The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-02-19
FIREMEN ASK
BUSINESS men
FOR SUPPORT
Delegation Solicited to
InterCede With Board
of Safety.
GOOD WORD IS URGED
No Sign of Misconduct at
Station, Assurance
of Attorney.
BY CHARLES CARLL

BY CHARLES CARLL
Firemen solicited west side busl-
ness men to appear before the
safety board Tuesday and voice
pleas for them in answer to charges
made in The Times by Dick Miller
that the city fire department is
inefficient.
This fact became known today
when E. D Fouts, Belmont avenue
and Washington street, auto distrib-
utter, one of the delegates before the
board Tuesday, asserted that Charles
Graul, fireman at Engine House Is,
asked him to go before the board
and say "a good word for the fire.
men.
Apparatus from Grauls engine
house was involved in the recent fire
at the American Foundry Company,
531 South Warman avenue, and, it
has been revealed, engines from
this company did not arrive until
after firefighters from Engine House
9, on later alarm, had reached
the scene.
PinOchle Player Present
John Geckler, attorney, 101 South
Traub avenue, another delegate be-
fore the board, said he had not been
asked TO appear, but had gone be-
cause he knew the boys at the en-
CINE house, because he often played
pinoChle with them"
FoutS also asserted Harry Gompf,
secretary treasurer of the Lindeman
Wood-Finish Company, spokesman
for the delegation, not only had
called him by phone and asked his
presence at the meeting, but also
had a personal conference with
Fouts.
Geckler also admitted he had seen
members of Company Is answer the
tower bell by running from points
in the neighborhood after the alarm
sounded during duty periods.
But that has been going on, I
might say, from time immemorial,"
Geckler asserted. Il can remember
it when I used to drop in at an
other fire station on the south side.
No Misconduct Seen
''There is a tower bell at Engine
House 10 and I guess that is used
to call the men in case Of fire. OF
course, in the summer If they are
not at the station, I suppose they
can hop the truck as it goes by.
Gas I said, I know the boys there
and have played pinochle with
them and they razz me because /
know them so well, but I've never
seen any gross misconduct in the
house"
Gompf declared before the board
that Miller probably was not a
property owner, but today remem-
bered relationships with Miller and
his family, and that Miller pays
taxes on his home, 225 North
Mount street.
Il am glad to hear The Times is
interested in placing the fire de-
partment and the police depart
ment, too, under civil service and
in bringing about strict discipline
in both departments" Gompf said
Aim of The Times in revealing
fire conditions in indianapolis is to
place the department under civil
service, that there may be efficiency
in operation and strict discipline,
applicable to all me bers Of the
department, and that conditions
may be remedied to prevent an in
crease in fire insurance rates in this
city.
Believes in Civil Service
Wilbur Carter of the Carter-Lee
Lumber Company, who appeared at
the meeting, declared his belief in
civil service and discipline.
J. w. Stickney, insurance expert
and chairman of the Chamber Of
Commerce fire prevention commit
tee, who spoke at the meeting and
declared there is no threat of a
boost in city fire insurance rates,
later admitted he had "no idea"
whether the rates would be in
creased and mo one else did.
either"
He also admitted that Miller,s as
sertion that Company 10 was bel
hind Company at the foundry fiIfF-
was true and he had ascertain9e
that from IAN investigation ua ~,
under way"
II know and you know there Are
a lot Of hobbies in the fire DEPART
ment, but the question before us Is
how these things can be remedied,"
he declared.
Roped Into Session
He also admitted knowing that
companies called to a fire north
west of the city went to the Speed
way, miles away, while the structure
burned.
Stickney said he did not know
of the safety board session, but that
he "got roped into it," He said
Gompf called the Chamber Of Com
merce and asked "for help at the
meeting"
Stickney said he then called
Gompf, but the latter had gone to
the meeting and that he followed,
without knowing the purpose Of the
session.
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