The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1845-04-21
FIREMRN's CONVENTION.

Al meeting Of the delegates Of the Fire Compa-
MES Of Washington City, held "Wednesday evening,
April 10th, in the Hat Of the Perseverance, Fire
Company, Joseph Bonows Of the Perseverance,, was
called 10 the Chair, and d. Westerfeld, of the Co
lumbiA, was appointed Secretary. The Convention
being thus organized il proceeded to business The
following preamble and resolutions offered, and,
after some debate, adopted
Where's the Fire Compsnie. Of this city almost
wholly deserted by that portion Of the citizens whose
duty and inlere., to preserve effective organi-
ration and whereas the result OF this desetion Is,
that the Companies generally have TO depend upon
the enertions 0f youths TO get their apparatus 10
hres and who are under no obligation 10 obey the
orders of those who have the right to control and
whereas lie very apparent that ~ there 10 not some
action taken by the citizens generally, either indydu-
ally or as Corporation, to remedy these evils, the
whole Of the apparatus must 20 10 utter deslTuc-
ton. We believe II duty We owe the public well
ourselves TO bring these facts TO their notice and TO
recommend some plan by which this useful and Salu-
able species OF property may be preserved and brought
into effective use when required and under proper
troll. Therefore
Resolved That estimates be furnished to the Mayor
Of the kind OF apparatus wanted by each company
the quantity Of hose the size and probable there
of; as well as the repairs noo Indispensable with the
request also that adequate and permanent provision,
by law, be made for the repair Of apparatus us
preservation; the same To be accompanied by in
ventoy OF tue property held by each company, and
its present condition.
Rssolped That a recomme ndation be made of such
further provision, by law shall induce the taxable
cltlEens not exceeding - to each company, 10
enrol themselves active remen by remitling from
their year tax - per cent. thereof, upon the pre-
sentation of certificate of active membership. Such
certificate to issue annually, having therein retro
spectlve reference of not less than twelve months,
- ~. -.
the companies Providsd The amount to be deduct
ed shall not exceed the Of - dollars.
Resolved That the franklin and Potomac Insu-
rance Companies, and the Agents of Foreign lnsu-
rance Companies, Qnsuring property in Washington
County, be requested to contribute annually towards
the Fire Department in the relative ratio with
the Firemens Insurance Company.
Resolved That measures be adopted to organize a
Board Of Control to be composed of members, from
each company, who shall determine upon all ques-
tons Of arrangement between the different companies,
or members thereof; whilst in the discharge of their
duty, whose DEGREES adopted by vote Of thirds
shall be obligatory and binding upon the company
or companies affected thereby, which Board of Con-
troll may be invested with such further powers as a
majority of the companies shall, from lime to time,
confer.
Resolved That it be also recommended to the Coun-
ellis to divide the city into blocks Districts and that
- residents therein not active fremen) be appointed
annually by the Mayor to serve a property guard
within the limits of their respective blocks or districts.
Resolved That the different Fire Compan MES be re-
quesed to appoint delegates to the Board of Control
whose first meeting for the purpose of organization be
held on the fourth Thursday evening of May in this
hall. ... ...' '
Resolved, That James Adams of the Columbia, Y.
J. Thornley,, of the Anacosta, Caleb Buckingham,
Of the Perseverance, Robert Collman of the Frank
lin, John Y. Bryant, Of the Northern Liberties and
w. B. Magruder, of the Union, be appointed COM
mee to present the resolutions passed at this meet
ing to the Mayor of Washington with request that
he lay the same before the City Councils, and that
said committee be further requested to attend before
any committees of the councils 10 whom the subject
may be referred, and give such attention to the bust
ness as it may require.
Resolved, That copy of these resolutions be trans
| med to The different Insurance Companies, to the
Agents of Insurance Companies insuring in Wash
ingon County, and to tho Fire Companies of this
Convention, and that they be published in the papers
! of this city.
RESOLVED, That the President of this Convention
have power to call it together again tho request of
any one Fire Company.
The Convention then adjourned.
JOSEPH BORROWS, President.
ID. WEsTERFiELD, Secretary.