The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1921-04-16
COLL|STER To
De THE ACTING
FIRE CHIEF
City Manager Accepts
Resignation of
Russell

city Manager James y. Gladding
announced today that the resignation
of Fred Russell lire chief. rendered
last night nj 10 O'Clock. would be- ac-
cpptod aud that W. NJ. Colllrtcr. as
sisiant fire chief would be- appointed
acting fire chief beginning at noon
tomorrow. the date given IN Russeils
foHignation.
Collistcr is a veteran fire fighter
and has been In the service longer
than chief Russell and AIR. Gladding
expressed confidence that he would
hc able TO organize the mcmhcra Of
tn" department and cope vita the
present situation.
Walter N Csnnell. chairman %
tho hoard of commissioners also cx-
pressed confidence IN Mr. Collistcra
ability 10 handle tho department In
ita present condition and said the
peopl, uf the city could rest assured
that there was no danger In the SIT
untion.
Iluasclls resignation was entirely
uncXpectcdc and was communicated
to the city manager over the tclc-
phone last night. The short time he
gave Tor 60 become effective was
also a surprise
The city commissioners held a brief
meeting fills morning at 10 o'clock
when they informally approved OF the
city managers action In accepting the
resignation OF Fire Chief Russell The
meeting was called Tor the purpose OF
naming an acting chairman OF the
board as Mr.. Connell h. leaving the
city tonight on a business trip. Com.
missioner ksynoids will be acting
chairman during his absence.
professional organizer FOR the
fif"men's union arrived In tho city
last night and his presence In the city
IN said TO have hoirter,d the iaboring
rlement that II fighting the Discharge
of the unlon firemcn into renewed
efforts
Petitions for the recall OF Com
missinn'rs Connoll Mclaughlin and
tiuynolds were continuing o. b, cir
siunt,d today as was also the petit
tIur for au amendment to the citN
,h1rter rp that q city manager might
not diFchhrgr % cts cmploye solely
because ct membership lu the union
The progress made iu the rirCuin
tou of these petitions viii be an.
uuun,cd tonight a' the mass meeting
nJ thr llirh school when the fire.
mems situation viii bo discussed o.,
r'furl speakers
Or Was rpid TODAY that friends oi
trr commissioner % is sought to r,,
DIl v'', prcpariug today q" so {,
bat ON tho issue raised and that the,
NNNA ''AlN lNN.N.A NNIhN wv NNNfNlalNN NN lN''
tain recall would fail.
I,csignaiion Letter !.
Nh. Rutsclls letter uf resignation
to CITY Manager Glaoding follows
Albuquerque. y. NJ
April rs. 1921.
Nj }. NJ. Gladding chy Manager
CITY
Dear su-Coufirming my con
v,rsation with you of even date.
81. A
qucrpuv urr department. to TAX
effect at o. O'Clock noon. Nprn n
AFTER serving 100 IN, department
continuously tur % period OF ~ year
u seems only appropriate that I Civ
YOU and the people we both serve m
reasons for rcsiguing At the outset
wish 90 make t clear that my 1ctiul
is'taken after due dclihcrntion and 3
not prompted by any feeling ut ~
will toward you or the commission
nor hy any petty mutlNc. sine" IA
unhappy incidents ct the past te,
days have arisen I have made a
honest 'nurt Go muk, an urEluizatio
cut Of the material you have place
az mN disposal iu the way Of frcmct
aud find that q is Impossible tn ap
proach anything like an rmcicnt or
Eunizatiuu. capable of giving this 'it
fir' protection.
NANN NhNW NfNN ~ NY NNN VIZ
erection in o. setting the present CriFl
which has arisen IN my department
fool. In an modvsty, that Il woul
have been met to the satisfaction q
IN, people uf Albuquerque whom "
both serve ana We would now haN
the protection Of q trained fire a,
paTtmcnt foT which the people az
paying taxes. However, both you an
the commission have made II Yer
a.. q Ia L.. .
the efficiency uf my department
the present crisis. aud az the San
time YOU have Withdrawn from nj
an power TO cope with the situate
leaving me responsible tu you ana
the people Tor q situation over whic
have no control | feel therefor
that do not enjoy either your col
fidcncr or that OF the commission
else | would nave been given fr'
hand IN conducting my own d"par
mout in my own way. II has h
come, therefore, my plain duty 20 u
sign 30 that YOU may build up a iil
drpurtmcnt in your own way.
1T is with extreme reluctance M
I have taken this action, hut with
CONSEQUENCE uf duty well done.
have served Albuquerque Tor loi
period of time and feel q Keen O.
spnnsibihty to the property uW 'r
who are not responsible for the PIE
ont situation. and I am Ncry sure ih
the men who have been discharg
and who arr trained IN fire prot
ton feel the same way, ana snou
"a dangerous liz, occur during q
time YOU are f,lling my place and B.
organizing the department. YOU m
feel frso 10 cTn on m' tu load Q
trimmed m,U Goo tho tssiftunr' Di 10
usrznn pi ulu"rrt' that BE- iu lr"p ir
tn the ond tNIt oul p."pl" nh' o.
not Responsible t'r the present cod
do not suuri.
sincerely,
-EEEn MlsskLL.