The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1849-09-06
Phs Flgamen ana ihe oennall.

DIV L06 SItGlhl COlltAtt6 10 WnOn was referred the
memorial of the Committee appointed from the
several Fire Companies, published in our paper of
the LIST ultimo. The dilatOry disposition evinced
in this matter by the members of the Council and
their special committee, shows that they are desi-
rOus TO evade the requests of the Firemen. Such
conduct in public officers deserves the severes cen
sure Let the Council take one course or the other
Let them either reject or approve the petition of
the Fire Companies Let us be delivered from off.
GERS who shrink from responsibility and shirk the
public duties they have voluntarily assumed.
In considering the questions at issue between the
Eremen and the Council, it is only necessary to
consider one fact in order to know that the Council
are in the wrong. The recent ordinance, of which
the Fire Companies complain, was passed without
any consultation with the Firemen. Nav, it was
passed with the knowledge, on the part Of at least
some members of the Council, shat it would be I'M
palatabe to very large majority if not to the
whole of the body it affected. Now when we con-
slider the nature of the services performed bv The
Firemen, and the terms on (which those services
are rendered, it seems little less than insult 10
lessen, without their consent and advice, the assist
ance which has been heretofore extended to them
by the Municipality.
1t must be remembered that the services of Fire
men are altogether gratuitous and honorary. They
derive no personal benefit from the sums appropri.
ated by the Municipality to the use of the different
Companies Hence they are not directly interested
in having the Municipality give a sum adequate to
the maintenance of all efficient fire corps It is
only for the interest Of their sllow-ctize that
the Firemen wish ample provision to be made for
the purchase and repairs of engines, hose, horses
and houses The Fireman does not barter his SER
vices for gold or glory. With nobler avocaton
than the soldiers, rsking life not to destroy but to
preserve the lives and fortunes of ais fellow men,
he reaps not the soldiers reward, either of pay or
praise. Is it becoming in the Council to chatter
with such men about few dollars and cents!
Is it proper for the Municipality TO withhold from.
them the requisite for the performance of the
services they render the community?
The Firemen say that with the allowance made
by the recent ordinance of the Council, it will he
impossible for the Fire Department to be as efFec-
tive as it is capable Ofhecoming In addition, then,
to the insult which the Council has offered 10 the
Firemen by passing the ordinance without CON
sulting the F'iremsn, our sage municipal authorities
are doing positive injury to their constituents by
gripping the efficiency of the Fire Department
No doubt, our aldermanic digntaries as they stroll
leisurely up to the council chamber every Tuesday
afternoon, and sit or recline at ease prepared for
the emergency Of speech or a resolution. think
themselves infinitely better judges than are the
Firemen of the sum necessary for keeping up the
Fire Department of the Municipality No doubt
they ponder, their bellies in the meanwhile IS with
good capon lined,'' on how much more time an
alderman may beatow on figures and accounts than
may be given to such things by men who are all
the while engaged in saving the lives and property
of their neighbors. ''Ah, say these sage Ordin-
ance-makers, " let the Firemen attend TO their
proper duties let them leave their beds at one or
two O'Clock in the morning and fly to quench the
flames that are consuming their townsmen's prop
erty. Let them enter the deyourng element and
snatch from death the child or the infant that may
be sleeping unconscious of the danger by which it
is surrounded. These Firemen are good for nothing
else. But when it comes to making a bargain, we
are the boys for the people. We are, to be SURE.
little slow at waking up when the fre-bell rings.
but we are wide awake when money is to be made
or saved" You are, gentlemen, very wise in
your day and generation" You are very much
given to the habit of straining at gnas and swal.
lowing camels. You practice on the preCept of
taking care of the pence and letting the pounds
take care of themselves. Better would it be for
yourselves, better would it be for your constituents
if you would select some other field for retrench-
ment and reform than the Fire Department. Penny
wise and pound foolish, ye talk about your sinking
fund and seven per cents, and your grand schemes
for building, and your magnificent intentions but
when it comes to helping the Firemen, We hem and
We haw, We hesitate and proCIastinats and grumble
forever about the feeble assistance We at last give
to the energetic preservers of life and property
-O%s