The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-06-06

w tive pins the new administra-
ton medal of the Fire De-
partnssnt OH the coa Of Deputy Grief
Patrick Maher his rct will signalize
the success of Fire COMMISSIONS
Robert Adamson's experiment in run
ming the department with the aid Of its
5000 uniformed men.
Last summer Mr.. Adamson invited
the entire 5000 to come in and help
him to manage the department., offering
a medal to the man who turned In the
best suggestion. Tho result was that
the officers and fremen sent In such
q flood of ideas that the Commissioner
cannot find the time to put them all
into practice.
II was the commissioners idea that
the army of trained and practical men
under him must, as n matter of course.
have a wealth of ideas based upo ex-
perience which II would be extremely
useful to him to have He found,
however, that a sort OF Chinese wall
separated the men from the Commits
sioner in the form of an ancient rule
forbidding any member OF the force
from communicating with the Com
missioner or the chief except after
submitting an application in writing to
his immediate superior and having 1t
come all the way up through official
channels.
The new plan of admitting flremen
into the management of the depart
ment has created a revolution In the
depa rtment. II has stimulated the
capable and ambitious men in the
department as nothing has done in
years. The hardest job OF all was
determining which, OF all the multi
tude OF suggestions sent in. was the
best. The choice finally fell upon the
suggestion of Chief Maher for a plan
Of discriminating between good and
bad fremen by installing a system or
working records.
Before the adoption Of the sugges-
ton Of Deputy Chief Maher there was
no way Of distinguishing between
the work Of the worst n OF
the best firemen. as 1t was S
tomary to give awards only for
life saving. Often the best firemen
IN the service entered promotion ex-
aminations upon the same footing as
fremen who did not perform their
0utlet NltH tile tlltluSldSlh NV z
vice required. Great difficulties stood
In the way OF equitable adjustment in
ratings on merit.
BY Deputy Chief Maher's plan, de-
veloped and improved by the officials
and officers of the Fire Department
appointed by the Commissioner: a
scheme was evolved whereby credit or
merit ratings are TO be made only
upon a definite statement Of facts. not
opinions, Of the company commanders,
Endorsed by the battalion and deputy
chiefs and passed upon by a board
OF service records. composed of Of
fcials of the Fire Department APP
pointed by the Fire Commissioner
The findings of this board are to form
a permanent part of the official record
Of the Fire Department. n when men
enter civil service promotion examina-
lions due credit will be allowed or
their papers for the awards issued by
this board.
The great value OF this suggestion
lies In the increased stimulus IL will
give to the entire force and the definite
incentive which il offers To every maj
to win recognition for excellent fire
service. 1t was considered by the Fire
Commissioner and his coadvisers al
the best suggestion brought forward
and most deserving Of the medal. II
will go into effect on July I.
Chief Maher has been a member o.
the Fire Department nearly thirt,
years and during that time has taker
part in many Of New York's most seri
Gus fires. For a number Of years h,