The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-11-17

arge expenditure for entailng upon the community
years to come the very evils of which complain. If
would prevent confusion and ym in Streets
it must be done by withdrawal of the temptation which
is now held out by the rivalry of many conflicting
ganizations. The plan proposed by the ordinance not
only fixes upon the city the evils of the system as
it exists but it lays the foundation
gerous antagonsm between the hand and the steam en-
ginebetween the volunteer and paid department of the
service
Any effort reorganze the present Fire Department
this city must be sustained by united public sentiment
and this satisfied win not be the result of the mixed
system proposed by the ordinance There is occasion
for any interference with the volunteer system it
stands even to its own advocates that the city will be
compelled to take exclusive control of the Fire Depart
ment There is no reason why the city should cucumber
herself with the machinery of any companies
nected with the United Fire Department with any
chinery not operated by steam If is determined to
adopt steam paid department, make beginning
with limited number of steam engines sustaining the
present Fire Department to such extent only may
deem it advisable for the time being.
1t not necessary that the whole complement of steam
engines that will be ultimately required should be mme
diately in use The organization of paid Department,
with four or five engines to begin with land four of these
are already in possession of fire companies and would
no doubt be placed at the disposal of the city, should she
desire to possess them would be quite sufficient inau
gurate the system. In twelve eighteen months
the increased supply of water into all parts Of the city
temptation to the extended fsteam in the extnguish
nent OF hre and no doubt for moment that the
transition from hand to steam engines would take place
imperceptibly and almost without effort
If it be argued that the present ordinance is intended
only as an entering wedge paid steam system at some
future day it may be replied that the city would gain
substantial advantage by the incorporation of
the hand engine with the volunteer feature connected
with it, material part of the new organzaton-nor
would she be justified in the heavy and useless expendi
ture which it must necessarily involve If begin mod
crate in the manner suggested by me- there will be no
occasion to take step backward when the city will be
forced by the of public opinion place herself
exclusively at the head of the Fire Departmenand to in
lasting success.
In connection with this ordinance have regret that
it was deemed necessary to base your action in reference
10 the establishment of Fire Alarm and Police Tee
graph upon the "0rdinance establish Fire Depart
men for the city of Baltimore The condition annexed
TO your resolution makes all action under imperative
unless as feature in the Fire Department-and
veto of that ordinance carries with it, the
loss of this most valuable improvement.
The Fire Alarm and Police Telegraph stands upon its
own independent basis of the first impor-
tance this city, Whether connected or not with the
Fire Department its value to this city cannot ques,
toned; and would commend it to your honorable body
as the most important auxiliary that has been intro
uuced into the police organization of our large cities.
With these views, feel it my duty to withhold my sig
nature from the present ordinance unless modified in the
particulars to which l have referred.
feel my duty to say further, that the prompt
structon of the Fire Alarm and Police Telegraph would
meet my cordial approval and am prepared to afiX my
signature 10 such measure should the action of your
your obedient servant. THos. SWAMI, Mayor
Mr. BEALE moved that Joint specal committee be ap-
pointed by the two Branches to whom the and
the subjects to which pertained might be REFEREED
Adopted.
The PRESIDENT appointed Messrs Beale Addison, and
Mace on the part of this Branch
Mr. MONTAGUE submitted a resolution authorizing the
Register to pay to the widow of late officer Rigdon
$500 one years pay of the policeman The resolution
was unanimously adopted.
The Branch then adjourned.
SECOND BRANCH.-Branch met pursuant to adjourn
ment Present VIM MCPHAIL, Esq., President and all the
members
The Journal of Monday was read by the Clerk and ap-
proved.
The President then announced the following Commit
tees
JOINT STANDING CoNuTrrrPl
Taylor. ~
On Highways-Messrs. Sewall. .McComas. and Van Nos.
tTand.
On Bridges.-Mcssrs. Taylor Cook, and Musselman.
On Harbor-Messrs. Musseman, Ellicott, and Cath
On Claims.-Mcssrs Cook, McComas, and Cathcart.
On MarEets.-Messrs Sewall, Taylor, and Van Nos
tTand.
On Water.-Messrs Cathcart, Taylor and McComas
On Heath.-Messrs. Van Nostrand, Ellicott, and Col
On Police and Ja-Messrs McComas, Van Nostrand
and Musselman
On Fire Companies-Messrs Ellicott Van Nostrand and
On Education.-Messrs. Musselman, Cathcart and Col
On Almshouse.-Messrs. McComas Sewall and Cook
licOtt and Sewa
On City Property-Messrs. Cathcart Ellicott, and Tay
On Commerce-Messrs. Cotton, Cook, and Ellicott
On hcDonogh Bequest.-Messrs, Ellicott, Cook, and
On Enrollment.-Messrs. Cotton and Sewall
JOINT SELECT COMMITTEES
On Registers Office and Accounts-Nessrs Coot Eli;
colt, and Taylor.
On Commissioners of Finance Accounts -Nessrs Gath
cart Van Nostrand and Musselman.
On City Commissioners and Port Warden's Accounts
Messrs. Taylor, Cotton, and Ellicott
On Commissioners of Public Schools Accounts-Messrs
Cathcart, McCOmas, and Cotton.
On Health Commissioners Accounts.-Messrs Van Nos
trand, Taylor, and Sewall.
SPECIAL COMMITTEE.
House of Refuge.-Messrs. Taylor Musselman and Col
ton.
The next business in order was the report of the Com
mittee on the qualification of members.
Mr. SEwALL Chairman presented the report of the Com
Hlttee declaring all the members in Mon
day possessed the necessary property qualifications and
having received majority of the in their
eral Districts duly elected eed to seats in
TINS Branch. The report motion, received and
adopted
Mr. Cotton offered resolution directing the City Com
missioner to have erected lamps the West
SIDE OF Eden street between Pratt and Lombard streets
Referred to the Committee Police and Jail
Mr.. MCCoMAs offered the following resolution.
Resolved, BY the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore
that the City Commissioner be and he hereby author
lied and directed to advertise in of the daily
newspapers of the city of Baltimore for plans and spec
cations for Amshouse workshops and SO forth and
that two hundred dollars be- and same is hereby ap
proprated to pay the architect designer whose plans
and specifications may be approved and adopted by the
city.
Mr.. Cotton offered amendment to insert the words
or so much may be necessary" words 'two
hundred'
The yeas and nays being taken on the amendment it
adopted
A message received from the First Branch an
nouncng the Joint standing committees of the Branch
resolution was received from the First Branch re-
Railroad Company to vote against receiving the creden
tas OF the State director recently appointed by the Com
missioners Of Public Works. Adopted.
The Branch then adjourned until this afternoon at