The New York herald., 1865-03-11

= no, 20 put out res protect property al res
n,n1isre Su.ahs wss The province Of nrsuasn We
have force OF one hundred ind ten men,
the number Averaging eighty Ttc cost OF main
year expense of the system between $50 600 and
$35 0o0 The duty Of these principally 70 pro-
They had nothing 70 do with the FIRE department They
directed their Efforts principally TO preserving property
from injury destruction by water aud for this purpose
they had always large water proof covers The number
OF the patrol at the present time was about eighty
Mr. sanasbury-one OF the principal duties Of i the
patrol is 70 patrol the portion OF the city where the
largest Of property stored and to give the
earliest notice Of the breaking out OF ire; ana they
have been found most valuable nasmuch they have
been able oftenmes to exngush Are before much pro-
gress was made and thus had saved large amount oi
property :. 49,
stee-Who did this patrol give the hrs information OF
a lire 10, the bankers or the hremenf
Mr Rankin--The positive orders To the patrol are 70
give in the first instance tho earliest information OF
IRE the remen and their arrival 70 give over all
control towards lis extnguishment 70 them In very
many instances have given over the use OF our hose
while our assisted in putting out the fires.
Mr. LevyYou mean TO sayihat they are not intended
70 put out fires, while they carry hoses
Mr. Rsnkn-I say that the patrol have very many
times put out fires before they got much headway, and
in advance OF the arrival OF the fire department.
Mr. sedgwick-Counsel on the other side said that
paid nre department would have the effect Of reducing
the premium insurance want to know what The in
surance is and what reduction would follow the in
PRODUCTION OF paid ire department. Also, what the
cost OF maintaining fire department would be, as
/
Mr. Larkin-Multiply the cost OF the paid system in
troduced In Baltimore which there requires but S55 600
for its support by ave. and you the Of paid
establishment IN New York. Baltimore having quarter
million of inhabitants.
Mr. Creamer member Of the Leg stature and Of the
Fire Department said that coming TO talk OF men like
those composing the insurance companies advocating
system which reduce their premium some
thing and presented species of self sacr ce he
had never heard Of before
Mr. Sanesbury would respond TO the exceedingly
kuu ring md ppnt yyh0 inst
The experience in those cities where the reduction OF the
premium following the substitution Of paid fire depart
for a voluntary has been that the insurance
companies have made money at the reduced pre-
mium accompanied by reduced res than larger pre-
miums with greater prevalence OF fres-the result OF
the voluntary system; so that the gentleman need not
be alarmed at the sesacrfces o. the insurance compa
MES But far these companies arc concerned, ac
ccrdng to the best judgments OF all connected with
them aided by the experience gathered In other cities,
it does not make copper difference to them for when
fires Increased the premium goes up and when res are
reduced in number and extent the premiums 70 down
with them. The companies charged premiums commen-
Mr. Larkns-Reduce the losses by fire from three mil
lions 10 million, and, according to that rate win the
people reduce the cost and expenses Of nsurng their
property?
Mr. Eaton then addressed the committee in support Of
the Senate bill, avoiding much possible the ground
Of argument adopted by his colleague (Mr. Iawrence)
He very fully into the reports and statistics Of those
cities where the voluntary system had been discarded
great advantages derived from the change, and in
lengthy able and logical address urged the best consider
alton OF the Dill on the committee
OPEN DEBATE.
Chief Engineer Decker would like to know what
practical experience the gentleman had had with remen
Mr.. Eaton-Wel, have put out quite q number OF
fires and If could would like TO establish good sys
tenn for putting out fires instead OF the system we have
at present
lr. Dccker-Thc gentleman says that the horse engine
win proceed to fire without the use Of the alarm bell,
and that the absent members will a; hurry from
their avocatons and from their residences but he weuld
like TO know how they to be notified Of the existence
OF fire unless each fireman has telegraph wire at
tached to him
Mr. Eaton-The men can run to a fire when the engine
s drawn bya horse well and rapidly now, when
they had to draw the engine with them
Mr. becker-.And yoa are going to dispense with the
alarm they will not have bunkcrs the same as In the
volunteer system How, then, could they get their men
together in an emergency
telegraph.
