New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-11-10
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
A Delegation Waits Upon Governor
WarmOth.
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RESPONSE BY THE GOVERNOR
He Pledges Himself to Aid the Firemen

The following named gentlemen, repre-
senting the board of commissioners and thu
finance committee of the Fremen's Chair
table Association, viz: I. n. Marks, presi
dent Of the association; George H. Braughn
vice president; Frank Rawle, E. A. Burke
c. Hemard and James Campbell, called
yesterday upon his Excellency the Gov,
ernor. in relation to the existing contrac,
between the city and the association, the
expiration of this contract in December
next, and the policy of renewing it, the
terms, etc.
The interview was pleasant one, and
after the interchange of the usual introduc-
tory courtesies, Mr.. 1. n. Marks, as spokes-
man of the delegation, spoke as follows:
| ADDRESS OF I. n. MARKS.
| Your excellency may consider it little
unusual for delegation of citizens to wait
| upon You in relation to a mattar more di-
rectly under the supervision of the city
| government; but this matter ia one of 60
grave character and of so great import
ance to the people of New Orleans and to
the property of the people of New Orleans
| that We have deemed it our duty, not only
as officers Of this institution, but as mem
bers of this community, to call upon you
| and take counsel with you as to the best
course to be pursued in the exigency which
has arisen, growing out of the opposition,
or at least apparent opposition, of portion
OF the gentlemen in charge Of the city gov
! ernment to renewing this contract with the
Firemen's Charitable Association. Up to
last Tuesday. when the City Council as
sembled, We had had NO official intimation
from any Of them that they really desired
| to convert this into paid fire department.
In the official interview which we had
with the Mayor and Administrators for
the purpose Of discussing the ordinance
submitted by Mr.. Remick on the twenty
ninth Of August last, which, to a very great
extent, is simply repetition of the ordi.
nance under which we have held the con-
tract for the last five years. Some few
amendments were proposed, and when we
met for the purpose of discussing, in a
friendly way, this ordinance, we supposed
that 1t there was any serious opposition to
any prominent features in it, that after this
discussion they might be compromised and
arranged. We had asked that the contract
be given us for ten years. We had one for
five years; We have had three, each for FIVE
years. We have held control Of the present
organization for sixteen years. One con-
tract expired during the military organiza-
tiOn OF the government here, and for that
year the military permitted us to continue
to work under that contract declining to
make any other contract with us, preferring
that that should be done after the restora.
ton of civil government.
When the civil government was restored,
our contract was again renewed for five
years-the contract which expires on the
fifteenth day of December-and we have
received $l2O,OOO q year for the execution
Of our contract.
We asked that the contract-in the
ordinance now submitted-that we should
the pay should be increased from $l2O,OOO
to $4,000 year. We made this request
because We had lost money on the contract
for the last five years; for if you have ex-
amined this contract you know that tor
these five years we have not only extin-
tiDguished the fires in the city of New Or
leans for these $4,000 year, but we have
furnished all the materials and para
phernalia necessary, and every dollars
worth Of property now in possession of
the Fire Department belongs to the Fire
mems Charitable Association. The city has
no interest in it whatever, except the city
owns the larger portion of the engine
houses. In our contract we are given the
use Of them, but We are compelled under
the contract to keep these houses in repair
at our own expense.
has had the fires here extinguished and the
property Of the people protected for $i2O, 900,
without any additional cost whatever; and.
as we know from our experience and from an |
examination OF the books Of the association,
we have lost money for the last five years. !
and we thought it not unreasonable that |
we should receive $4,000 u year, and that !
the contract should be made for ten years. |
The reason that we asked that was that |
under a ten-year contract we could keep |
the organization in a better state Of eff
cheney and more thoroughly equipped; for
a portion of the machinery has t. be re-
newed every year, and during fve-year
contract the whole machinery will have to |
be renewed twice; but if we had a contract
for ten years We could have it in three re-
newals during that period.
We found that many of the Adminis,ra.
tore, probably all, objected to the length of
time OF the proposed contract, and ex-
pressed their opinion that they would not
20 beyond five years, the term of the old
and many Of them said they did
not think they had the right to bind their
successors, and they would not make the
contract for i've years for that reason. The
against that was, that it was i'm
possible for the association to take the con-
ract for term less than five years, if they
vanted us to fulfill the contract as we had
lone.
As well as we could form an opinion from
heir expressions, We were induced to be-
ieve that the Administrators would he
atisfied with q five years contract. and at
he close of the interview l told them that
t that was their decision we would 20 to
o the board of administrators of the asso-
iatiOn and submit the proposition for five
ears contract, and l, as president of the
would not only submit this
proposition, but would recommend it and
lrge it myself. They did not seem to make
much objection to the amount of the nav
and the only one who argued at
IL against this was Mayor Flanders, who,
t the close Of the interview, seemed to
hink that the contract might be made for
ess sum than $4,000 year. 4
We left the gentlemen under the i'm ,
ressi0n that they wOuld-at any rate we
rged them, it our proposition was not ac-
eptable, to submit one to us. We waited !
reasonable time, and heard nothing
rent to the City Hall number of times.
nd had several interviews with the Mayor
nd some Of the Administrators. Mayor I
landers told me within two or three days
rior to the meeting Of the Council last 8
uesday, that he was satisfied that the {
oard was unanimous not to give us the
'ell," said, draw up q proposition to I
lat effect, and will call q meeting and t
lbmit it to our board &
In the meanwhile the Board of Under J
riters had been made Q party interested
ithout my knowledge or the knowledge of 8
ny member of this organization; and, with c
ut any consultation with me, the Mayor
ad had an interview with Mr.. Briggs, the t
hartman of the finance committee of the I
Oard of Underwriters, and requested a
riggs to ask the Board Of Underwriters, u
!, <I -, ~ /