The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-06-10
BALTIMORE.
THURSDAY, JUNE 10, 1858.

fiat the most sanouine friends of the new inven-
tion could desire. 1t was not merely an expert
mental trial. on ground of their own choosing,
and under circumstances purposely selected with
view TO displaying the powers of the Engine to the
best advantage. 1t was an actual test of what the
Engine could do, whenever and wherever its SER
vices might be needed. AS such, the experiment
was completely successful. 1t more than fulfilled
the expectations of the friends of the Engine, and
sionally disappointed the envious hope INDUCED
by some that the whole thing might prove fail
ure The Engine was put into operation without
loss of time, and kept in operation without inter-
mission Without any extraordinary or unusual
supply of water, it was found to be fully equal to
the task of checking the spread of confagration
that threatened to be dangerous, and of entirely
subduing the flames. Moreover, the operations of
the Engine conducted peaceably and quietly,
which is more than can be said of those of the Fire
Department generally whose services it is destined
to supersede. Even on this occasion, the riotous
propensities of our fremen found their usual vent
Perceiving that their legitimate occupation of put
ting out fires was gone, the members of the de-
partment turned their attention to some of those
delightful collateral exercises, with which they
usually enliven their more aphilanthropc and less
exciting labors. While the Steam Engine, by the
force of its streams, scattering the bricks and
timbers of the burning building in every direction
the fremen were hurting bricks and shooting pis-
tolls at each others valuable heads riot, the
almost inevitable consequence of fire, wherever
the volunteer system prevails, was the natural re-
suit. Among the combatants, as usual nobody
appears to have been hurt. Several of the by
ISLANDERS, however, were shot and otherwise in
jured. A stranger in the city, Mr.. JAMES from
Virginia, drawn to the spot by curiosity to wit
ness the performances of the Steam Engine,
ceived severe blow on the head, with
fre-hook in the hands of one of gallant
firemen, whom the Sun reporter describes, 'as
Crushing around the of the street, swinging
"the bludgeon about and attacking indiscrini-
''nately all within its reach" Mr.. JAMES had his
cheekbone shattered by the blow, fragments of the
bone being driven into his head and now lies the
SIN further tells u.s. suffering the most excrucatng
pain at the house of his brother in this city The
fire out-in consequence of the efficient services of
the Steam Engine, and the fight over-in conse-
quence of the interference of the police the fremen
with their reels and their engines and their fire
hooks returned home.
The question for the citizens of Baltimore
now arises, how long shall we support at the
expense of the city, an organization whose SER
vices have now been demonstrated to be use
less, and whose continued existence can only
be productive of riots, disorders, the corruption
and decentralization of youth, and the promotion
of spirit of rowdyism and social insubordina-
ton? An ordinance looking to an entire re-or-
ganization of the Fire Department is now pending
before the City Council. With the usual want of
honesty and manness characteristic of small poll
cians the Councils have shrked the responsibility
Of legisating upon this delicate subject and re-
ferrcd the whole matter over TO mixed commission
composed of nine persons three to be appointed by
the MAYOR two by each Branch of the Council
and two by the President of the United Fire De-
partment. From the labors of this commission,
we are free to confess, we expect nothing. 1t is
only an easy way of getting rid of a troublesome
question 1t is not the least evil arising out of the
present organization of the Fire Department that
the Companies, nearly all of them, are more or less
identified with political parties Half of the politi-
cal clubs which are the terror and disgrace of our
city, affiliated with one or the other of the differ
ent fire companies. The name of the Mount
Vernon Hook and Ladder Company is synonymous
with Plug-U glyism, while the Democratic pro-
clivties of the New Market Fire Company were for
years manifested in the commission of all sorts of
CRIME and outrages on the part of its members and
runners who were the avowed bullies and
champions of Democracy in this city.
We speak thus plainly upon this subject, because
we feel deeply. We prize the good name of our
itv 10 81,
wish to see the laws obeyed, and the constituted
authorities respected. Above all things, we desire
to avert from orr city, if possible, catastrophe
such as lately threatened New Orleans We are
IN favor of Municipal Reform, but not of Revou-
ton. We want no Vigilance Committee but a
union of all good citizens, and of all conservative
men, without distinction of politics. in the cause of
law and order, and of sound government. We are
controlled by no political partalities ourselves
and while we have condemned with unsparinp
severity the shortcomings and mis-dongs of the
party now in power in this city, we have never
suggested, cure for any existing evils, the subst
tuition of the opposite faction. A mere change Of
administration, without any further other
form in our municipal affairs, would be but shifting
the burden from one shoulder to the other There
evils that must be wholly eradicated, and among
them-is the Fire Department, the prolific source
of incendiarism and lawlessness. ...
AT present, we conceive the evils of which
we speak, and which hereafter we shall not
scrupe to indicate more specifically and with
greater particularly, to be within the reach
of medicine. By-and-bye if neglected, nought
but the sharp knife of Revolution will sup
ply an adequate remedy. Let us then seek
timely relief before gangrene superyenes or ampu-
tation becomes necessary. We may speak fgura-
lively, but we hope, not obscurely We refer to
the notorious corruption and imbecility of our
present and past municipal governments, and to
the consequent insecurity of life and property
which has resulted from the inability or indisposi-
ton of the civil authorities to enforce the laws
We refer to the fact, that this day in Baltimore
the crimes of murder, robbery, and arson are of
frequent occurrence, and yet more frequently at
tempted; and that the men who commit these
outrages are notorious characters known to the
whole community, and yet suffered by Our indu-
gent rulers to go at large in streets, and repeat
day by day the same offences We refer to the
fact that such offenders are rarely arrested if
arrested, are generally released on insufficient
ball. and seldom tried or if tried, generally
acquitted, or if convicted, usually let off with
easy punishment, which is, not unfrequently,
subsequently RENTED altogether by some tender
hearted Governor. The majority of these evils
directly trace to the political associations which
commonly exist between men in office, and the
class to which these criminals and offenders belong
We would remedy these evils, by elevating to office
selected for their personal qualifications only
and without regard to their political opinions.
What have politics to do with the administration
Of nrtico or of n,llnici mol affair."