Mr. sedgwickIs this petition see here the petition
Of exempt frcnenY
Mr. Eaton-Yes.
Mr. sedgwick-Ony thirty five signers to it,
Mr. LawIencc-Thrty five men OF courage.
Mr. SedgvcS--No one doubts their courage. Thera
was necessity TO keep thus talking OF couragethe
courage OF yourselves and OF your petitioners.
Mr. Lawrencc-Thcre was nothing said about that
Mr.. sedgwick-- Between the two then-the gentlemen
who lay claim to courage and the men who do not lay
claim 70 courage
MR. sEDGwIcK's CLOSING REMARKS.
Mr. Sedgwick, in closing, saidTie committee will re-
member that have introduced no disturbing elements
into the discussion II was immaeral to the merits OF
the what the politics OF counsel, Of insurance
panies and bankers, OF the bunkers'
were As general proof however, Of the character OF
the men composing the Fire Department ii was but fair
that the body composed OF democrats and
rep bicans in the ratio democrats and rcpubl
cans make up tie voters Of New York And vet Il was
material To Investigate the matter with tbs view, II
would be found that there decided democratic
jority in the department Now it was very usual
thing, in ordinary cases. TO elect officers Of acknow
edged accepted kind of politics But in this depart
nent the officers made up ndiscrnn nately OF demo
crats and republicans by no possibility could there be
any political clemtn mt fairly dragged Into the discussion
of this question. BY possibility could any sensible
republican-he was about saying Union man--aopc
that aLy change in the department, way the
other wold Affect the votes Of the city OF New York
The experience of the party to which he attached la
the Navy Yard and Custom House demonstrated how
little power and patronage ae.ts the vote Of New York
And, therefore, by no possibility change in the
Fire Department or the rormanency Of the Fire Depart
the city Of New York A Mr. Sedgvick's request, tLe
clerk Of the committee read the petition from the thirty
Mr. sedgwick-iho committee win see from
that petition that the signcrs do not ask for
that which. sontlenen claim here. The citizens
of New York have not asked for this bill.
Have the sixteen thousand citizens OF Kew York
represented the ssne Of hepecn before you asked
hat the expenses OF the Brooklyn Fire Department be
pad the funds Of the citizens or New York; That
Is what this bill contemplates. TLey have made no such
request
Mr. Ea,on-Therc is no such provision in the bil
Mr. Sedswick proceeded TO quote from the bill 10
show that In certain contingencies the commissioners
provided by the bll might all be appointed from Brook
lya, and that they would have tie power OF assessing the
expenses Of the department. upon the citizens Of New
furk almost cNclaSlV@y ~ was hol 70 nc denied 'hat
these snemen under preence OF satisfying the petition
OF sixteen thousand citizens Of New York hay presented
them calling for b which docs give them paid
Tire department, and which Al the same c provides for
the payment OF the expenses ~ paid lire department
for Brooklyn be paid by New York There was pur-
pose and well designed purpoge which, IL not
pshcd would have prevented the passage OF the bill
without the city Of Brooklyn being Included in H. would
have been unconsut tonal That they knew and I'm der
pretence that In respects covered Brooklyn enough
10 make constitutional aud in other respects that 1t
did not, they have provided cannngly devised bill
which puts Into the coils OF the nre comInis
sioners II the Flre Department OF East and West
Brooklyn the citizen OF New York This from
the fourteenth section OF the bill The said commits
soners (who can be all appointed from Brookyn) shall
have power 10 elect secretary, chief and assistant
engineers, and as many officers and employees may be
necessary and the shall al all times be under the
control of said commissioners, and perform such duties
shall be assigned them and who may 0c removed by
said commissioners, &c From what place appointcd2
IL there any limitation Of II 70 the city OF New York; IL
Includes the whole district OF Brooklyn well as that
o New York The last phrase Is the only part appca.