The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-11-18
PAID FIRE DEPARTMENT.


The bill presented in Common Council yes
terday by Mr.. Hanna, chairman of the Com
mittee on Fire Department, for paid system,
provides that the department shall consist of
five Commissioners, one Chief Engineer five
Assistant Engineers and as many foremen,
enginemen, hOsemen, and hook and-ladder men
as may be necessary; that the Commissioners
shall be citizens of Philadelphia, aud elected
two by Select Council and three by Common
Council--the minority in each chamber
being represented by a commissioner;
that the commissioners shall draw
for their respective terms of
Office, two for the term of two years, and
three for the term of four years; that Coun-
ellis shall fill all vacancies in the Board as
they occur; that the Commissioners shall at
once organize department., to consist of not
exceeding 22 steamers and hook and lad
der companies; that they shall have the
appointment of and control over all officers
and employees, and of the property of the
department. that they shall submit an
annual report in January; that they shall
have authority to fit up and appropriate to
their use and of the engineers suitable
rooms as offices, the expenses of which shall
be betrayed out of the funds appropriated for
the use of the department; that they shall
elect a president, secretary, and messenger,
the two latter to be members of the depart
and regulations for the government, dis
ciplne and good order of the department,
and for the extinguishment of fires the
officers and members of the department shall
not be subject to removal on account of any
political, religious, or other sentiments en-
tertained by them, SO long as such opinion
or sentiment does not interfere with the
faithful and efficient discharge of their duties
as members of the department.; that the
nf
the department shall be as follows:-Five
commissioners, $4,000; chief engineer, $3OOO
secretary, $1200; messenger, $500; assistant
engineers, $1,000; enginemen, $1,000; fire.
men, $500; tillermen and drivers, $3.50; fore
men, $3.50; hose and hook and ladder men,
$500; that no other person than a voter shall
be member of the department. Section
eleventh defines the duties of the Chief En-
gineer; every engine company shall have an
eDginemap, one fireman, and Cne driver, who
shall be permanently employed, and also one
foremen and eight hosemen; every hook and
ladder company shall have one driver and
one tiller man, who shall be permanently
employed, and one foreman and ten men,
bers; the property of each engine company
shall consist of not less than one steamer,
one hose carriage, 1000 feet of hose, four
horses, and other such apparatus as the
Commissioners may deem necessary; the pro-
perty OF each hook ana ladder company
shall consist of not less than one ladder
truck and all necessary ladders and imple-
ments and three horses; the officers of the
Z department are authorized to exercise the
powers of police officers in going to, while
at and returning from any fire.
The bill also confers upon the Commission
ers the power to remove such of the fire.
alarm signal boxes as may not be needed,
and locate the same and such others as they
shall deem necessary; to suspend any com
pany from active service for violation OF the
rules and regulations, or dismiss them
from the department. 1t also provides thai
the sum of 100000 be appropriated to the
commissioners for the purchase of apparatus
houses, and other property, and the mainte
nance of the department. for 1871; the com
missioners may lease such of the apparatus
houses, and other property of the present fir'
companies as they may deem necessary.