11

10

and appoint the man best
suited for the position. And with
that view I have refrained from
speaking to any of the officers
elect I am not in the ordinary
since a seeker after the position
if it comes to me at all it must
come without my contributing
for the appointment.

However let [that?] be as it may
I abjure you before making
the radical changes as contemplated
by the Coterie of ex firemen
who claim to have the distribution
of the membership and the management
of the department to enquire into
their qualifications for the important
positions they are supposed to
fill.

Very Respectfully Submitted

Gardner Kellogg
[Chief?] Dept