Evening star., 1929-10-05
ASKF|RE CO. PROBE
AT SILVER SPRING
Citizens Body to Appoint In.
vestigating Committee.
Brooke Lee Heads Group.
BY WILLIAM J.. WHEATLEY,

SLIGO, Nd, October SITS opera
ton and management having been un-
der IRE for some time, the Silver Spring
Volunteer Fire Department is to have
probing finger of investigators stuck
into Its activities in accordance with
a resolution adopted last night by the
silver Spring Citizens Association,
which held meeting in the county
building here. The makeup OF
the personnel of the investigating
committee is not yet known, but will
be appointed by 4. Brooke Lee, county
Democratic leader. who last night was
elected to the presidency of the citizens
body.
was not furnishing the kind OF pro.
lection desired were given at ..Iss. tne lass
session Of the Maryland Legislature
when a bill was introduced by Speaker
Lee which would have put 1t within
the hands of the county authorities
to control the situation by providing
authority for the establishment OF a
paid IRE department.
Last Years Fight Cited.
At that time there was split In the
ton of Lee opponents went to Senator
Jones of Kensington, at the State Cap
itol. and that official successfully ban
ished the measure in the Senate. Beat
en- in that method of attack, the county
officials and organization then gave
consideration to a plan Of Withholding
special tax funds from the volunteer fire
department until there was cleanup
1t was said that the organization mend
ed It's ways, and provided for improved
fire protection, and this course was
stopped for the time being.
Then came an election in the fire.
mems body which was hotly contested,
with the result that the Organization
men were deposed, and new anti slate
took charge. Everything seemed to be
going along smoothly, until last night
gave the first indications that trouble
was brewing, with the presentation OF
the resolution.
LOafing Issue Was Discussed.
Il was alleged early in the year that
the firehouse was being allowed tn be
used as loafing place for certain uI1-
desirables and that the equipment was
not kept up and did not respond
promptly to calls. One instance was
cited where the company received a
call, and the apparatus could not be
SCdIUcQ uIlLLl u tOW CTuCh k1dQ JeSn JIG
tanned, with much loss of valuable time
Since that time, however, new and
modern apparatus has been purchased
Back of the whole affair is consider
able political feeling, which dates back
to the time early in the year when a
group Of the fire association members
appeared at the State Capitol and sue
cessfully beat the administration bill
which would have given the county
leaders the upper hand of the present
association. and helped to widen the
breach between the State Senator and
the organization Democrats in the
Lower House.
In addition to electing Maj. Lee pres
ident last night, the association named
Alan Neuman first vice president. w. E.
Perry second vice president, and re-
elected Ward w. Caddington secretary
for his third term. The following dele
gates to the Montgomery County Civic
Federation were named: Joseph G.
Cissel, w. w. Caddington and Phil D.
Poston. The alternates were selected
as follows: Dave Mears, Louis A. Yost,
jr., and John J. Geary.
The association also adopted reso-
luton recommending the erection -of
lights on Woodside Parkway, east of
the National Guard Armory.