Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-10-16


which the subject was referred, reported bill to
reorganize the fire department
Section 1 provides that the fire department
shall consist of the Esgine, Hose, and Hook and
Ladder Companies now in existence (namtly, the
Columbia the Union. the Anacostia, the rank
lin the Perseverance and the Northern Liberties
Fire Companies. the Western Hose Company,
and the Metropolitan and the AMERICAN Hook
and Ladder Companies and such ether engine,
hose, or hook and ladder companies as may here
after be instituted; and that the officers shalrbe
chief engineer, three assistant engineers nine
waTdens, Zone for each company,) one secretary,
Section enacts that all the property amer
tanning to the fire department shall become the
property Of the Corporation of Washington by
which u shall be kept in good repair and be ac-
commodated with proper honses and protection
Section requires that every company shall
nave power TO frame constitution and bylaws
Tor the regulation of the conduct of its own men,
bers for the enforcing of due attendance, for the
election OF officers, and for the punishment by
ines or otherwise, Of infraction Of it's own laws,
provided that none of the provisions Of such con-
situations or bylaws he Incompatible with the
enactments Of this Corporation, and that they
shall receive this approval Of the Mayor before
they 90 into effect. - -'3fH
section establishes three Ere districts. to be
designated the first, second, and third fire dis
tricts, follows The first district to begin at
the western limits Of the city, and extend east
wardly to the middle of Twelfth street west; the
second district TO begin at the middle of Twelfth
street west, and extend eastwardly to the middle
OF second street west; and the third district to
begin at the middle of Second street west and
extend to the eastern limits Of the city; and that
one OF the engineers of the fire department shall
se appointed from each district. and be resident
q the district from which he is appointed
section provides that there shall be fire.
alarm bell Tor the city, placed on the top of the
City Hall; the said bell to he of such size and tone
as TO be heard in every part Of the city, and I've
placed In seeple, 10 be erected for that purpose
which Will command a view of the whole CITY;
and that the said bell be placed In charge of two
watehnen, to be appointed by the Mayor, each TO
receive a salary of - dollars per annum, paw
able monthly out Of the general fund.- one of
whom shall, at all times, night and day, be sta
toned In the steepie. and give alarm on the
occurrence OF a fire, observing such signs "a may
agreed upon to indicate the district and the di
Iection OF the fire.
Section 6 provides for the appointment Of n
chief engineer, who shall have served eight wears
rs fireman; and also suitable person from
each engine, hose, and hook and ladder compan, =.
TO perform tne duties OF wardens
section empowers the chief engineer to ap-
point three assistant engineers, who shall also
have served eight years rs hremen.
section invests the chief engineer with police
powers, and fixes his salary nj 2 600 per annum.
section saws, that at all fires the officers OF
CINE and other IRE companies shall be under the
control and subject to the orders Of the chief en-
Sineer, W hose directions for the preservation of
order and Tor giving efficiency TO the operations
of the fire department they shall promptly exc
cute They may, with his approval whenever
Inc assistance Of by-standeTs shall be deemed
HCCcs>diy III t0C cItlnEulS0ment OF fire.
mon any one or more of them (nnors and negroes
eKcepted) TO labor and assist in the work Of the
nre department. They shall drive away from
nIes al disordeTly or suspicious persons, and
permit none such TO enter any house that may be
on nre or be otherwise endangered and they
shall prevent any and all persons from occupying
PoSlnnns around and about fire that would in
any manner embarrass the fremen in the per-
1oImance OF their duties. Penalties are desiC-
mated against any persons resisting the fTernen
IN their duties.
A
glneer; and section IL those Of the waTdens
Section ~ prescTibes penalties upon disorderly
hfemen ard companies
Section l3 authorizes the Mayor to disband dis
orderly companies =
Section II makes Ii a fneable offence to dra5
IRE apparatus upon the sidewalks
Section Is makes il unlawful for minors or ne
Sroes to run with fire apparatus
Section rs extends the police laws of the Cor
poration to the engine houses, and gives power
TO the chief enginee, Of thy fire department, the
chief OF police, and other police officers and to
the captain and members Of the auxiliary guard
10 enter said engine-houses whenever they have
reason to believe that any person or persons are
Inereln VINO have no lawful business there, or
who are or shall have been violating any of the
laws OF this Corporation or of the United States
and TO arrest all such persons and it, upon ex-
animation, al shall be ascertained that any one or
more OF the persons so arrested are not members
Of the hre company in charge Of the engine house
In or about which they were arrested or being
members Of such fire company, that they were
by the bylaws asd regulations Of such fire COM
panyj or whether members of such fire company
or not il il be ascertained that they were idling
or lettering in or about such engine house. or
drinking, gambling, carousing, or guilty of in
decent, diSoTderly, or noisy conduct in or about
the same, such person or persons shall each, upon
conviction thereof. be fined no less than ten nor
more than twenty dollars for each offence
Section II requires that all alarms of fire shall
proceed from the bell on the City Hall and that
upon an alarm bring given by that bell all fire.
H.. sha al ID tn tl,air
appropriate engine houses. and from thence to
the hre and IL shall not be lawful for any person
TO take an engine, hose, or other fire apparatus
from ITS appropriate house until such alarm is
given; and no engine, hose, or other FIRE appara-
tus shall be removed from its appropriate engine
house by any other person than the officers and
members OF the company for whose use il is pro-
VIded, unless IN case of the refusal of the officers
and members OF sald company t. take its appara-
tus to IRE and work it. Penalties are desi gnaed
Tor violations of theSe regulations
Section II makes it nneable for any person or
persons, when hauling OF following any engine
or other fire apparatus to or from dre, or at any
nreJ 10 be noisy drunk, or disorderly or TO us.
any rallying cries or words calculated to create
not or a breach Of the peace, OF to throw stones
or other missiles, or to fire OF discharge any
gun, pistol, or other hIc-aTmS and section ~
for any person to injure any fire apparatus
Section 20 makes il the duty OF the Commits
stones OF Improvements Of the several Wards
on the neglect or refusal Of the owner occupant
OF any property to do 80, to remove OF alIate,
within their respective Wards any cause from
which danger OF rre may be unprecedented
section 81 authorizes the Mayor to or r rewards
Tor the detection OF incendiaries
section y gives the chief engineer power To-
designate The routes OF hSc companies on their
way TO or from fires.
section y provides that the nre department
snail hold stated quarterly meetings and that
each company shall be entitled to a representa-
lion OF three members, 10 be annually elected
one OF whom shall he the president Of the com
pany. The presiding officer Of the fire depa t.
ment shall be the chief engineer, and in his alb
sence the members present shall appoint a presi-
dent pro fsmpore from among their number The
department thus constituted shall have power to
make bylaws and regulations for its own gov
eminent, and shall impose fines nd penalties on
the companies Of the department, as well az upon
the Individual members, for infractioBs Of it<
laws, which fines and penalties il is empowered
TO enforce Ii shall have power TO elect from
among its members secretary and treasurer Ii
shall establish a fund, to be derived from fines
donations and such other sources as they NAV
deem proper, for the relief and support of diss-
bird worthy tTeInen, well as their widows
and orphans -
section a authorizes the ch ief eouin nj h{