Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-02-22
YIRE coMrAMss-p1srnrcr OF COLUMBIA.

! been referred. made the following Report,
The Committee on the District of Columbia. 10
whona ,oas referred the memorial of the several
| Fire Companies in said District, report:
That the United States have purchased four
valuable hre engines, with hose and other an
paratus, for exiting fishing fires, for the pro,ec-
ZION Of the puoiic buildings with an expec, a.
lion that volunteer companies would be formed
To work them on all necessary occasions That
Certain individuals in said District have pur.
chased eleven other engines, with hose aud
other apparatus for similar purposes, which i,
Was expected would be worked by voun,ee.
companies formed for hat purpose. Tha, the
Corporation Of the City of Washington, in the
year 1915, passed an act authorizing the seye,
raj Fire Companies in said City TO cleo, their
| members, appoint their officers, and make such
bylaws as should be necessary for their gov
eminent. But the CoYrt has decided that, by
the Charter of the Corporation, they have no
authority 10 delegate the power TO the Fire
Companies TO make such bylaws, 4 collect PEI
nal les Tor violation thereof. hat the ser
vice OF he members Of said companies is iabo.
rious, expensive, and sometimes d,ngerous.-
They have no con pensarion, exemption from
MILITARY du'y, or other privilege whatevrr:-
wherefore they cannot procure q suf1icen,
number OF members to work their engines and
act with energy and ffeci at fires. The Com
mit'ee are OF opinion, that the safety Of abe
public buildings, as well the securi. y of The
property If individuals, require that The several
companies shonld be so organized as TO pro.
duce the greatest possible effect; and that they
should receive such encouragement, and be
entitled to such exemption. as 10 induce active,
energetic, and respectable ci il MS 10 become
mem 1ers Of the several companies.
They, therefore, recommend, tina, the mem
bers OF the several companies, so long IS they
continue 10 discharge their duty, should be eI 8.
! empt from military duty; and ,bs, they be au-
Ihorizpd to make by laws 10 compel artcud-
ance, eoforce obedience, and coec, penalties
for violation thereof They have, therefore,
reported bill for that purpose.
BILL to organize tn several Fire Companies in the
district of Columbia
! Be al enacted by he Senate Gad House of Repre-.
seataiires If The United Siafes of .9r,sricq in Con
gresS assembled Tha am and ,f- IN p,s
sage 4 ,rns act, tn. Fire Comp MES of Wash
ing on, Gr orge'own, and Alexandria, III the
Dis ric' E Colombia and 'hosr which may
h. after De formed, in cit ~ Of he said cities,
sha |. when 50 FORMED sc.sr,liy have power 10
& anne heir own cons itu ion, arr adopt BY Laws
for thei, own regu' ION, and II elec, their off
crr> who, and he members the several com
panies, shall be Kemp tom he performance
Of mrl:s'y du'y in tIms Of peace, so long as
'hry "hah en- Inue active memb.rs thereof
AID The cfrlin' ate OF he several Presidents Of
/ the SAID ComPabi" ., .ttrs ed by he Secretary,
shall he sutfi lent evld, nee OF mem"er~nlp:-
/ p rou,ded hat no company now formed, or
here.i a. 10 he 70 med as aiore, aid, shall have
the ben, f. Of his act, until II shalt hrs' obtain
6re .ppAra Us oFtae value Of z, les, hive hun
dred dpl!ars: ind ProU'deS, That no one com
pany shall so exempt more than aeventy>h'e
men
! SEC 2 ind be ii further enacted, THAI The
Fire Companies ~ each If me salt Cities, shall
annually appoint Chief Engineer tor the ely
I in whica the SAID Fire Companies are, woose
du,y il shall be TO examine Ihr condition OF me
! FIRE apparatus belonging 20 each Fire Comp
ny, a, Il asl once in every mouth, aud 10 report
J us state TO beard TO be composed of he Pre-
s,dcnts Of the respective FIRE companies, IN e'ch
| OF he said ci,ies. who are hereby cons l'u'tu
rard for hat purposr, which shsitsi monthly
| the own hruSc in he CIV 10 whlch new DC
long. And Il the said Chiei Engineer shaltrepor'
| har he frr apparatu OF any one oi tue san"
| Fire Companis Is 20 drieci'', OF ou' o' 'e
,,ir "a 10. ne of l.ss value shan five hundred
| dollars, ufnt LOT ScTNiIS, anu Ahe >o"'PS'
Companies whose apparatus shall ne thus re-
ported 10 be 80 -preciated IN value or "u'
| IF rrpair, shall permit the same to c"n.inur
| so. for one calenGar noah, 'he sald company
or COMPANIES snall heieupGn forfeit all the
! r,.h . nri,iIrges and immu6i ies, granted ol
his Ct, & IT'S ,al ne ne duty OF the SAID Chie'
Fn,;n, r. :, commu ica,etnis fac, 10 the hd'
I'm Of he Rseimen' of the civ in which
such company - CompaNie, m y belong
| SEC find be At further enacted, THAI each
Of The hid FIR Companies shall nave power 10
.,f.rce ,.edience 20 lis constitution and oy'
aw, by fine and forfeiture, and TO collect al
such fines 10y ant, to be issued by JUS
ice Of the Peace in the City where sucn col"
,,ry sh oil be long, in the name of he said COZ"
nany: and INC crr,6cA Of me President o.
such Company, ;ha, he person so fined ha'
been fintd for disobediepce TO the constitution
or by.laws, Gas the case may be) oi fh' 20"
pa-y in CIV a'.',,u ~ St., sv
;d,nc, FIR the Magistrate TO issue his Warrant