Evening star., 1939-07-30
Fire Unit Is Formed
By Group Opposing
Bargagni as Chief
Charter Ob+uined by
Bethesdons, But Funds
Are in Doubt

"S !" SOu1N
Volunteer firemen who unsuccess-
fully resisted the appointment of
A. j. Bargagni, former Washington
fire official, as chief of Bethesda s
new "semi-paid" department are
forming second fire-fighting unit
in the suburban Maryland COM
munity, but where funds to main
tain it will come from is in doubt.
A charter banding them together
as the Volunteer Fire Department
of Bethesda, Inc, already has been
granted by the State Tax Commits
sion and a meeting has been called
for tomorrow night to further or
ganization plans.
However, the Bethesda Fire Board,
meeting in executive session to dis
cuss the situation, was told by its
attorney that although the volun-
teers are organizing the new COM
pany, they can be halted from
obtaining any funds the present de-
partment now receives from official
sources.
Spokesman for the volunteers
admit they cannot share in pro-
ceeds from the special l0-cent fire
tax imposed in the Bethesda area,
which raises approximately $4,000
annually, but declared they will be
entitled to the entire contribution
which the Montgomery County COM
missioners make for maintenance
of equipment as soon as they pur-
chase apparatus.
Equipment Funds Allocated.
The volunteers explained that
under county law the commissioners
allocate to the Montgomery depart
ments $500 a year for each piece of
equipment, the total amount thus
received by any one company not to
exceed total of $500.
The law, they declared, stipulates
this money shall 60 only to volunteer
departments and the present de-
partment would not be eligible to
share in county appropriations of
that type once the volunteers step
out.
Thomas Earle Hampton, president
of the Montgomery County COM
missioners and member of the
fire board, said it is his under
standing the commissioners may
allocate the maintenance money "to
any department that is regarded as
maintaining a public service"
1t was also learned last night
that the Fire Board had expelled"
from the department Hiram Mus
grove, former chief of the volun-
teers and one of the incorporators
of the new department, and several
other volunteers.
Beyond that. it is said, the board
intends to ignore the new unit.
No specific reasons were given for
expulsion of the men.
1t was the refusal of the board,
executive branch of the department.
to install Mr.. Musgrove as chief
of the department upon its recent
reorganization that caused the re-
volt in department ranks.
Fire House Site Offered.
The volunteers spokesmen said
the volunteers were ready to make
"a 100 per cent change to the new
unit" but would continue to CO.
operate fully with Chief Bargagni
and the paid men until our own de-
partment is set up
It was disclosed that one Bethes-
da resident, whom the volunteers
refused to name, has donated a site
for the new flrehouse and that other
residents have offered to donate
funds sufficient for the first pay
ment on necessary apparatus.
A carnival to swell the fund is
planned for next month.
Under the charter the group is
empowered to take all steps neces-
sary to establish and serve as
volunteer company, and to borrow
money, issue bonds, debentures or
notes.
Incorporators are Alexander Brit
ton, William Collier, Gordon Dod-
son. Sumpter Embrey, William
Flack, Robert Freauman, Roland
Hargett. Robert E. Hopper, Norris
sey w. Swilling. Albert Healy, Rob-
ert Healy, Francis Gloyd, Rodney
Jenkins, Frank Leahy, Shelton Jen-
kins, Lee Lochte, John Murdock,
Laurence Lochte, Charles Murphy,
Gather Musgrove, Hiram Musgrove,
John Oldfield, James Peake, Earle
Poole, Andrew Pugh, Samuel T.
Robertson, Frank c. Stone, Louis
P. Stone, G. Stone and Reginald
LOCKER.
Directors names in the charter
are Mr.. Robertson, Hiram Mus
grove, Robert w. King, James w.
Baldwin, Frank Stone, Mr.. EN-
brey, Mr. Flack, Alban D. Caldwell
and Clinton Bowling.