The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1922-01-10
Well Satisfied With Accom-
plishment Executive Is
Biding His Time
FIRE DEPARTMENT NOT
100 PERCENT. EFFICIENT
Chief Pickard Given o. K;
Some Men Will Not Speak
And Others Inefficient

Evidently mayor kei9iey Is we'll sat
lsfed with results attained by him
thus far In his efforts at municipal
houseciea eaning. At least no immediate
promise is given for more requests for
designations Of city employees. This Is
not to be taken, however, that the
mayor is done. He simply is bidins
his time.
Discussing the request made by him
for the resignation of II. M. Fletcher
as a member of the fire department,
announced Wednesday, Mayor Keig.
ley informed The Banner that before
acting he had investigated, making in.
quiries Of Chief Fickard of the fire de.
partment, of other employees of the
department From these he gathered
sufficient evidence, In his opinion, to
justify him in asking for the resigna-
tion OF this fireman.
| Owing to the fact that the new head
Of the safety department, w. r. Hook
way, cannot take the oath and assume
charge Of the department before Mon.
day. Jan g. there will be no further
action in the Fletcher case until the
lnew director Is on duty.
Explaining his course independently
OF his appointees in the service and
safety departments, Mayor Keigley
said he constructs 1t to be his duty to
inform himself to such an extent he
may that he may be able to inform the
new heads of departments of condi-
tions they may expect to find when
they enter upon the discharge of their
duties.
Ccmmends Pickard
Commenting upon conditions discov.
cred by him in the fire department,
Mayor Keigey said he found and is
more than ever convinced the city has
In Mr.. Pickard as chief of the fire de.
partment and superintendent OF the
waterworks department a man who Is
capable and efficient His investlga
ton and inquiry has but strengthened
the personal impression he previously
had had of Chief Pickard.
"Roasts" Fire Department
Within the fire department itself
he finds conditions that leads him
seriously to question it's efficiency
The department Is operated, as the
state law requires, In two shifts OF
three men each. In one of these
shifts Mayor Keigley says he has
found that two of the men will not
t. speak to the third member In the
other shift he finds one man In phys
ical condition making 1t practically
impossible for him to climb lad
der and another man in little better
condition. But one of the three mer
really is able to give ecicient service
at fire.
These facts and conditions, Mayor
Keiuley deems sucicient to warran
!. reporting to the incoming director o
:. the safety department that the fire
Q department is not anywhere near Q
state Of 100 percent. efficiency.
Wrong Information
The admission was made openl
: and frankly that the Mayor has no
found all reports and complaints jus
tilted. In fact, 1t is his conclusion
that these reports being made t
him In good faith some one has beef
wrongly informed. In illustration
Mayor Keigley said that complaint
had been brought to him OF cond
tions in tht cemetery department
that cemetery employees worked OF
/. ly to 4 p. m. each day and that 1t 4
practically impossible to secure SCI
vice at funeral II the funeral part
v IL not In Mound View cemetery by
p. IN.
Upon Investigating ahis." sal
Mayor Keigley to The Banner repre-
a sentative, ~ find that the cemeter
'r employees work every day until
r. =, m. feel that some one has bee
st wrongly informed"
Continuing further Mayor Keigle
said: my idea is to let the peopl
know how their money is being spel
in the departments and how it Is b
ing applied. l am not considerir
this as a political move, While l a.
a Republican believe the city come
first. The party but reflects the Sc
timent and average thought OF Il
community.
I'VE purpose meeting with d
council and hope to work out vii
them a good and an efficient syste