being certified in a manner that is
causing considerable crficism.
Frank e. Bradner. counsel for the
chiefs, is in no position TO proceed
as long as the civil service COM
missioners leave Justice Parker's suS-
gestion go unheeded
II seems to be agreed that the
chiefs cannot be certified to as cap
tains with captains pay, While under
the civil service commissioners own
ruling they are not captains but bat
talon chiefs. without an understand
ing that safeguards the interests
all concerned.
So the trouble is with the pay roll
and its makeup when certified to.
Assistant Attorney General Herbert
Boggs has. it is said, advised the
civil service commissioners not to
certify the Newark fire department
pay roll, in whole or in part, if the
denoted chiefs are entered as cap
tains. 1t would be an incorrect rec
ord
Commissioner Fordyce would not
deny the fact that he is in a guam
Jary. 1t has been suggested that the
pay roll be passed with the names ef
Chiefs Thomas S. Reilly, Charles C.
Storch. James Fagap, jr., Michael j.
Durkin and Cornelius Smith elm
mated, or the matter so arranged
that they can under some stipulation
accept pay as captains.
IT is said that Mr.. Bradner sees in
this proposition an opportunity tina.
would permit the fire commissioners
and the civil service commissioners
TO rest on their oars and allow the
cases of the chiefs to continue inter-
nably. The cases would be prac-
tically shelved, as it would lie VITA
the commissioners to take the initia-
tive, which experience has shown Mr.
Bradner they would not be likely to
do.
Commissioner Fordyce has request
ed conference for tomorrow morning
on the pay roll question. City Counsel
Spaulding Frazer, Assistant Attorney
General Boggs and Mr. Bradner have
been invited to attend. 1t is expect
ed that a satisfactory conclusion will
be reached.