The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-11-17
PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

| ances Of pantOmime ballet &c.
|
PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
EXTRA SESSION.
TUESDAY, Nov To- 1855
FIRST BRANcH.-The Branch met Present JNo. T.
FORD. Esq, President, and all the members.
Mr. HYNEs presented petition from Jpo. Davis Port
Warden asking to be refunded damages and paid by
him, to the amount of $95 in u where he acted off
| cially Referred to the Committee on Claims
Mr.. RANDOLPH presented a petition from Chauncey
BROOKS Aenu Barnum and Others, asking permission to
ay down railroad tracks for passenger horse Bal
timore Charles Calvert, North and South streets Ex
change Place Pratt Sharp and other streets in the
raj sections OF the city. Referred to the Committee
| Highways
Mr.. HENDERSON presented bill of s25 2s in favor Of
John c. Wilmot, for fitting up the Criminal Court room
Referred to the Committee on Claims.
Mr.. BEALE presented pettod from Edward L. Thorn.
as j. D. Brinkey and Others asking permission to Law
passenger railroad upon number of streets of the
city. Also an ordinance providing granting OF
such permission Referred to the Committee High
ways.
Mr.. CUNNINGHAM presented petition from Thomas
Greennel asking permission to place a steam engine
upon his premises Dugan's wharf Referred to the
| Committee on Fire Companies.
Mr.. GLANvILLE presented bill of Dr. Wm H. Cenden.
in of 80 for services rendered the Western police
ton the occasion of the inquest remains of Of
fcer Rgdon. Also similar bill for services at the same
| station. Referred to the Committee on Claims.
Mr.. Balm presented a petition from Daniel Kaufman
and Others asking that lamps be substituted for oil
ones on N Paca street. between Franklin and Ross
| ferred to the City Commissioner
Mr.. MONTAGUE presented petition from J. N. Lester
and Others to close Grundy street. and requesting the
Council to accept for the city, of lot of ground be
used as public park. Referred to the Committee
Mr. BEALE presented resolutions providing for the erec
ton of Fire Alarm and Police Telegraph Referred to
the Committee Police and Jail THE resolutions are
the were passed at the last session afterwards
made subject to the approval of the Fire Department
dnance, which was vetoed by the Mayor will be seen
Mr.. TALBOT submitted resolution directing the clerk
supply the reporters in attendance here with copies
| the journal and bills of the Branch Adopted
NJ n utinn Tho l;roo
tors of the city in the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad to
protest against the receiving of the credentials the
eman lately said to be elected director of the road by
the Commissioners of Public Works The resolution was
adopted.
Mayor relative to the sale of the Amshouse property
the county the details of which have already
Almshouse.
He also submitted the Branch the following message
from the Mayor vetong the ordinance passed by the late
session of the Council for the reorganization of the Fire
Department.
MAYORS OFFICE, Cry FALL, |
Baltimore, November 16, 1858
To the Honorable the Members of the
First and Second Branches Of tie City Council:
have duly considered the ordinance passed at the last
session of the City Council submitting plan for the
organization of the Fire Department of this cy The
subject of much interest the whole commu-
nifty that deemed it my duty to invite the fullest discus
sion of the various and conflicting schemes which have
heretofore engaged the public attention and to give to all
the consideration to which they fairly entitled 1t is
cOunered in arriving at results satisfactory all parties
nor is it less so, that the respectable body of men
who represent the Fire Department of this city
should, with reluctance, and with struggle,
yield their consent to the breaking up of system with
which they have been long and honoraby associated
and which has heretofore ranked among the most use
ul and valuable auXiliares of our municipal organza
tiol But it is fortunate in this age of progress that
reasonable are not willing to stand in the way in
evitabe results. The of steam and the practical
to which it may be applied in the economy hui
labor only beginning to be felt. To attempt to
throw ourselves in the way of its successful development
would be to retard rather than defeat the ultimate re-
cogniton of its triumph The slow progress of extin
gushing fire by of an engine operated by hand
when compared with the application steam to the same
object must at distant day present as srk
ing as coach drawn by horses disputne the mas
terry with the speed of the locomotive
1t source of some satisfaction to to Witness
during the discussion of this important subject among
of the most experienced remcn of city pre-
dominating sentiment in regard to the value of the steam
engine and its superiority all other agencies in the
eXtinguishment of fires. Where reluctance felt in
disturbance of the existing system few
seemed to object to the introduction of the fire
gne the basis of any plan that might be plojec
ted, should the same be deemed indispensable by the
authorities Of the city, The voice Of the entire Fire De-
parment so far as it could be gathered in their confer
ferences with favored the introduction of
out paid department. in preference to the plan proposed
in the ordinance passed by the Council the last
sion
The reorganization of the Fire Department am free
to confess subject in which have always felt deep
interest growing out of the evils which have attended
the volunteer system The demoralizng tendencies of
large crowds running with the engines recognizing
authority but their own will have, on many occasions
during my administration, greatly embarrassed the police
and unfrequently led to outbreaks serious charac
ter The power of the department be it ever so we'll d
rected is not sufficient control this evil The thought
less and inexperienced led away by the excitement
which the system well calculated keep alive; and
large crowds of mpulsive young kept in
unnatural antagonism, and often induced to commit
outrages by the false stimulus under which they
very early period of my administration l deemed
it my duty to bring the subject to the attention
of your honorable body, in order that an effort
might be made to ascertain whether in the joint wisdom
of the Fire Department and the authorities of the city
some efectual remedy might not he adopted could not
persuade myself that any obstacles would be thrown
the way of the great moral reform which it the de-
sire of all to bring about and which the united voice of
the entire community proclaimed to be measure of pres
sing necessity.
