Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-09-09

] pressure.
come chief engineer from the rank
of private.
1--WE are not considering Jobs for
individuals" he said, "but rather are
considering how to make the IRE de-
partment most efficient for the pro-
lection Of life and property in the
District Of Columbia"
Firm in Their Stand.
| Declaring that they would make
every possible effort to prevent the
contamination of injustice done to
members of the fire department by the
| recently announced promotions was
:, not righsed. when the seniority rule
| which has been in vogue in the de-
I partment for years was completely
| ignored, members Of the City Fire
| fighters Union, which includes vir-
! tually every member of the District
| fire department. at a special meeting
last night vigorously protested against
the promotions and agreed to take
steps to prevent the new men from
taking the oath Of office. More than
100 members attended what is said
to have been the largest meeting in
| the history of the association.
Members of the union asserted that
the morale of the department had been
broken and efficiency reduced IS per
cent since the promotions, which they
declared were examples of personal
ally aISo express their e oppo pos a to the
broken seniority rule, which established
a precedent in the department, but de-
clared that promotions We're made
favored i one ones an oppor 1 on the
competitive basis. They demand that
chance be given them to compete.
Committee Sees Chief Wagner.
A committee Of twelve, comprising
all ranks. from battalion chiefs to
privates, which was appointed with
| full power of the union to protest the
promotions, met IN conference this
| morning with Frank Wagner. chief
| engineer of the fire department, in
| an effort to defer the swearing in of
| the new men until the union learns
| on what grounds the appointments
| were made.
If no satisfaction is obtained from
the fire chief the committee has
planned to lodge its protest before
the board of Commissioners at their
! weekly meeting tomorrow. Then. II
they are not given satisfactory
explanation. plans have been made to
carry the matter to Congress and ask
that an investigation be ordered.
Determined to Get Action.
Determined that immediate action
should be taken to prevent the new
officers from being sworn in. an effort
| was made to get Commissioners
Brownlow. Gardiner and Knight at
the meeting last night. but they could
finally agreed to present their grew
ances before the fire chief and the
Commissioners at the drst opportunity
| this morning.
The sentiment Of the meeting was
not particularly against the ignoring
Of the seniority rule, but that prac-
tical men, who have been in the serv-
ice Of the department for years. and
who were in line for promotion. were
| not given an opportunity to prove
their worth Speakers declared that
! mon who had proved their courage
and who possessed the highest degree
Of Intelligence had been Jumped
most outrageously."
Tho new appointees have not yet
been sworn In. and fear was EXPRESS
ed at the meeting last night that the
Commissioners might take some ac-
ton to that end today. when they
learned Of the unions plans.
Merit Governs Appointments.
It is understood that the commits.
sioners and Fire Chief Wagner made
Ao "a ClSAoAo0o VI OOo0AS wing lu0 Sc.
niority rule, and when the appoint
| ments were announced 1t was stated
that they had been made on merit
alone. and after careful considera-
ton.
George 8. Watson, promoted to suc-
coed Philip W. Nicholson as fire mar
shall. was at one time secretary to Dr.
William c. woodward. former health
officer Of the District SerEt. Gill,
who was promoted to battalion chief.
was formerly an aid to Chief wag-
ner. The Heutenants appointed to
captains to succeed those who went
up in rank are W. M. Green. L L.
Woolard and A. s. Haight. Tho SER
geants who succeeded these men AZ
lfeutenants are r. g. Tegeler, G. G.
Fling and c. A. Wells. The priyates
promoted to, sergeantcies are p. T.
Leahy, G. W. Rice. 8. M. Gould, J. b.
Dutton and c. c. Meeks. ..,
:. Tho special meeting was called last
night on account Of q petition signed
by nifty members Of the union. asking
] that some action be taken Immediately
TO have Justice. given the veteran mem
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