Evening star., 1933-11-25
Result Of Complaints.

Mrs Jenckes. who Is a member Of
the House District Committee. explained
result of complaints brought to her as
4 member OF a special subcommittee
on District Investigations She said
that recently she became interested in
dismissed by CHIEF watson for a minor
infraction of the rules and had taken
the case up with Commissioner Reichel-
derfer. who, after a study, reversed the
decision of Chief Watson and the man
was retained in the service.
She pointed out that she was inter-
ested in another case where a fireman.
drawing relatively small wages, had an
excessive" fine of several hundred
dollars imposed. The new Commission
ers were sworn in before she could get
this case considered, she added
Mr.. HaZen said today the Commits
sioners would cooperate to the fullest
degree if the Congressional Committee
determine upon formal investigation.
In letter to Mrs. Jenckes, he asked
that the Commissioners be furnished
with list Of the specific charges.
Chief Watson said the record Of the
Fire Department during his admins
tration speaks for itself" As to the
complaints that excessive penalties had
Uccll ulcIcu Oul, llc duucu
Il have never approved what I be-
ieve to be an excessive punishment
and would never have recommended
that the Commissioners approve fine
if had thought the punishment was
| too severe"
Emphasizing that she is dealing
with facts brought to her as member
of the special subcommittee, in docu-
mentary form, supported by the sigma
lures of responsible citizens" Repre-
sentative Jenckes said she is not pre-
| judging the case against the admins
| tration of the Fire Department, but
feels that in justice to the department
the facts should be studied carefully
by the District committees.
In her letter received today at the
Offices of Chairmen King and Norton
of the Senate and House District
groups, Mrs. Jenckes asks for the joint
investigation as follows:
Asks Careful Consideration.
within the past several weeks con-
| dition affecting the District of Colum-
| bia Fire Department has been brought
| to my attention which feel should be
carefully considered by a joint COM
mittee Of the House and Senate Com
| mittees on the District of Columbia
! It deals with the District of Columbia
Fire Department. I have had an op-
portunity personally to observe certain
rulings and regulations which are in
effect, which place fines upon members
of the Fire Department for infraction
of the rules.
81 understand that at the present
time the chief engineer of the Fire
Department is physically incapacitated
and one. of his important deputies is
physically afflicted.
II am inclosing copy of a letter
from Paul E. Jameson, attorney for the
National Capital Fire Fighters Associa-
ton of Washington, D. c., relating to
an appeal which is before the District
Commissioners.
| IT have hesitated bringing this to the
attention of the new District Commis-
sioners until joint committee of the
House and Senate Committees on the
| District of Columbia has had an oppor-
tunity Of thoroughly investigating the
situation.
II suggest that the attorney for the
Capital Fire Fighters Association be Of
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