Year: 1879

United States particularly there has been
manifested degree of friendliness which
has caused them to be admired.


THE BENNER CASE.


There is one newspaper in Chicago that
seems determined to sustain HARRISON, right
or wrong, in everything he does. The pres
ent business of Mr.. HARR1soN's organ is to
treat the removal Of BEsNER as the result of
political intrigue on the part of the man.
aging Republicans to get up row with
HARRISON and injure his Administration.
Such theory is certainly not very flattering
to Mr. HARRISON, since its success in securing
the removal Of BENNER with that purpose
would indicate that the Mayor had fallen an
easy victim to the snare that had been set
for him. The intimation is really very ridic-
ulous, however, for the Distinguishing
characteristic: of BNsKR's control Of
the Fire Department has. been his
determined *exclusion of all political
influences over its management and
its membership. Aside from BENkER's natural
gift for fighting fires, his personal aplom5 in
every emergency, his perfect familiarity with
the conditions Of every notable building in
the city, and his large experience as q fire.
man, it is probable th at he has done more to
improve tho condition Of the Department by
his obstinate opposition to all political pres
sure than by any other incident Of his Off
cial career. Hence it is simply malicious to
hint that he has lent himself willingly, or
unwitingly been used, to clash with the
Mayor on any partisan ground It is much
more plausible to assume, with the lnow1-
edge of A1r. HARR1soN's disposition of the
city patronage for partisan purposes, that
one of his motives in removing BENKER is to
make Of tie Fire Department party ma
chine,-a condition which could not full to
destroy its usefulness.


Another consideration urged to quiet the
popular protest against BENSER:s removal is
that the city should not be dependent upon
any one man. for the management of the
Fire Department, and that there are possibly
Just as fit men as BENNER for the duties and
responsibilities Of Fire Marshal. This view
of the case is almost too puerile for serious
treatment, Would any business man dismiss
q awel1-tied servant, charged with important
interests, in order to experiment with some
other untried servant, upon the theory that
there must be just Us good fish in the seq
as ever were caught? # it be admitted
that there are other available men in Chicago
who, after some special drilling and consid-
erable experience, might prove to be as eff
cient as BESsER, is that reason why
BEssER should be dismissed upon insufficient
proyocation, and the city deprived Of the ben
eft of his demonstrated capability 7? Mr.
BEssEn has worked hard and faithfully, with
great pride in the palpable improvement of
the Fire Department under his control. The
Department has gained a worldwide reputa-
ton for efficiency under his management,
and the rates of insurance have been enor-
mously reduced on that account The num-
Der and loss of fresh have been unprecedentedly
small, and property-owners, merchants, md
residents Of the city have acquired an un-
usual sense Of security against destruction of
their houses, and goods, and household ef-
fects by fire. Shall all these advantages be
sacrificed in order to ascertain whether some
other man cannot do as well? Shall the per-
sonal devotion of BENsEn be SO poorly re-
warded, and shall there be no encouragement
held out to officials to be sober, studious,
and diligent by an assured tenure Of office
during good behavior?


There is no charge of any incapacity or
eglect Of duty against BEESER. The charge
Of insubordination is a flimsy p1ete1t. Ben
HER did what the Mayor required of him
when he submitted the question Of voluntary
remission of q part Of their pay to the differ
ent companies; it would hare been highly
improper for him to use his own power and
an implied threat Of removal in order to
coerce q submission to the proposed reduo-
ton. The Mayor was not willing to order
the reduction, nor to resort to the degrading
means which he desired BEEsEn to adopt If
it is characterization to refuse to do dirty
work, then Mr.. BESSER can better afford to
be dismissed on that charge than to follow
instructions; but the people Of Chicago can-
not afford to approve of such dismissal. The
S., 900 or $4,000 Of reduction that might
possibly have been secured If BENNER
had bulldozed the fremen is insignif-
icant as compared with the pos
sib1e cost of BESsEn's retirement. The
owners of valuable buildings and large stocks
Of goods could we'll afford, and probably
would willingly have agreed, to make good
this amount rather than have BENNER 60.
The people do not look upon the affair as u
mere personal fight of the Mayors, but as it
involves the general interests Of the public.


The fact that the Mayor would give BENsER
no time to consider the request for his resig-
nation, nor any opportunity to justify him.
self, but removed him sumnaarily on the eve
Of public holiday of special menace to
property interests, indicates that MIR. HAH-
R1soS was governed by vindictive impulse.
1t is the business Of the Common Council,
under the law, to correct abuses that arise
from such impulses on the part Of the Mayor,
and BEssER should be restored to his place.
There have been several confused and con-
Trajectory statements in the newspapers as