New Britain herald., 1929-01-30
PainuiM Me1ps
INTERNAL STRIFE IN FIRE COMPANY Hemhas Ask Removal of Con-
 missioner hmS R. bosHdl LATTER DEFENDS SELF

Asserts Practices Attacked Are Eooaomical-Miss Elizabeth Far
 Tar Married Bristol Man-vestry
 Mecttng-BOwling Scoses-bstefs.
 Civil war loomed in the Ire de. partment today as members of Piainsille Hose Co. No. 1 were pre- pairing . petition asking tho select men to oust James R. Boswell as fire commissioner, while Frederick /; Cullen. chairman of the ire com- mission. backed his fellow member.
 The petition is said to contain the signaturos of about 90 Of the Co members of the company. The dis affected flremen claim that Mir. B0s- we'll has failed to cooperate with the company. In addition to being . commissioner. he is also driver of the departments largest truck, and his assailants are opposed to this double duty. claiming he should havo resigned as driver when ap- pointed to the commission somewhat over a year ago.
 The regular practice when an alarm is given here is for tho tele- phone operator to notify Mir. Bos- we'll and then sound the alarm. In this. way the big truck gets on the street with a head start on the members of the company and is at i the scene of the blaze whom they arrive. In the case of small fires, where it is not necessary to sound the alarm, MT. Boswell takes the truck out alone or with . few men and no alarm is sounded.
 The signers of the petition object they should be notihed of every fire while they feel that the alarm should be blown before MT. Boswell is notified. one member of the de partment stated that it made the firemen look slow to be 50 far be. hind the truck and that they ob' jected to being made to appear ir this light. They assert that favorit- ism is being shown tho driver. commissioner.
 Mir. Boswell today defended him self merely by explaining the req sons for tho system, and he did not counter attack his assailants He said that the practice is the most efficient and economical that can be devised. By notifying him in advance, Mir. Boswell stated. the apparatus is always at the fire early and ready for the first Hremen te arrive. Hs added that this has pre- vented more than one fire from ee' coming serious and cited the Legior hall blaze as one which was stopped by the early appearance of thu truck.
 Regarding hts custom of going out alone to email fires. such as burning autos, Mir. Boswell setd that this wal done for reasons of economy. He could see no reason for calling out the whole department for . fire al which 1t was not needed, az every fireman who responded would be paid a dollar and the town would have to bear unnecessary expense On many occasions he finds these small fires extinguished before he arrives. he went on. and there 10 nc work at all that the firemen could do. He pointed out that in cities these small fires do not cause bell alarms and that policemen have fre- quently been severely criticized for sending in bell alarms and bringing out much apparatus for automobile fires.
 Chairman Builen expressed his confidence In Mir. Boswell this morn- ing. saying the object of tho petition was an efficient man and had worth while experience in city fire depart ments behind him. He expressed nc opinion regarding the petition.
 The fire commission ts slated to hold a regular meeting tomorrow evening It is not likely that any formal action will he taken regard ing the dissension in the department. although Mir. Bullion said it would probably be discussed.
 | First Selectman James Simpson had not received the petition up to noon. It will be impossible to hold a selectmen'7 meen'ne this evening he said. as second Selectman William Downham will be out Of town. How ever. he said. the fact that the peti- ton has 30 signatures attached to it is significant and makes the dool- ment one which must be considered seriously by the board.
 Casey -Farrar W eddlng
 4 very pretty wedding took place this morning at the Church of Our Lady of Mercy when Miss Elizabeth Farrar, daughter of Mrs. Elizabeth i'arrar of North Washington street. became the bride of William r. Casey. son Of Mrs. Mary Casey of Bristol. The couple were attended by Mir. and Mrs. Walter Murphy of Bristol.