New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-06-02
THE PAID FIRE DEPARTMENT.

in its place, obtained for our City the present PAD
organization. Perhaps in village, town, or even
small city, the old system night work to O charm;
for in such places the population is small and the
members Of the engines from the most respectable
class Of the people-and the fires are so few that it
would not pay to be nothing but fireman. In the
large cities the case is different. Years agotoo many
for the fact TO be remembered by the large majority
of our citizens-our Volunteer Fire Department was
effective and had few or no blemshes upon its char
acter And well it might be so-for then the compa-
MES were composed Of the best young men in the
community who joined the Department from sense
of duty alone and not for the sake Of roing, politics
and plumber. Many Of the best among US now, who
have deserved and have obtained honor, wealth, and
station, were at one time members Of the Fire
Department-and it was TO such that it owed
its palmes days. Ii may, indeed, be said that at one
time our fire companies held position as high in re-
spect to the character and standing Of their members
as was held by the Military. But things gradually
changed. Many of the good men who did the work,
who were ever foremost in the and protection
of property and who did not hesitate to dash through
the flames to save helpless life at the imminent risk
of their own were BY degrees driven by the corruption
and vice that began to fasten upon the department,
and by the faint that began to be plainly perceptbe
throughout it, whole ramifcations, to resign their
membership and to cut loose from associates and
associations that brought nothing save pollution and
disgrace.
And by whom we're their places filled BY men of
similar character By men of the same selfsacritc-
ing spritl BY men of the same activity and energy
Oh, no b. none of these; but by rowdies and ruff
fans, who seemed to have joined the Department only
for the purpose of having more extensive arena for
the display of their rowdysm and rufEanism. These
latter never cared fig about dscharging their du-
ties They were never known to do any work in put
ting out fires, in saving property or life, except it
be considered work TO interfere with and bully those
who were ready and anxious to do their duty in these
respects.
The result was what might have been expected The
bad contaminated and destroyed many OF the good
Instead of the gentlescn raising the loafers to the
level of gentlemen the oafers lowered the gentlemen
to the level of oafers. And it became apparent
to our people at least to such of them as gave the
matter the thoughtful consideration its importance de-
manded that the whole Department, with very few
honorable exceptions OF but piece in respect to
rowdyism. The men who remained in it, notwith-
standing they the rapid strides that vice and cor
rupton were making in the Department-who hoped
to be able to restore it to its pristine reputation aud
effectiveness-who held on tenacously, although to
hope to arrest the rottenness at its was but folly
are entitled to the thanks OF the community for their
good Intentions but their efforts were as successful
as were those of Dame Partington striving TO brush
back with broom the rising waters Of the Atlantic.
And this was not al. As a matter of course the
rowdes and bullies soon obtained the entire control of
their respective machines and with this control
came corresponding influence. The trafiicking polit
clans Of our City who haze ever been on the alert to
discover fitting instruments 20 pcrpe.uate their in
iquitous rule soon saw that the whole Department,
with proper management could be made q most ef-
feciiye tool in keeping them in office; and no sooner
did they their opportunity than they avaed them
selves Of it. b. the use Of patronage and other dis
honorable means, they succeeded in buying over TO
their interests the leading spirits Of the force, and
soon became possessed of the body and soul Of the
Department The engine-houses became just so many
primary meetiugS-sO many nominating conventions
SO many pesthouses, from which arose disease and
death to whatever little morality had been left
in our City politics. b degrees, tho political Fire
Department began to obtain such power that,
flushed with its success in electing outside
politicians, il soon turned its attention to
those in its own ranks wanting positions, and nomi-
mated aud elected many man to nigh and honorable
Office whose only capactyor recommendation there
Tor was that he lone of the boys" and iran
with the machine" 1t would be no difficult task for
us to mention the names OF OF our most success
full politicians who owe all OF their success and wealth
TO the fact that they were active engne-boys, and
managed By the help Of the bnllies OF the
engne-house, to drive respectable citizens from
primary elections, and thus to secure an apparently
regular nomination for themselves In fact we be-
ucve that from the engine house much as from any
other quarter have proceeded the brood Of politi.
clans and rogues that has SO drefully afflicted and
still So drcfully aicts the good people OF this City
The rowdysm and politics so rite in it both for long
time called loudly for the abolition Of the Volunteer
Departments but, owing principally to the energy OF
the politicians who that it, fate was their fate,
partly to the remembrance OF many of us Of what it
once had been, aud partly to the gratitude for what
in days long passed it had accomplished the people
of our State hestated a little before dealing the
death-blow.
OF course, men bent on rowdyisn and politics paid
but little attention TO fires. But the corruption did
not stop with rowdyism and politics. Men who would
10 10 work if they could and could do none if they
would and who yet must cat, drink, sleep, and dress
soon found it moro convenient il not more respect
able, to 20 to the enginehouse instead of the poor
house. They had no visible means of support; they
Joined the engine and became numbered among " the
boys They "bunked" at the engine-house; they
hung around the portcr-houses in the day; and in
congregated knots at night were the terror of the
accompanied women who were forced to pass within