Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1870-12-29
WILMINGTON, DEL
THURSDAY, DECEMBER q, 1870.
UNDER THE PARTY LAsH-rHE FRIENDs
OF A PAID FIRE SYSTEM BEcoME ITs
ENEMIES.

Nobody ought to blame the Democratic MEM
lers of the City Council for their opposition TO
Paid Fire Department. They are working for
their party, and in this case Gas in most caHes)
the advantage of their party requires them to
oppose the interests of the public. Nevertheless,
it could be wished that these gentlemen would
2 preserve something like consistency in their
courses. Here they are shouting themselves
hoarse in opposition to the paid system, yet it
has not been very long since some of them werc
petitoning the City Council in favor Of a Paid
g System Now they are full of vehemence against
it then they earnestly prayed for it.
SO II is. In March, 1s50a petition was handed
in to the Council respectfully representing -
''That the experience of onr citizens for the
g past ten years clearly indicates the necessity
s. OF having some additional and better method
- OF extinguishing fires than we now have; and
- wo respectfully ask your honorable body to
. procure, at the cost of the city, one or more
81 steam fire engines of the most approved con-
g struction and TO Introduce for their manage
'ment he Paid System, 'clich has been found
9 most e1icie,li il, other cities"
This petition was signed by about two hundred
citizens and among them we find not less than
llltt Vi tHb DftEGul DtliutIdtlc iuelupbfb VI
Council. Here is the signature Of
WILLIAM BRIGHT,
The same person who is now SO loud an oppo-
nent Of the paid system that crowds of bunkers
and runners gather in the Council chambers to
hang upon his leadership, and unanimously
cheer his utterances. And yet, in 1860, he petit
toned for a Paid Department. assuring the City
Council that it had been found, by the experience
of other cities, to be the 'most efficient" system
for the purpose Of distinguishing fires Expe-
rience, since 1850 has only further proved its
superior efficiency and yet Mr.. Bright, by voice,
by vote, and by influence, now opposes what he
then SO earnestly prayed for. Such are the
necessities of Mr.. Bright's party.
We find also at the foot of this same petition
the names Of
II. +. FINEdAN, JR.,
EDWARD MINTIRE,
Both of whom are now in Council and vigorously
opposing what they then recommended and asked
for. Have fires changed their nature ? Are
Volunteer Departmental improved? rdo Messrs
Finnegan and McIntire take their ground so as
best to serve themselves and tleirparty, careless
of the interests of the people
Attached to this same petition are the names
of Thomas r. Bayard, Jesse Sharpe, H +. Askew
W. W. Torbert, Jos. N. Hartman, Peter Springer
David Lemon, James Bradford, David Chandler
fheo +. Crawford, William Morrow, Edward
Moore, John Boldly, Patrick Campbell, Robert d.
Hicks, j. Morton Poole & Co., and other gentle
men OF the same politics, then and now, as
Messrs. Bright, Fmnegan, and McIntre.
number of these have again peiitioned for Paid
system, while some have not. We quote their
names to show how they stood on this question
1t is interesting to notice that this petition,
when the poi ulation of the city was over q .OOO
considered " one or more steam fire engines
sufficient, indicating that ono only might serve.
Now that the city is only fifty per cent. larger,
(Sl,oOO,) it seems reasonable that three will
Suffice If properly assisted by hose, hook and
ladder apparatus, and other proper appliances
And thus is another objection to the new ord-
nance, urged by the Democratic members of
Council, answered out Of their own mouths.