Semi-weekly Louisianian. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1871-1872, 1871-11-09
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

Association for ten gears. We italicize
the term ofservice, because from all
the infornntionwe CLEAN, the cause
of the refusal to renew the contract
arises ont of unwillingness of the
Council to renew for a longer period
than two or three years, md the
Discrimination of the Firemen's As
ISOLATION to contract for a Short
term. Failing to effect compro-
mize, or either to convince the
other of the excellence OF his plan,
the engagenlentwill lapse at the ex-
piration of the present term, and
the Council have authorized and
directed the Administrator OF Com
merce to organize a paid fire de.
partment for the City of New Or
leans"
This important step has Justly
commanded the attention of every
one interested in the preservation
of property in the city from the
ravages Of FIRE, as well as "tho.e
concerned in the expenditure of the
funds of the city, Ai' So q '-'''''
We deplore to observe the intro
duction in the dispute over these
questions, by the Piray,tne yester-
day, OF an element utterly foreiga
to the discussions, erroneous, and
we are confident "repugncnt
to the views and feelings Of t.,c
gentlemen against whom the inuen-
DO is levelled. It says: "but t!it
trus reason for this repudiatiol con
sists in the high character of the
department. 1t cannot be usel as
political continuance, and is no.
open for admission to any one With
ont distinction Of race, color or pre-
vious condition. W ID
The introduction Of this feature
IS calculated to generate unkind feel
ings, to revive and intensity unwor-
s;hy p-ojudicos, and very much en-
braces the satisfactory arrangement
of the matter.
The az important questions "hicli
present themselves are, whethe;. the
volunteer, or the paid system Is the
best ? Which of them is capable o
b,ing more Efficient, and more use
! ful? Which o. them, I'll filings
being equal, cln be most economic
ally maintained ? Doubtless these
matters have been rpvolved by tht
Administrators and others who have
been admitted to their Counc Is
Notwithstanding that yesterday
Bulletin wouldinduce the belief tina
not one .of five Administrators viii
whom it's re porter converscd wa
able to expre~s any definite view
on these points.
We fully concur that It is mat
ter OF vast Importance. We recog
nize the facts that fine Firenen'
] Association of New Orleans posses
ses many claims to consideration
which may not be slightly regarded
out no generous nor grateful regsr
4 'or such an institution ard il
: worthy members should be permit
+ ted to lead the public mind SO fl
d tstray from the consideration of ia
interests of the City, as to s1bol
dinate the paramount welfare of al
; 20 the promotion Of the interests {
: part.
We are not in position to dc
8 .ide on the claims and merits of tn
IT respective systems, and are only III
: luced to refer to the matter to-da
e from the observance of the intro
u luction of topic that has no COZ
nection whatever with the gray
: question demanding consideration
oi and furnishing food for calm consit
l. Grafton, mature deliberation, an
IA iudicious action. The interests ;
y stake are too great, the practical II
tie suits of the change are too vast, e.
D. pansive and far reaching to san
z ton the waste of time in profitle
n. and injurious discussions. Let
r approach the subject as men, resol
n IS those interested and, earnest
es our scrutin;es and enquiries into Il
p two .1essares, and fairly c,aimir
Awe deem proper on the one han
al conceling al! that IS fair on L
. other, submit the result Of the re
~ soning to the judgment of al i