The result of the abors of the commission appointed by
your honorable body to enquire into and submit plan
for reorganization of the Fire Department regret
say, anxious am to lend my hearty cooperation
in the proposed object does not present such reform
feel authorized to sanction, consistently with what
believe to be my duty to the city of Bomore and the
public.
The plan proposed by the Commissioners in the ord
submitted for my approval contemplates mixed
system, composed of steam and hand engines partly vol
and partly in the pay of the city. The proposed
department will consist of seven steam fire engine
panes, six hand engine companies and four hook and
ladder companies. There connected with the
United Fire Department twenty one companies OF all de-
nominations.
companies and four hook and ladder companies to be
operated by the volunteer system to the friendly
cooperation of the volunteer fire department it is evil
dent that such result likely to ensue for the attempt
select from the entire department the limited
ber of six engines excluding all the rest, would be cal
culated embiter, rather than conciliae the feeling
which such action would be certain to provoke. The
clusion of all would be far less irritating to the existing
department; and the admission of hand engines is
cognition of the value of such machines as a fea
ture in the organization, when, to my mind, it
is evident that hand engines ought to be permanently
introduced into the new service purchase such
machines later result in total loss to the
CITY, The argument derived from the fact that hand
engines indispensable where only limited volume of
be supplied, is fully met by the improvements
which have already been introduced with view to obv
afa bic 1tv comnptiOO of fha
ter works distant day aordng ample supply for
liberal want of the city will render such result
be complete and not partial-t should be either paid
system or volunteer system for mixture of both can
not, in my judgment, be made to harmoniZe, with any
prospect of ultimate good to the city.
The conflict of interests entirely variant and antago
nisc, those recommended in the paid and volunteer
features of this ordinance is apparent that it would be
needless the time of your honorable body
do than refer to in this place The moment you
draw the distinction the evil would begin be The
companies mustered into the service without pay, with
their crowds of active and ardent sympahers might be
expected at all times to move with reuctance-and
without keen sense of the oppressive character
of any regulations which they would be required to
submit to, condition for the privilege of serving
the public. One of the main objects of this reorgani
zaton is to provide efIecual remedy for the evils
to which exposed, and to guard the city
against the crowds of runners and vagrants whose
delight is to throw themselves into the public streets
and participants in any Of confusion
and riot that likely to spring up. The mixed char
acter of the proposed plan would increase rather
than abate this spirit Of nsubofdinaton which has
taxed small extent the power of the police, and
brought dscred upon the department. whose laws it has
set at defiance.
1t is not my purpose to go examination of the
details plan submitted by the Commissioners many
of which meet my cordial appreciation The objection
urged by the United Fire Department against the require
ment of an OATH from those who may be admitted to the
privileges of membership appears to me to be well found
ed 1t would hardly be expected that any class of
would bring themselves under the obligations of oath
do that which they asked voluntarily to assume,
and from which they hope to derive manner of
profit emoument.
The leading object which I have endeavored to keep
prominently in view is that the contemplated reform
when agreed upon should be thorough and practical If
it be intention to correct the evils under which
bare dbOred, and which have exercised blightng
influence over the morals of community, should
content ourselves with eXpedents merely but meet
crisis with that reliance upon the wisdom and good
of the community which may always be expected
sustain in the faithful discharge of important
public duty.
Assuming the fact that engines must take the
place of those in at distant day proposition
which volunteer fireman will deny, what is the plain
duty of the city of Baltimore in the reorganization of
her Fire Department?
After the most careful examination of the whole
subject it to me- that the only plan which is
certain to success and bring about the reform
much needed is the introduction of out and paid
Department TO consist exclusively Of steam machinery,
the direct management and control Of the municipal
authorities. The power to abuses and to super
wise extraordinary and current expenditures such
service should be referred to the from whence
support is derived
The reports the majority and minority of the fire
commission both en led to the most respectful consider
ation of the valuable information they will
be found to contain the leading features of the
plan embodied in the action of your honorable body and
those of the paid system The comparative esti-
and volunteer system $7 560 exclusive of engine houses
including additional police stations of
$4,000. The Commissioners assume that the engine
houses owned by the city would obvate the necessity
for further outlay under this head. The annual