The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-09-10

We published, in our issue of Wednesday, the
majority and minority reports of the special COM
mission appointed by the City Council to devise
"a plan for the thorough organization of the Fire
department of Baltimore" At the time that
our Councimen thus endcavored TO relieve them
selves of the responsibility Of acting in so impor-
tant a matter, by throwing the burden upon
others, we took the liberty of doubling whether
the Commissioners would have the boldness to
suggest or the Conncilmen the firmness to adopt,
the only remedy which can ever effectually cure
the evils, of which all complain and the exist
of which is on all hands admitted. We re-
gret to find that we were not mistaken in our
estimate of the influences which, unfortunately,
prevail over the minds of too many men in this
community who know what is right but who
have not the courage to do it. Out of the nine
intelligent and respectable men to whose udg-
ment this subject was referred only one of them
has taken broad and comprehensive view of the
difficulties and disorders occaSioncd by the present
system, and has ventured to declare himself in
favor of its entire and immediate abolition, and of
the substitution of Il Paid Fire Department. to be
subjected to the strictcSt discipline and to use,
altogether, Steam Fire Engines. The report of the
dissenting Commissioner, Mr.. SrILMAN, we regard
as conclusive, and, apart from the strong moral
arguments to be advanced in its favor, it shows,
satisfactorily to any unbiased mind, that, even in
point of economy, the Paid Fire Department would,
when once properly established, possess decided
advantage over any volunteer system. Comparing
it with the plan proposed by the majority, we are
at a loss TO conceive how candid and impartial
men hesitate in yielding preference to the
former. Mr.. SPI.MAN estimates with great mi
nutencSs and care, that the first cost to the city of
sufficient number of steam engines, with all their
appurtenanccs and requirements, will not exceed
the sum of S63, 100, and that the annual expense
of supporting the Department will be, at the larg-
est sum, $4,000 The majority estimate, with
equal eXactness, the first cost of their system at
SD, $50, and the annual expenses at So 900.
The one report contemplates the of six first
class steam engines, completely equipped, to be
drawn by horses, and managed by competent fire
men and engineers, and clearly shows that this
force will be sufficient to perform all the labor that
may be required ola Fire Department in the city
of Baltimore. The other report proposes to estab-
fish secen steam engines, and, in addition, to en-
hook and ladder companies, all to be iudiciousy
distributed in various localities, specially desig-
mated. The majority are evidently no believers in
the doctrine of an inherent sovereignty in the
City Corporaton,-so vigorously asserted on
memorable occasion by our present MAYoR-for,
before proceeding to their labors they deemed it
necessary to inquire whether any power was
vested in the 'authortieS'' to ''establish and
control fire companies After relieving them
selves, however of all doubt upon a point so
plain, and after the fullest investigation into the
systems existing in other cities, they come to the
lame conclusion that it is inexpedien TO abolish the
volunteer companies, and propose to establish a
Fire Department which shall cost the city, at
once, S72, 600, without assuring us, so far as we
can see, against the very evils we wish to DESTROY
Weearnestly hope that when the matter comes be-
fore the Council for It's determination, there NAV
be found among the number OF those TO whom the
people Of Baltimore have committed their leeisla-
ton, few men with the intelligence and boIdness
of Mr. SPILMAN.