The New York herald., 1865-02-16
Paid Fire Department..
REPORT OF THE MAJORITY COMMITTEE OF THE


LEGISLATURE.
Tho committee report that they have listened to many
statements and arguments submitted In favor OF and op
posed to the BILL and while many general charges have
been made against the members Of the New York Fire
Department. the committee desire 70 put upon record
their conviction that although there are undoubtedly
some perhaps many, unworthy members In that depart
ment vet the majority are men whose connection with
the department prompted by audnble devotion to the
public interest stimulated by that love Of adventure and
fcarnssness in the face of danger which, IN any sphere
Of action should be accepted as type Of the locs he
rojsm II cannot be denied, however, that the
iusre OF It's earlier days has been arnished by spt OF
nsubordination and violence which has Toe oieh ed 70
breach Of the public peace This fact has been coceoeo
and IL hfs been urged by the friends Of tne preseN
system that by new code or Regulations, adopted within
few weeks these OF disorder and violence will
be legs frequent and may perhaps be altogether avoided
Yet must also fairness be stated that there s reason
TO suppose that this reform has been nnrguraed under
the apprehension that any longer delay in insttutng
might lead the public to demand unanimously the adop
ton Of such remedy as Is proposed in tie bin herewith
reported.
In regard TO paid department it is claimed that the
present system is one which the city of New York
has literally outgrown; that the repose OF its citizens
should not be subject TO unnecessary disturbance
all hours of the day and night by the olangor OF
bells and the rush of thousands Of excited men IL
s within the recollection of many that the halls OF tho
mansions Of the city were encumbercd with the nre
buckets which were necessary adjunct OF the fire apna
ratus OF the day. but the city long since ougrew the
necessity of n resort To these. Hand engines were for
many years the sole dependence. Tho introduction OF
/
paront system but these chances we're gradual as the
/ mains extended. Recently still more important
change has been accomplished by the introduction Of
steam Are engines, which have been long enough in use
to the confidence of the public in their efficiency
and II is this element that has demonstrated the
feasibility Of system which proposes 70 dispense with
large portion Of the manual force employed and tho
substitution Of horses for traction will also contribute 70
| this result.
The larger cities of Europe years ngo adopted system
similar the one proposed and IL has been found
that paid system is exceedingly effective at very
small cost In country many cities have expert
| mented with the system. In Baltimore, with
population Of 212 600 tho force employed consists only
| Of hundred and fourteen officers and men, seven
steam fire engines, two hook and ladder companies and
thirty foar horses. Tho expense for 1894 so3 o00
In Cincinnati with populaton Of l6l 000 the force for
1868 hundred and atty I've officers and men,
with eleven steam fire engines, two hook and ladder,
two hose reel cangca and seventy horses The expcnd-
lures fer hs ano nc Sai, 900 In Boston, with
population of ,s,0 ,000 10 pens by the paid system
| were Si05,Oto IN ~ iods, with . population OF
16l, ,0Oe the expenses i)r 1903 were $4,000 In each
the transition .gqm volaatcef 10 paid system has
| been effected without col iNun dioulty.
On the ground Of economy your committee while they
not prepared to adnpt the views entertained
by the advocates OF the which look 70 reduc
tion OF fty cent the annual expense of the
sent department. have hesitation Ia expressing the
belief that the expenses OF paid department. placing
the allowances on liberal ecalc b kept vilhn the
lims Of the expenditure demanded ~ tLc present fys
TEN. The question: however T. to IL regarded In otnef
| econc mioal respects IL { bell scd tna ihe OF
water viii be much reduced IN te ala department
II Is susceptible of rroi TINT those cities under
paid department the VI an reduced INA
tcrally these rates being graduated orGng 70 Che
| supposed risk
Many persons believe tha trouble may be encountered
In cncong the change fruposed II hi. forcble resist
ance well founded there We Etrou9tr ar.u nen
| adducad for n change But ms coamitt1e believe that
ss s Se Gr S s yss '' other
No inter with the nobc charity Of te Firo De
! partInent 1'und is proposed