The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1922-11-11
FIRE DEPARTMENT
OF CITY HOTBED OF
POLITICS, STATED.
Reduction in Fire Insurance
Rates Retarded by Policy
of Commissioner of Pub
lie Safety, Is Charge

department has been turned into a
virtual hot-bed of politics, and that
the general administration of its af-
fairs under the leadership of w. b.
Cloe, commissioner of public safety,
has been a losing proposition for the
city, Sydney A. Middleton, for 25
years head of the local firefighting
forces retired from active service
yesterday morning at 8 o'clock.
Immediately following the retiring
from service of Chief Middleton. =.
L. Akin. formerly first assistant
chief OF the department. assumed the
responsibilities of heading what has
been admitted to be the most eff
cient fire fighting aggregation in the
south.
In his statement Former Chief Mid
dleten brought out the fact that a
gone in effect six months ago, had
been cancelled by the underwriters
and would not now be effective in
Birmingham for a year to come. due
to the drastic changes made In the
department.
MiddIeton's Statement
The full statement of the former
chief follows:
ct left tho fire department at s
o'clock this morning. I would have
continued as chief for several years,
however. IL It had not been for the
manner In which Mr.. Cloe has acted,
especially in inviting privates into
his office and listening to their tales
of anything they had to say against
any other members OF the depart
ment, and. also, in going over my
head in making appointments with
out any regard to their ability or
terms OF service in the department.
In all of his appointments there
were other men in the department.
who were entitled to those places by
reason of service and ability.
I'm making the appointments of
Assistant Chief b. o. Hargrove of
West END, and W. II. Hanlin of Avon
dale, Mr.. Cloe, instead of relying on
my Judgment and his own. allowed
himself to be influenced and pretu-
diced by some of the citizens of West
End and Avondale. This was very
wrong for those citizens to do--if
they wished an efficient fire depart
ment.
Meant No Reflection
However. I do not wish to cast
any reflection on the men named, for
they are my friends. but do insist
that citizens using their influence TO
get men appointed because they are
good fellows are doing the chief Of
the fire department an injustice and
will soon demoralize the department.
Appointments of this kind should
come through the chiefs office"
Losing Proposition
ST think 1t is the worst thing in
the world for politics to get into
the fire department. especially when
Mr.. Cloe as head of the public safe
ty department, seems to be swayed
by politics. Never before have we
had any politics in the 2b years l
have been connected with the de-
partment until since Mr.. Cloe took
office.
Losing Proposition
Mr.. Cloe's administration. as
see il, has been a losing proposition
for the citizens of Birmingham. His
system of discharging old. ex-
perienced firemen and filling their
places with green men who have
to be taught at the expense OF the
city and with the prospect of later
being turned loose. has cost and will
cost dearly.
Changes that have been made
have cost the city many thousands
of dollars in money because the city
a IL In
ance rates, which would have taken
effect about six months ago. but now
will not take effect in another year.
/ was informed by the underwriters
that they could not make this reduc-
ton en- account of the changes al
ready made and those contemplated.
THE city will have to wait, ac-
cording to the underwriters. until
they can see what kind of showing
will be made under existing changes.
This means another years wait,
amounting to thousands Of dollars.
Were Experienced
Il. H. Norris and ]. A. Brown
ing were good, experienced firemen.
II they had been allowed a trial they
would have been in the department
today. / consider them both up-to-
date firemen and It was the wrong
thing for Mr.. C1oe to refuse them
trial.
Mr.. C1os and I have had several
clashes In regard to changes which
thought would cripple the eff
cheney of tho department. However,
he said the only thing he had against
me was my testifying before the
grand jury In regard to the purchase
Of White or Mack trucks for the fire
department. did not want to go be-
fore the grand jury, but was sum-
moned and naturally complied with
tho law. testifying to the facts as /
know them. Mr.. ClGe did not ask
me for my resignation, but I told him
that would resign when my term
was up"
Regarding his plans for the fu-
ture Middleton declared that he has
made no preparations other than for
a months vacation to be spent in
Florida. Middleton said that he has
received several business PROPOSE
tions although he has not definitely
decided his future vocation.
Chief Akin Popular
Akin, who succeeds Middleton.
comes into the management of the
department with the hearty co-opera-
ton of the entire body behind him.
Chief Akin has been member Of the
local fire department since 1899, dur
Ing which time he has taken part
in fights against some OF the most
disastrous fires In the history of the
country. During the time he has been
a member Of the fire department
Chief Akin has attracted hundreds OF
friends who wish him we'll In his
new capacity.
Chief Akin will have as his as
sistants. ALI Brown, who formerly
had charge of the southside depart
ments, as his first assistant chief;
B. O. Hargrove, second assistant
chief; e. W. Taylor, third assistant
chief, and w. e. Hanlin. fourth as