The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-06-16
LOCAL MATTERS.

AA8 akChMuND EIkE ho3UClATi0N -On muu
day evening last in the City Council, quite spicy
debate sprung up upon the proposition Of the RI
nance Committee to appropriate eI5c0 to the Rich.
mond Fire Association for the purchase of leather
hose.
Mr. Hill moved TO strike out of the resolution
"Sl50O" and insert "s2soO," the sum originally
asked for.
Mr. McCance said he bad understood, from &C.
tive fremen, that the men who labored at the fires
did not get the benefit of the large per centage
made by this Association-but that the profits &C.
crued to few large capitalists. The value Of the
Stock of the Association to be seen In the fact
that the value of share. originally worth $40, was
now fixed at s3s so. Last year rs per cent. was
made. Notwithstanding this profit he had also un-
derstood that the men who missed fires were duly
fined, and that tibet fine went to augment the pre-
fits of the Association.
DIR Hill said that he. thought the gentleman was
mistaken about the forfeiture of fines. As he un.
derstoed the matter, the insurance company of the
Fire Association was an entirely distinct depart
ment from the Fire Department ITSELF although the
latter was subject to the control of the former
These fines went to pay the expenses of the depart
ment. He believed that the department, as now
controlled, was managed far more economically
and satisfactorily than that of any other city, and
he desired to see 1t sustained.
MIR Anderson remarked that tee city had granted
great privileges to this company and the Legisla-
ture had granted it charter perpetually exemptng
it from taxation With such grants and privileges,
he thought this association ought to be liberal to
the city; and in consideration of the great advant
ageu afforded where, he would ask, was the associa.
ton that would not pay literally for the entire
control of the fire department, in the manner &C.
corded to the Association He did not pretend to
charge that such had ever been. or would bs the
case but was it not in accordance with human ma
ture, with the promptings of interest, for ascot
alton to play first over house insured by them, in
preference to one uninsured, where both were on
fire at the same moment2
Mr Haskins said that the support of fire depart
Rent by the present plan cost the city from four to
six times less In proportion, than the fire depart
men' of any other city.
MIR Anderson said that the association had
worked well-but that there might be many local
advantages in its favor. At any rate, be was de-
sirous of ascertaining what was the cost of the
Fire Department to the city of Richmond, and who
paid for 1.-THE proportion paid by the association
and the proportion paid by the city. The true
question before them, was whether the city should
pay for the hose, or the association. For if the
city did not pay for it, the association must it
was the pecuniary interest it had in keeping up
this fire department. that induced it to have any
thing to do withit He wished to have more infor.
nation upon the subject before voting upon the
resolution.
Mr. Haskins stated that one good result of this
association was seen in the fact of duction of
insurance. Our citizens paid less for insurance,
than did the citizens of any other city In that way
the taxes of citizens were reduced.
Mr. Anderson said that there must be some limit
of these appropriations. He desired to give that
which was the city's just proportion-but were We
to give without demur all the appropriations asked
for by this association Last year the city paid the
association some $500. Now he would like to
know how far that went to sustain the Fire De.
partment and what amount was made up as ba.
lance by the association He felt bound to say that
the infol nation before him about this matter, was
not at all satisfactory. In order to get that infor.
maticn, he would be willing to have a committee
appointed to examine into and report to the Coun-
Gill; the relative interest which the citizens at large
had in the Fire Association aud the proportionate
amount which they were taxed to pay for the sup
pc OF the Fire Department as compared with the
Fire Association itself If that report could give
coed reasons for the payment as in just proportion
of ne.quarter, one half, or the whole of the sum
asked tor, he would cheerfully vote for that pay
ment.
After some farther desultory remarks by Council
men, the resolution was recommitted for farther
information.