The Fire Commission's Knife Fight Over Chief Allen

Acting Mayor Miller jumped into the breach last night and by strong, decisive and unequivocal speech temporarily saved the official neck of Alexander Allen, chief of the fire department. The proceedings during the meeting of the fire commissioners were quite torrid, and the diplomacy exhibited by Commissioners Kahaley and Meek was quite clever. The three commissioners, Masel and Kahaley, were ready to oust Allen, but when Chairman Miller told them how strongly he objected to such an action when he was simply in the mayor's place and would thereby be debarred from taking part in the confirmation proceedings, the two last mentioned said they would not force the issue, and the meeting was adjourned until next Friday night.

The recent trouble in the fire commission has produced a state of uneasiness in the department, and the call for a meeting of the commissioners last night was considered a sure sign that something was going to happen. Two programmes were spoken of: the first, that Chief Allen would be dropped and ex-Assistant Chief Kellogg elected; the other, that ex-Assistant Chief Sullivan would succeed Allen, and that eventually ex-Assistant Chief George Marlow would be made assistant chief.

When the meeting was called to order in the chamber of the aldermen there was a large audience present. After the minutes were approved, a written note from Assistant Chief Sullivan, dated May 24, withdrawing his resignation, was handed to the clerk. Meek immediately moved to accept the withdrawal and Kahaley gave the second. Chairman Miller put the motion and declared it carried by acclamation. Two applications for positions in the department were filed and then the commissioners decided to hold a star chamber session. When they returned to the room Meek immediately arose and moved that the office of chief of the fire department be declared vacant.

Then Chairman Miller said: "Gentlemen, I am opposed to this action. If a majority of the commission desire such an action, it can be done as well when the mayor is here as now. This proposed act will bar me from taking part as presiding officer of the board of aldermen in the confirmation. I object strongly and don't want to see the matter gone through with."

"I am very sorry," said Jones, "that this matter has come up, both on account of Mr. Miller and the present chief of the department. I understand the mayor will be back in a few days and the affair can be settled then as well as now."

Kahaley proposed to obviate the trouble by appointing an acting chief until the next meeting. This caused Chief Allen to object strongly, on the ground that he was the qualified chief and would be held responsible. "Mr. Allen is correct," said the chair.

Jones again spoke in favor of allowing the question to go over, and Masel, who still remembers the mayor, remarked that he did not see why the commission ought to wait for him. The mayor did not cut any more figure with the commission than other members. So far as he could see, the mayor had not shown the commission any favors, and he demanded that the question be put. Kahaley said that if the action was going to disqualify Miller from voting, he did not object to the delay. Meek said he was of the opinion that it was not best to go on with the question under the circumstances. Kahaley then moved to leave the matter over until next Friday night. Jones seconded, and the motion was carried.

"Can I go to work at any time?" said Sullivan, after having obtained permission to speak. Kahaley and Jones said that he certainly could. Allen thought that, as the resignation was made to him and accepted, Sullivan was out. Miller, however, decided that Jones and Kahaley were correct. Sullivan will report for duty this morning. Chief Allen may refuse to recognize that he was legally reinstated.