Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-09-11

ton. who was in attendance at tho
meeting. said that he Understood II
to be the policy Of the research bu-
rean TO informally discuss matters with
department heads in all cities whore
surveys had been conducted. He knew
nothing OF the Fire Board rcport he
said. and was also unable TO say when
the complete report would be made.
l. was after this statement that the
subcommittee. composed Of Messrs
Mills. Peters and Fuller. visited tn.
Fiic Board.
President L. e. jenkins. OF the Fire
6oard. told the committee that tho
report had been sent to the chief. but
as yet no action had been taken by
the board. and that ii would not CON
sider the report. lie then read IA let.
ter. dated August 20. to the boards
secretary. which follows: .
Il have this day forwarded to Chic,
Joynes the rough draft copy OF the
report with the request that after he
has finished reading 1t to deliver the
same 10 you. VIII you please submit
II informally to the board members.
If they discover any inaccuracies or
statements. | would be- Obliged 10
You ii you would have them dictate
the corrections to me, and will OK
anime my working papers and make
the necessary corrections.
AS to recommendations however Of
course you realize that these are a
matter OF opinion, in which some of
the board members may not concur. and
these arc submitted only for the in
formation of the board and not for
correction. AS soon as You hav. com
pleted this. and as speedily az pcsl
Slblc. ! wish you would forward the
same to me.
With best wishes and many thanks
,or the many courtesies extended to me,
am. Very truly yours,
tSlCncdt C. j DRlS{,OlJ''
FIRE COMMISSIONERS
iNrRESS INDIGNATION
Considerable indignationover the en-
tire matter was expressed by members
OF the Board of Fire Commissioners
with the result that Secretary Jones
was directed to send MIR. priscol! the
Following letter:
Your letter OF the 2eth ulto. ad-
dressed TO Mr. L. Jones, as secretary
of this board. has been by him re-
ferred TO the board.
we have also had handed to us tho
draft of your report which we note was
sent 10 Chief Joynes of this depart
ment.
"In advance Of your coming to make
this survey our Board OF Fire Commits
sioncrs. having learned OF the contract
between the City Council and your bu-
reau. voluntarily issued an order 10
all branches of the Fire and Fire
Alarm Departments TO give access to
any records OF the departments and to
assist IN every way possible any rep-
resentatiVe OF your bureau, and we feel
that as the responsible head OF this
portion OF the city government that
any results OF your research should
nave oeen communicated to us. through
our president. rather than have 1t come
through the chief and a letter to the
secretary,
We had hoped that there was to
nave been the spirit OF conference for
the purpose OF disclosing the true con-
dition OF this department and it's needs
put In view of the absence of such a
spirit and your failure to observe the
ethics In transmitting tho draft we arc
instructing the secretary TO return the
report without comment from us, pre-
lerrins Tor you to have the author Of
portions OF your information to furnish
the corrections in data and fact which
you have invited"
In addition to recommending tho
abolition OF the Fire Board, .he re-
port also suggests other radical
changes In the administration and con-
Duct of the departments affairs One Of
these is that members OF the depart-
ment be required to pass a civil service
examination. 1t also recommends that a
stenosrapher be employed to assist the
clerk. who should be a civilian officer.
ana not member OF the department
rms report is to be returned to tho BIZ.
rcau at once without comment