The New York herald., 1864-12-13
Salaries Of tho Chief Engineer. Is
sistants and Members Of
the Department.
The DnPARra6nM4 FUND
Annual Meeting Of the Department :
Election of 0fhcers-The Treas
urer's Report,

the coming OF the Legislature to destroy the
present volunteer system and secure paid department
But little reliance has been placed in the rumored change
until recently when those friendly present system
find that several bills ready for presentation the OBJ
ect OF which to crush out the volunteer system and
place the department In the hands OF those who have
never been connected with the organization.
While IL cannot be denied that there two OBJ
econs to the present SYSTEM yet the fault does not lay
with the members Of the department but with the Com
mon Council or city, who, II they possessed the
moral courage, could remedy all evils and secure the
maintenance Of OF the proudest organizations the city
or New York can boast or
The great objection, and very justly, too--n fact,
the only one we can point at-is the enormous ex.
penditure in money; but this, as We said be-
fore, is no fault OF the Hremen. We're the members
OF the Common Council and the Street Commissioner
more cautious in their appropriations for this company
and that or, in three cases out Of five, there is
earthly necessity for granting applications the city
taxpayers would be saved thousands and thousands
Of dollars. But for promptness and efficiency we
doubt II all tho paid systems that could be intro
duced could present BETTER We have only to alude
to the late attempt to destroy the city by Southern
cendaries. Where has the present department its
equal or one that could have completely ioed the
destruction Of great city, department did9 For
hours the members in the Third Fourth Seventh and
Second districts were on the constant from re
another; and though many completely tagged out
by over exhaustion, yet they stood nobly to their
duty until the city was again in safety, and
placed beyond the danger Of these rebel plot,ers.
There many leading members Of tho department who
propose to do away With this great evil alude to-
viz-the expenditure Of moneys unnecessarily, aud
which it Is hoped will the support Of the entire
department.
THE PAID eYsTEM
We have learned that there will be no less than four
bills before the Legislature for paid department That
many members OF the department Interested in
one or two OF theze bills cannot be denied, while some
years identified true and tried friends OF the present
system let there are among them very many dis.
dent, nay down 10 that of grcaser in the yard
lhey hold weekly meetings. and are presided by the
ex foreman Of an up town nose company. The bin
adopted by them and 10 be presented at Albany by
sub-committee Is about as follows
It provides that the paid department shall under
the control OF TOUR commissioners who shall have
CONTROL said commissioners TO be appointed by the
Mayor, c9mpsrol,er cry Judge. Presidents Of both
missoners and presidents OF the insurance companies
The force is to consist OF chief engineer ten ASSISTANTS
Superintendent OF apparatuses, orty.ive companies
and ten hook and ladder companies. The number OF
men To be employed on the several apparatuses
folows--Steam engine companies. foreman an engi.
neer fireman aud eight prvates said company 10
run ieuder carrying one thousand feet OF hose also
be stationed in each house hand engine to be used in
OF emergency. Hook and ladder companies:
foreman 81 and second assistants and seven priyates
All apparatuses to be drawn by horses.
DUTIES OF THE COMMISSIONERS.
II will devove upon them 70 make all appoinim ments
from chief engineer down. The chief engineer and
assistants together with inspector superintendent OF
Apparatuses TO be appoint ed for three years. All others
subject TO removal at the option OF the commissioners
but not without cause Also to provide all rules and
regulations Tor the government OF said department.
CHEF ENGINEER AND ASSISTANTS.
They will be required to be present all fires to have
entire control and 10 investigate the origin OF all fires
the the present fire marshal and assistants and
to be allotted 10 districts.
SUPERINTENDENT OF APPARArUeEs.
shall be required OF the superin TO take charge
OF all machinery, supplies ana workshops 70 manuiac-
ture all apparatuscs ani TO do all repairing He
be practical engineer and have the appointment OF
engineers for steamers.
Salaries.
The following are the salaries proposed In the BILL
Chief Engineer 3 900
eaun :: LOCO
Foremen OF companies. each. ch.................. 500
Engineers OF steamers. each. 1000
There also to be appointed two clerks and .
register.
1ne only names that have heard mentioned for any
OF the above positions are:-For chief engineer Alfred
Carson aud John H. Croger for superintendent OF appa.
raluses John b. Levsridge.
The INSURANCE COMPANIES BILL
We learn that the officers OF the several insurance
companies have held various meetings, relative to
securing a paid department, At tho rooms OF the
COntncutal INSURANCE Company, Broadway. They
are desrous tha, tho Department shall be under The
control Of insurance companies, aud named "Thc
New York Fire Insurance Association No foreign in
surance company will be admitted, and only OF our
city companies as shall express themselves willing and
able to maintain At least one fire company Each usur
company Is to guarantee support steam engine
with fuel furnish tender and hose b rses as many
mea as they IN their judgment deem most proper said
companies bear the namo OF the insurance company
maj nroydes for them Tho assoca,.on is ~ nnrrha.
ali such seam and hand engines tenders and trucks now
in use by the city, as they may deem useful Together
uarhAF Htun hr hnf and lad
they may require tor housing their apparatuses.
The CITY TO be divided into two divisions twenty.
four companies 10 be detailed 70 each division with four
assistant engineers TO command There 70 be sixteen
ne districts each 70 be determined by street boundaries
They propose 70 select chief engineer and i've IRE
commissioners the latter to be selected from the drec
officers OF tue several insurance Companies said
board are TO have u control OF all the expenditures and
appointments.
Tho present insurance patrol will be done away with
ana the men merged into sucn companies they shall
select each fire company to carry such indictments as
used by ssid Insurance patrol.
The above is briot outline Of the insurance com.
10 It's adoption. several are opp sed 10 the
pauies paying the entire expense aud urge that ia
expenditures be equally divided between the companies
aud the city while others ueeirous that they should
have entire control the expenses 10 be paid as Il present
claiming that under their supervision tney can insure al
one.ha the present rates, when would bo saving 10
taxpayers aud an equivalent 10 any portion that might
be paid by said companies.
ANOTHER PAID PLAN
Another weekly meeting held composed or several re-
preentaves OF insurance companies and members OF tho
Fire Department favorable toa paid syste who surqcst
the following alterations propose the appoln In
of six COMMISSIONER three of whom shah always be on
duty. The force Is 10 consist Of chief engnesr and ten
assistants and one superintendent Of appartuscs There
TO be oriyhve companies fifteen u witch are 10 be
hook nnd ladder trucks, the same to be drawn BY horses
The bells and towers 10 bc done away with and the
signal box sysiem introduced. All active and ex
empt 6remen o the present department o coed physical
ability and moral Character, - have the prele ence OF
appointments. The charity fond, as existing, TO oe
paid out TO the recipients Of us bounty unl the whole
Of the same shall be exhausted.
THE POLICE CORNERSTONE s ELL,
The above board have 10 contemplation the presenting
OF bin for a paid derartment-yi2., to increase the
police force o. the city, such Increase be DESIGNATED IN
"1he Fire Brigade nnd Water Police" do away
with both tho present Crot0D Aquelct Department md
the Fire Department at one and the same time y ch
police station be designated hfe alarm and tee
graph station There are 10 be CHEF and taenty.tyo
assistants, FIRE marsha i've fire and water commits.
si0ners, and many men as hey NAV deem necessary.
n all easaa or emerggUcy these 10 act